Frugaltesting at 02:59, 8 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian film director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Gunnam Gangaraju.png
| caption = Gangaraju in 2022
| name = Gunnam Gangaraju
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Kakinada]], Andhra Pradesh, India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Producer, screenwriter, director
| networth =
| spouse = Urmila
| website =
| footnotes =
| children =
}}
'''Gunnam''' '''Gangaraju''' is an Indian producer, screenwriter, and director known for his works in [[Telugu cinema]] and Telugu television. He is best known as the creator and co-producer of the TV sitcom [[Amrutham (TV series)|''Amrutham'']] (2001–2007), widely considered to be the greatest Telugu comedy TV series of all time.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Nyayapati |first=Neeshita |date=18 November 2017 |title=A trip down memory lane on the anniversary of the hit TV series 'Amrutham' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/a-trip-down-memory-lane-on-the-anniversary-of-the-hit-tv-series-amrutham/articleshow/61700737.cms |access-date=2020-07-21 |website=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="fc">{{cite web |last1=Varma |first1=Sankeerthana |date=13 July 2019 |title=Remembering The Delightful 'Amrutham', The Telugu Comedy Show That Feels Like Home |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/telugu-features/remembering-the-delightful-amrutham-the-telugu-comedy-show-that-feels-like-home/ |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=Film Companion |via=Ghost Archive |archive-date=5 September 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220905180938/https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/telugu-features/remembering-the-delightful-amrutham-the-telugu-comedy-show-that-feels-like-home/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

He received a [[National Film Award]] for the film ''[[Aithe]]'' (2003) he produced. He also won five state [[Nandi Awards]]. His other notable works include ''[[Little Soldiers]]'' (1996), ''[[Anukokunda Oka Roju]]'' (2005), and ''[[Amma Cheppindi]]'' (2006). Along with his friend Venkat Dega, he founded the company Just Yellow, which started off as an IT services firm and later ventured into TV and film production.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last1=Jeevi |last2=Aditya |date= |title=Interview with Gunnam Gangaraju - Anukokunda Oka Roju |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/gangarajugunnam.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404031526/http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/gangarajugunnam.html |archive-date=4 April 2017 |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=[[Idlebrain.com]]}}</ref>

==Early life==
Gunnam Gangaraju is born and brought up in [[Kakinada]].<ref name=":2" /> He is the only son to his parents and has three sisters.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Sri |date=5 August 2005 |title=Gunnam Gangaraju - Interview |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/tc/stars/ggrajuinterview.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119133754/http://www.telugucinema.com/tc/stars/ggrajuinterview.php |archive-date=19 November 2006 |access-date=22 June 2007 |website=[[Telugucinema.com]]}}</ref> He was put up in a [[boarding school]] at the age of five.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=ప్రభుత్వ జోక్యంతోనే టికెట్‌ ధరల సమస్య.. అక్కడ థియేటర్‌కు రూ.కోటి లంచం ఇవ్వాలి |url=https://www.eenadu.net/telugu-news/movies/gunnam-gangaraju-special-interview/0206/122160097 |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=[[Eenadu]] |language=te}}</ref> He studied up to sixth standard in St. Josephs Convent in Kakinada. He moved to [[Hyderabad]] along with his family at the age of ten.<ref name=":5" /> He received a Government of India scholarship and got into Hyderabad Public School.<ref name=":2" /> He finished his schooling and wanted to do medicine, but never got through. He waited for one year and joined Bachelor of Arts (BA) Literature at [[Andhra Loyola College]] in [[Vijayawada]].<ref name=":3" /> But he was removed from college in the second year as the entire English medium students went for a strike. Then he completed his BA privately. He joined [[Master of Arts]] (MA) in English from Andhra University PG Centre, Kakinada.<ref name=":3" />

== Career ==

=== Initial Career ===
He worked as a door to door sales representative for Navbharath Cigarettes and later passed the Probationary officers exam in [[State Bank of India]]. After spending six months at [[Dibrugarh]] and five months at [[Shillong]], he got bored of the job, quit and came back to Hyderabad.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

He started to work as a [[Copywriting|copy-writer]] at his friend's [[advertising agency]]. They ran it for about five years and it ended up as a loss-making venture.<ref name=":3" /> Then, he decided to set up his own designer studio, a studio that makes the basic designs for ad agencies, called Fountain Head Design studio, named after his favourite book. But it didn't workout.<ref name=":2" /> He was interested in [[filmmaking]] but could not find the time.<ref name=":5" /> So, he wanted to start a business that would not require much thinking and opened a [[Vadilal]] ice-cream parlour which also ended up as a failure.<ref name=":2" />

Then, he borrowed {{Indian Rupee}}1,500 from a friend and started the business of [[Greeting card|greeting cards]] named 'Font Cards'. He priced his greeting cards at {{Indian Rupee}} 25 per card, higher than the then market leader [[Hallmark Cards]] whose cards were priced at {{Indian Rupee}}9 per card. This business was successful.<ref name=":2" />

=== Debut in film ===
Even before starting his greeting card business, Gangaraju dabbled in films. He was approached by C. L. Narasareddy, the producer of ''[[Geethanjali (1989 film)|Geethanjali]]'' (1989), and Yarlagadda Surendra, the co-producer of ''[[Siva (1989 Telugu film)|Siva]]'' (1989), for the Telugu remake of the [[Malayalam]] film ''[[Malootty]]'' (1990), which starred [[Shamlee|Shamili]] in one of her first roles.<ref name=":2" /> Gangaraju wanted to improve upon the original and added a brother character and cast [[Tarun (Telugu actor)|Tarun]] for the role. This film started before [[Anjali (1990 film)|''Anjali'']] (1990) which also starred Shamili and Tarun. After shooting for about seven days, the film was shelved due to financial constraints.<ref name=":2" />

When 'Font Cards' business was at high, he started the film ''[[Little Soldiers]]'' (1996) with a story he had written back in 1982 or 1984.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" /> Initially, it was supposed to be produced by someone else with Gangaraju directing it. When the producer backed out, Gangaraju himself produced the film. He said the hardest part about the film was making the three-year-old girl Kavya, the daughter of [[A. V. Guruva Reddy|Dr. A. V. Guruva Reddy]], who played one of the prominent characters in the film, to act. She dubbed in her own voice for all the scenes by learning [[Telugu language|Telugu]] in 3 months. As per Gangaraju, he wrote the climax [[Booby trap|booby traps]] sequence years before the release of ''[[Home Alone]]'' (1993). Gangaraju mentioned that he invested ₹1.06 [[crore]] on the film and recovered ₹50{{En dash}}60 [[lakh]] from it as advances and incurred a loss of around ₹50 lakh.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 May 2014 |title=Interview with Gangaraju Gunnam about Amrutham Chandamamalo |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/gangarajugunnam-amruthamchandamamalo.html |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=[[Idlebrain.com]]}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> He feels the film would have performed better with a different publicity strategy.<ref name=":2" /> He also mentioned the long shooting time as a reason for the film's losses.<ref name=":5" />

=== ''Amrutham'' and beyond ===
Their first project under the 'Just Yellow' banner was ''Amrutham''. ''Amrutham'' was a [[sitcom]] television series created and co-produced by Gunnam Gangaraju.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Pecheti |first=Prakash |date=16 January 2020 |title=Amrutham back to tickle your bones |url=https://telanganatoday.com/amrutham-back-to-tickle-your-bones |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721164015/https://telanganatoday.com/amrutham-back-to-tickle-your-bones |archive-date=2020-07-21 |access-date=2020-08-30 |website=[[Telangana Today]] |language=en}}</ref> It is widely considered to be the greatest Telugu comedy TV series of all time.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="fc" /> The show originally aired on [[Gemini TV]] every Sunday on [[prime time]] 8 PM slot.<ref name=":32" /> It ran for exactly six years from 18 November 2001 to 18 November 2007 for 313 episodes.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |date=13 May 2020 |title=Popular Telugu sitcom 'Amrutham' gears up for a rerun |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/popular-telugu-sitcom-amrutham-gears-up-for-a-rerun/articleshow/75711394.cms |access-date=2020-07-21 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Nyayapati |first=Neeshita |date=18 November 2017 |title=A trip down memory lane on the anniversary of the hit TV series 'Amrutham' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/a-trip-down-memory-lane-on-the-anniversary-of-the-hit-tv-series-amrutham/articleshow/61700737.cms |access-date=2020-07-21 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

== Other work ==
Along with his friend Venkat Dega, a doctor in [[Canterbury]], UK, he founded the company 'Just Yellow' which started off as an [[IT service management|IT services]] firm and later ventured into TV and film production.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> It has produced ''Amrutham'', ''Aithe'', ''Nanna'', ''Anukokunda Oka Roju'' etc.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ప్రభుత్వ జోక్యంతోనే టికెట్‌ ధరల సమస్య.. అక్కడ థియేటర్‌కు రూ.కోటి లంచం ఇవ్వాలి |url=https://www.eenadu.net/telugu-news/movies/gunnam-gangaraju-special-interview/0206/122160097 |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=[[Eenadu]] |language=te}}</ref>

Reed launched the [[Telugu language|Telugu]] translation of [[Leonard Read|Leonard E. Read's]] 1958 essay [[I, Pencil]], the first translation of Leonard's work in the Asian subcontinent. ''I, Pencil'' was translated by [[Raghavendar Askani]] of the Swatantrata Center, [[Youth Parliament Program|Youth Parliament]] Program, for the promotion of liberal thought in India. [[Lawrence Reed]] praised the Vihangam Book by [[Gunnam Gangaraju|Gangaraju Gunnam]], a noted Indian film producer and screenwriter. calling it like an Indian [[Ayn Rand|Ayn Rand's]] ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'', Reed has commented on the advancement of liberal thought in [[India]], highlighting the novel Reed described Vihangam as akin to an Indian version of [[Ayn Rand|Ayn Rand's]] ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'', emphasizing its alignment with free-market and individualist principles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-10 |title=Telugu Edition of 'I, Pencil' Telugu Edition – Swatantrata Center |url=https://swatantrata.org/i-pencil/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=swatantrata.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Telugu Translation of "I, Pencil" launched in Atlanta |url=https://epaper.thehansindia.com/Home/ShareArticle?OrgId=136586624ce&imageview=0 |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=epaper.thehansindia.com}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
[[Chandra Sekhar Yeleti]] who directed ''Aithe'' and ''Anukokunda Oka Roju'' in his production house is his maternal cousin.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 May 2003 |title=Interview with Chandra Sekhar Yeleti by Jeevi - Aithe |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/interview_chandu.html |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=[[Idlebrain.com]]}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> [[Costume designer]] [[Rama Rajamouli]] is also his cousin.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Ethamukkala |first=Hemachandra |date=29 April 2022 |title=Ten Little Known Relationships in Tollywood |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/web-stories/ten-little-known-relationships-in-tollywood/photostory/91180382.cms |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=[[Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref> Rama did various small roles in ''[[Amrutham (TV series)|Amrutham]]'' sitcom in its initial episodes.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=23 June 2022 |title=Throwback Thursday: Did you know SS Rajamouli's wife Rama Rajamouli played small role in a TV show? |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/throwback-thursday-did-you-know-ss-rajamoulis-wife-rama-rajamouli-played-small-role-in-a-tv-show/articleshow/92410282.cms |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> Gangaraju is also a relative of director [[S. S. Rajamouli]].<ref name=":17">{{Cite web |last=Atluri |first=Sri |date=22 September 2004 |title=S. S. Rajamouli Exclusive interview with TC.Com |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/stars/ssrajamoulinterview.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041206213017/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/stars/ssrajamoulinterview.shtml |archive-date=6 December 2004 |website=[[Telugucinema.com]]}}</ref> Rajamouli mentioned that he learnt about the practical aspect of filmmaking from Gangaraju.<ref name=":05">{{Cite web |date=22 September 2005 |title=Interview with SS Rajamouli by Jeevi – Chatrapathi |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/ssrajamouli.html |website=[[Idlebrain.com]] |quote=At that time, Gangaraju was planning to direct his second film (which eventually never took off) after Little Soldiers. It was with Gangaraju I learnt about the practical aspect of filmmaking.}}</ref>

Gangaraju is an atheist.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Hemanth |date=2017-04-27 |title=SS Rajamouli on Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, being an atheist and his love for cinema |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/ss-rajamouli-on-baahubali-2-the-conclusion-being-an-atheist-and-his-love-for-cinema-3408524.html |access-date=2019-10-18 |website=[[Firstpost]] |language=en}}</ref> [[The Fountainhead]] (1943) is his favourite book.<ref name=":2" />

==Awards==
;[[National Film Awards]]
*[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu|Best Feature Film in Telugu]] - Aithe (2003)<ref name="51stawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/51st_nff_2004.pdf|title=51st National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="53rdawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/53rd_nff_2006.pdf|title=53rd National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|access-date=19 March 2012}}</ref>

;[[Nandi Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf|title=నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)|trans-title=A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)|publisher=[[Andhra Pradesh (magazine)|Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh]]|access-date=21 August 2020 | language=Telugu}}</ref>
*[[Nandi Award for Best Feature Film|Second Best Feature Film - Silver]] - [[Little Soldiers]] (1996)
*[[Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer|Best Screenplay Writer]] - [[Little Soldiers]] (1996)
*[[Nandi Award for Best Director|Best Director]] - Little Soldiers (1996)
*[[Nandi Award for Best Feature Film|Second Best Feature Film - Silver]] - [[Anukokunda Oka Roju]] (2005)
*[[Nandi Special Jury Award|Special Jury Award]] - Amma Cheppindi (2006)
*Nandi TV Award for Second Best Mega Serial - ''[[Amrutham (TV series)|Amrutham]]'' (2007)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Nandi TV Awards G.O and Results 2007|url=https://www.apsftvtdc.in/nandi-tv-awards-2007.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-23|website=APSFTVTDC}}</ref>

==Filmography==

=== As writer ===
* ''[[Aithe]]'' - Dialogues (2003)
*''[[Anukokunda Oka Roju]]'' - Dialogues (2005)
*''[[Amrutham (TV series)|Amrutham]]'' - Story & Dialogues (2007)
*''[[Katha (2009 film)|Katha]]'' - Dialogues (2009)
*''Laya'' TV Serial - Story (2008–2010)
*''Edureetha'' TV Serial - Story (2011)
*''[[The Ghazi Attack (film)|Ghazi]]'' - Screenplay, Dialogues (2017)
*''[[Amrutham Dhvitheeyam]]'' (2020)

=== As director ===
*''[[Little Soldiers]]'' (1996)
*''[[Amma Cheppindi]]'' (2006)
*''[[Amrutham Chandamamalo]]'' (2014)

=== As producer ===
*''[[Little Soldiers]]'' (1996)
*''[[Aithe]]'' (2003)
*''[[Anukokunda Oka Roju]]'' (2005)
*''[[Amma Cheppindi]]'' (2006)
*''In a Day'' (2006)
*''[[Katha (2009 film)|Katha]]'' (2009)

=== As art director ===
*''[[Little Soldiers]]'' (1996)

===Television===
*''[[Amrutham (TV series)|Amrutham]]'' (2001–2007; 313 episodes)
*''[[Nanna (serial)|Nanna]]'' (2003–2004; 89 episodes)
*''[[Radha Madhu]]'' (2006–2008; 450 episodes)
*''[[Ammamma.com]]'' (2007–2008; 200 episodes)
*''Laya'' (2008–2010; 321 episodes)
*''Adagaka Ichina Manasu'' (2011; Stopped after 60 episodes)
*''Edureetha'' (2011)
*''Prathibinbam'' (2014–2015)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0348246|name=Ganga Raju Gunnam}}

{{Nandi Special Jury Award}}
{{Nandi Award for Best Director}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunnam, Gangaraju}}
[[Category:Indian atheists]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:Telugu film directors]]
[[Category:Nandi Award winners]]
[[Category:Film directors from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Film producers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Telugu film producers]]
[[Category:Telugu screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:S. S. Rajamouli]]
[[Category:People from Kakinada]]
[[Category:Film people from East Godavari district]]

Gunnam Gangaraju - Revision history

Frugaltesting at 02:59, 8 February 2026