Raghupathi Surya Prakash facts for kids

Raghupathi Surya Prakash Rao Naidu (1901–1956), known as R. S. Prakash, was a very important person in early Indian cinema. He was a film director, producer, and cinematographer. He is often called one of the first people to make movies in India. He was also the first director in Telugu cinema. He did many jobs for his early films, like shooting, developing, and editing them himself.

With his father, Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu, he made a film called Bhishma Pratigya in 1921. Many people think this was the first full-length feature film in Telugu. Prakash directed this movie and also played the main character, Bhishma. He continued to direct many silent and sound films until the 1950s.

Early Life of R. S. Prakash

Raghupathi Surya Prakasa Rao Naidu was born in 1901 in Madras. His family spoke Telugu. His father was Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu, a rich businessman and photographer. Venkaiah Naidu started showing films in South India around 1910. He even built the first movie theater in Madras in 1914. Surya Prakash went to school with Christian missionaries in Vepery.

How R. S. Prakash Started His Film Career

Prakash's father, Venkaiah, sent him to learn about filmmaking in other countries. In 1918, Prakash went to London and joined Barker Motion Photography. He then traveled to Paris (Pathé), Germany, and even Hollywood. He saw famous directors like F. W. Murnau at work. In 1920, he brought a special 35mm camera back to Madras. Sadly, this camera had problems and ruined his first movie, Meenakshi Kalyanam.

Building a Studio and Making First Films

In 1921, Venkaiah and Surya Prakash opened their own studio. It was called Star of the East Studio, or sometimes the Glass Studio, in Madras. There, they made Bhishma Pratigya (1921). This film is known as the first Telugu feature film. Prakash directed it and played the main role of Bhishma. An Englishwoman named Peggy Castello also acted in the film. Bhishma Pratigya was shown all over India, Burma, and Sri Lanka. It was a huge success! The film cost about ₹12,000 to make, but it earned ₹60,000.

Many other early South Indian filmmakers worked with Prakash. These included C. Pullayya and A. Narayanan. Their films were shown across India with intertitles (text cards) in different languages. Prakash also directed a film called The Catechist of Kil-Arni (1923). This movie was made to help raise money for a mission society.

Prakash as a Film Distributor

Surya Prakash also became a film distributor. In 1926, he started a company called Guarantee Pics. However, the company later faced financial challenges. He then helped A. Narayanan start General Pictures Corporation in 1929. Later, he also helped with Srinivasa Cinetone Studio.

In the mid-1930s, Prakash worked with Sundaram Sound Studio. He also worked with Govardhan Film Distributors and owned three movie theaters in Madras. In 1931, he directed Leila the Star of Mingrelia. This film was very long, with 20 reels. It was said to be the most expensive film made in India at that time.

Prakash's Technical Skills in Filmmaking

Surya Prakash was known as a very skilled technician. In his 1934 film, Draupadi Vastrapaharanam, he made one actor appear in five different places in the same scene. He did this without using special optical effects! From the mid-1930s, he worked as a freelance director.

Prakash also influenced other filmmakers, like Y. V. Rao, who acted in his film Gajendra Moksham (1930). Many of Prakash's films about Hindu gods and myths were shot at the Gingee Fort. He also directed a Tamil film about social reform called Anaadhai Penn (1938).

Some of Prakash's early sound films have unclear records. Films like Draupadi Vastrapaharanam, Krishna Arjuna, and Indrasabha are sometimes credited to Prakash and sometimes to his partner Narayanan. However, the Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema credits them to both filmmakers.

Films Directed by R. S. Prakash

• Bhishma Pratigna (1921)
• The Catechist of Kil-Arni (1923)
• Gajendra Moksham (1923)
• Bhakta Nandan (1923)
• Samudra Madanam (1923)
• Usha Swapna (1924)
• Mahatma Kabirdas (1925)
• Mohini Avatar (1926)
• Dashavtar (1929)
• Stage Girl (1929)
• Gajendra Moksham (1930)
• Sree Kanyaka Parmeswari (1930)
• Lanka Dabana (1930)
• Gandhariyin Pulambal (1930)
• Pavalakkodi (1931)
• Leila the Star of Mingrelia (1931)
• Rose of Rajasthan (1931)
• Vishnu Leela (1932)
• Draupadi Vastrapaharanam (1934)
• Lanka Dahanam (1935)
• Thooku Thooki (1935)
• Krishna Arjuna (1935)
• Krishna Naradi (1936)
• Nalayini (1936)
• Indrasabba (1936)
• Andal Thirukalyanam (1937)
• Soldier's Wife (1937)
• Rajasekharan (1937)
• Anaadhai Penn (1938)
• Porveeran Manaivi (1938)
• Sirikathe (1939)
• Chandika (1940)
• Tara Sasank (1941)
• Babruvahana (1942)
• Mayapilla (1951)
• Moondru Penngal (1956)