Early career Nageswara Rao developed an early interest in acting and theatre, actively participating in several plays. Although Nageswara Rao was invited to act in V. B. Rajendra Prasad’s first production,
Annapurna (1960), he was unable to participate at that time. He settled in
Madras and began his acting career, gaining recognition with his role as
S. V. Ranga Rao's second son in
Aatma Bandhuvu (1964). He appeared in minor roles in films such as
Sangeeta Lakshmi (1966),
Ranabheri (1968),
Pavitra Bandham (1971),
Mattilo Manikyam (1971),
Chinnanati Snehitulu (1971),
Manavadu Danavudu (1972),
Neramu Siksha (1973),
Bangaru Babu (1973), and
Devude Digivaste (1975).
Sankarabharanam (1980) Edida Nageswara Rao, who had a close connection with director K. Viswanath, learned that the latter had a script blending music and literature. Despite Viswanath’s doubts about its appeal, Nageswara Rao decided to produce the film under Poornodaya Movie Creations.
Sagara Sangamam (1983) In 1983, Nageswara Rao produced
Sagara Sangamam, directed by K. Viswanath, and starring
Kamal Haasan and
Jayaprada. The film explored human emotions and the artistic journey of a classical dancer, with legendary dancers
Gopi Krishna and
Birju Maharaj providing choreography. The film received critical acclaim, particularly for Kamal Haasan’s performance and
Ilaiyaraaja’s music, which won a
National Award.
Sagara Sangamam became one of the first non-Hindi films to be released in Russia with international-standard soundtracks and subtitles, opening doors for more of K. Viswanath’s films in international markets.
Sagara Sangamam remains one of the most iconic films in Telugu cinema, celebrated for its blending of emotion, art, and storytelling. It was also showcased at several prestigious film festivals, including the
International Film Festival of India, the
Moscow Film Festival, and the
Asian Film Festival.
Swathi Muthyam (1986) Following
Sitara, Nageswara Rao reunited with K. Viswanath to produce
Swathi Muthyam (1986), which starred Kamal Haasan and
Radhika. The film tells the story of a young widow who is rescued by an
autistic man.
Swathi Muthyam was a box office success and was screened at various international film festivals. The film received the
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, three
Nandi Awards and the
Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu.
Swathi Muthyam became the first Telugu film to be selected as
India's official entry for the
Academy Awards. It was remade in Hindi as
Eeshwar (1989) and in Kannada as
Swathi Muthu (2003).
Swayamkrushi (1987) In 1987, Nageswara Rao produced
Swayamkrushi, a film directed by K. Viswanath and starring
Chiranjeevi and
Vijayashanti. The film tells the story of a self-made cobbler who rises to wealth and power but faces misunderstanding from his son. The film featured music by
Ramesh Naidu, which became highly popular. The film was a critical and commercial success and won Chiranjeevi his first
Nandi Award for Best Actor. The film was screened at the
International Film Festival of India, the
Asia Pacific Film Festival; the film was dubbed into Russian and was screened at the special mention section at the
Moscow International Film Festival.
Swarakalpana (1989) Nageswara Rao’s next venture was
Swarakalpana (1989), directed by Vamsy. This film marked the debut of his son Edida Sriram as the lead actor, with Sita playing the female lead. The film’s music was composed by
Gangai Amaran, Ilaiyaraaja's brother, as the latter was unavailable. Despite high expectations, the film struggled at the box office due to competition and poor execution, which led to a major financial loss for Nageswara Rao. It marked the first failure for Nageswara Rao as a producer. The failure of
Swara Kalpana also affected Sriram’s acting career. == Legacy ==