Biography

Vedantam Raghavayya (Telugu: వేదాంతం రాఘవయ్య) (8 June 1919 – 1971) was an Indian film director, dance choreographer, Kuchipudi exponent, actor, producer, and musician known for his works in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre, and Tamil cinema. Raghavayya was an accomplished Kuchipudi dancer, who was awarded "Bharata Kala Prapurna" in dance by the Andhra Pradesh government.

Starting his career as a dance choregrapher, Raghavayya choreographed for films such as Raithu Bidda (1939), and Swarga Seema (1945). He made his directorial and production debut with Stree Sahasamu (1951). He then directed successful films such as Devadasu (1953), Annadata (1954), Anarkali (1955), Chiranjeevulu (1956), Bhale Ramudu (1956), Prema Pasam (Tamil, 1956), Suvarna Sundari (1957), Rahasyam (1967). As an actor he starred in Mohini Rukmanigada (1937), Garuda Garvabhangam (1943) and Raksharekha (1949). He was the co-owner of the film production house "Vinodha Pictures".

Raghavayya served in the committee of the First General Council of the "Andhra Pradesh Sangeetha Nataka Academy" that represented Dance and was also nominated in 1964 as the President of the "National Dance Festival". Noted dancer, Bhagavathula Yagna Narayana Sarma, Sangeet Natak Akademi winner was trained under Raghavayya's Fellowship.