Actor and producer · Telugu cinema
Kaikala Satyanarayana
Kaikala Satyanarayana movies: 359 Telugu films on file (359 as actor, 3 as producer), 1951–2024. Earliest on file: Nirdoshi (1951). Latest release: Saripodhaa Sanivaaram (29 August 2024).

- Films on file
- 359 (359 as actor, 3 as producer)
- Years on file
- 1951–2024
- Born
- 25 July 1935 · July birthdays (Wikidata)
- Died
- 23 December 2022
- Selected films on file
- Arundhati, Bobbili Raja, 20va Shatabdam
- Record
- Q6347764 on Wikidata
Kaikala Satyanarayana (25 July 1935 – 23 December 2022) was an Indian actor, producer and politician who worked mainly in Telugu cinema. Over six decades he appeared in more than 750 films. His range earned him the title Navarasa Natana Sarvabhouma (Universal Monarch of Acting in Nine Rasas). He received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 2011 and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, and he served as a Member of Parliament for Machilipatnam.
Early life
Satyanarayana was born to Kaikala Laxmi Narayana of Kavutaram village in Krishna district. He went to primary school in Gudlavalleru, did his intermediate studies in Vijayawada and graduated from Gudivada College.
Entry into films
D. L. Narayana spotted him and cast him in Sipayi Koothuru (1959), directed by Changayya. The film did poorly, but his resemblance to N. T. Rama Rao was noticed, and he went on to work as NTR’s double in several films. NTR then gave him a role as a prince in Apoorva Sahasra Siraccheda Chintamani (1960), directed by S. D. Lal.
Villain and character roles
B. Vittalacharya cast him as a villain in Kanaka Durga Pooja Mahima, and the role suited him so well that he became established in villainous parts. He later played a wide range of roles across genres and appeared in more than 750 films in all.
Producer
He set up the production house Rama Films, which made Kodama Simham (1990), Bangaru Kutumbam (1994) and Muddula Mogudu (1997). Bangaru Kutumbam won the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film.
Politics and jury work
In 1996 he won the Machilipatnam Lok Sabha seat for the Telugu Desam Party and served in the 11th Lok Sabha. In 2012 he was a jury member for the South Region at the 59th National Film Awards.
Sources: Wikipedia and Wikidata.
Kaikala Satyanarayana: quick facts
- Born: 25 July 1935, to Kaikala Laxmi Narayana of Kavutaram village, Krishna district (Wikipedia)
- Died: 23 December 2022, at the age of 87 (Wikipedia)
- First film: Sipayi Koothuru (1959), directed by Changayya and offered to him by D. L. Narayana (Wikipedia)
- Films: More than 750 over six decades, according to Wikipedia; 359 are in the filmography table on this page, and more released Telugu titles from TMDB are listed below (Wikipedia)
- Producer: He founded Rama Films, which made Kodama Simham (1990), Bangaru Kutumbam (1994) and Muddula Mogudu (1997) (Wikipedia)
- Honours: Raghupathi Venkaiah Award (2011), Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2017), and a Nandi Award for Best Feature Film for Bangaru Kutumbam (1994) (Wikipedia)
- Politics: Member of Parliament for Machilipatnam in the 11th Lok Sabha, elected for the Telugu Desam Party in 1996 (Wikipedia)
More Kaikala Satyanarayana Telugu films listed on TMDB
These Telugu-language films are credited to Kaikala Satyanarayana on TMDB but are not yet part of the filmography table on this page. The credit column is TMDB’s own listing; check the film’s page for full details.
| Year | Film | Credit listed on TMDB |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Desa Drohulu | as Police Inspector |
| 1968 | Veeranjaneya | as Garuda |
| 1969 | Takkari Donga Chakkani Chukka | as Bhayankar |
| 1970 | Rowdy Rani | Cast |
| 1972 | Monagadostunnadu Jagratha | Cast |
| 1976 | Raju Vedale | Cast |
| 1977 | Moratodu | Cast |
| 1978 | Kaliyuga Sthree | Cast |
| 1979 | Mande Gundelu | Cast |
| 1979 | Burripalem Bullodu | Cast |
| 1979 | Samajaniki Sawal | Cast |
| 1980 | Devudichina Koduku | Cast |
| 1980 | Mama Allulla Saval | Cast |
| 1980 | Adrushtavanthudu | Cast |
| 1980 | Mosagadu | Cast |
| 1980 | Pasidi Moggalu | as Bhushanam |
| 1980 | Bangaru Bava | Cast |
| 1981 | Gaja Donga | Cast |
| 1981 | Ooriki Ichina Maata | Cast |
| 1982 | Krishnarajunulu | Cast |
| 1982 | Illali Korikalu | Cast |
| 1983 | Pelli Choopulu | Cast |
| 1983 | Siripuram Monagadu | Cast |
| 1984 | Iddaru Dongalu | Cast |
| 1984 | Illalu Priyuralu | Cast |
| 1985 | Aalapana | Cast |
| 1985 | Sanchalanam | Cast |
| 1985 | Edadugula Bandham | as Sarala's father |
| 1986 | Khaidi Rudrayya | as Phanibhushan Rao's elder son |
| 1987 | Karthika Pournami | Cast |
| 1987 | Maa Voori Magaadu | as Kaleswara rao |
| 1988 | Kaliyuga Karnudu | Cast |
| 1988 | Jamadagni | Cast |
| 1988 | Maharajashri Mayagaadu | Cast |
| 1989 | Atha Mechina Alludu | Cast |
| 1989 | Gopala Rao Gari Abbayi | Producer |
| 1990 | Nagastharam | Cast |
| 1991 | Ramudu Kadu Rakshasudu | Cast |
| 1991 | Nenera Police | Cast |
| 1992 | Attaku Koduku Mamaku Alludu | Cast |
| 1992 | Raktha Tharpanam | Cast |
| 1992 | Bhale Khaideelu | Cast |
| 1993 | Manavarali Pelli | Cast |
| 1993 | Amma Koduku | Cast |
| 1993 | Shabash Ramu | Cast |
| 1993 | Kunthi Putrudu | Cast |
| 1994 | M Dharmaraju M.A. | Cast |
| 1998 | Aayanagaru | Cast |
| 1999 | Pedda Manushulu | Cast |
| 2003 | Appudappudu | Cast |
| 2003 | Janaki Weds Sriram | Cast |
| 2003 | Neeke Manasichanu | Cast |
| 2005 | Kanchanamala Cable TV | Cast |
| 2011 | Once Upon a Warrior | as Village Head |
Career on file
Kaikala Satyanarayana has 359 Telugu films on file at Tollywood Desk, dated from 1951 to 2024: 359 films as actor and three films as producer. The earliest of them is Nirdoshi (1951), and the most recent release is Saripodhaa Sanivaaram (2024). Measured by how many Wikipedia language editions cover them, the best-known titles here are Arundhati (2009), Bobbili Raja (1990) and 20va Shatabdam (1990). Other recent releases on file are Maharshi (2019), N.T.R: Kathanayukudu (2019) and Jump Jilani (2014).
Allu Rama Lingaiah is the most frequent co-star, sharing 106 films with Kaikala Satyanarayana, followed by N. T. Rama Rao (84) and Gummadi Venkateswara Rao (58). Among directors, K. Raghavendra Rao cast Kaikala Satyanarayana most often, in 39 films; next are Dasari Narayana Rao (22) and A. Kodandarami Reddy (22). Music on 78 of them is by K. Chakravarthy, with K. V. Mahadevan (49) and Chellapilla Satyam (20) next. Suresh Productions produced 12 of them, more than any other banner on file. Across these films the credits on file name 114 different directors, 55 music directors and 263 other credited actors.
Runtime is on file for 260 of them; they average 149 minutes, and the longest is Daana Veera Soora Karna at 227 minutes. Eight of them have a streaming (OTT) release noted on the site. By decade the list splits into 1950s (1), 1960s (39), 1970s (95), 1980s (133), 1990s (74), 2000s (11), 2010s (5) and 2020s (1).
Figures come from the films on file at Tollywood Desk and change as records are added.