Velamakucha Venkata Ramana Reddy (born 17 December 1970), known professionally as Dil Raju, is an Indian film producer and distributor known for his works in Telugu cinema. He has also financed some Tamil and Hindi films and owns the production company Sri Venkateswara Creations. Raju has won two National Film Awards and was honoured with the Nagi Reddy–Chakrapani National Award in 2013 for his contributions to popular cinema.[3][4]
Dil Raju | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Raju receiving the National Film Award in 2017 | |
| Born | Velamakucha Venkat Ramana Reddy[1] 17 December 1970[2] Narsingpally, Telangana, India |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouses | Anitha (died 2017)Vygha Reddy (m. 2020) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life and career
Dil Raju was born in Narsingpalli in Nizamabad district of present-day Telangana. He was educated in Mudakpally and Nizamabad, and was interested in films from a young age. He later moved to Hyderabad and did automobile business with his brothers. He ventured into film distribution in the 1990s with the film Pelli Pandiri (1997)[5] and started Sri Venkateswara Film Distributors in 1998.[6]
Personal life
Raju married Anita and has a daughter, Hanshitha Reddy. Anita died on 11 March 2017 due to cardiac arrest. Raju later married Tejaswini in 2020.[7][8] Tejaswini's name was changed to Vygha Reddy following her marriage as per astrology.[9] They have a son born in 2022.[10]
Film production
Sri Venkateswara Creations
Collaborations
Matinee Entertainments (subsidiary)
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Maro Charitra | Director's debut film |
| 2011 | Gaganam | Simultaneously shot in Tamil as Payanam |
Collaborations with other producers
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Akasamantha | Telugu version of Prakash Raj's Abhiyum Naanum |
| 2012 | Tuneega Tuneega | In collaboration with Padmini Arts |
| 2014 | Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitam | In collaboration with Geetha Arts |
| 2017 | Jawaan | In collaboration with Arunachal Creations |
| 2019 | Maharshi | In collaboration with Vyjayanthi Movies and PVP Cinema |
| 2020 | Sarileru Neekevvaru | In collaboration with AK Entertainments and GMB Entertainment |
| 2021 | Vakeel Saab | In collaboration with Bayview Projects LLP |
| Paagal | In collaboration with Lucky Media | |
| 2023 | Shaakuntalam | In collaboration with Gunaa Teamworks as Sri Venkateshwara Creations and Dil Raju Productions[11] |
Dubbed films
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Amrutha | In collaboration with Giri |
| 2012 | Snehithudu | Remake of 3 Idiots |
| 2015 | Ok Bangaram | |
| 2016 | Police | |
| 2016 | Remo | |
| 2017 | Cheliyaa | |
| 2022 | Love Today |
Other language productions
| Year | Film | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Jersey | Hindi | Collaboration with Allu Aravind & Aman Gill[12] |
| HIT: The First Case | Hindi | ||
| TBA | F2 Remake | Hindi | Collaboration with Boney Kapoor[13] |
Awards
- Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment – Golden Lotus (producer) – Sathamanam Bhavati – (2016)
- Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment – Golden Lotus (producer) – Maharshi – (2019)
- Best Feature Film (Gold) – Bommarillu (2006)
- Best Feature Film (Bronze) – Parugu (2008)
- Akkineni Award for Best Home-viewing Feature Film – Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (2013)
- Nagi Reddy-Chakrapani National Award for contributions to popular cinema – (2013)[3]
- Santosham D. Ramanaidu Smarakam Award (2019)
- Other Awards
- Nagi Reddy Memorial Award for the Best Telugu Family Entertainer of the year 2011 – Mr. Perfect[14]