Y. V. S. Chowdary

In 2010, Chowdary launched the film Rey introducing Chiranjeevi's nephew Sai Dharam Tej and Saiyami Kher as lead actors. He wanted to release the film in summer of 2011 but it didn't happen due to some reasons. The release was then postponed to 2013 but it didn't happen too. Finally, the film was released on 27 March 2015. Meanwhile, Tej's second film Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham directed by A. S. Ravikumar Chowdary was released. However, Rey became a flop.

In 2012, Chowdary produced the film Nippu under the direction of Gunasekhar, starring Ravi Teja and Deeksha Seth. Chowdary and Ravi Teja shared same room and Gunasekhar lived in another floor of same building at Madras, during their trails in film industry. This film was released on 17 February 2012. Though it got good openings it turned out to be a flop later.

Chowdary then directed Saleem starring Manchu Vishnu, Ileana and Mohan Babu in prominent roles. It was produced by Mohan Babu in his production house Sree Lakshmi Prasanna Pictures. This was the only film Chowdary didn't produce after establishing his own production house. It was released on 12 December 2009 and failed to get appreciation from audiences and critics.

During the post production of Devadasu, Chowdary approached Nandamuri Balakrishna and narrated a story. Balakrishna liked the story and that became Okka Magaadu. It was released on 11 January 2008 amidst high expectations and collected 7 crores on first day. There were even instances where tickets of this film were sold for higher prices in black at some theaters of Hyderabad. Unable to reach expectations, this film became a flop and most of the theaters were seen vacant after the first week of release.

After Seetayya, Chowdary approached some actors to cast in his next film but nothing materialized. When he met Sravanthi Ravi Kishore, he happened to see and liked the photos of his nephew Ram Pothineni. He chose Ram as the lead in his next film Devadasu. He selected Ileana, the then Fair and Lovely model, opposite Ram. Devadasu was released on 11 January 2006 and became a blockbuster with a gross collection of 17 crores. It completed its 175 days run in 17 centers and completed 205 days in Odeon 70mm theater at Hyderabad, in a single run.

In 100 days event of Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo, Chowdary announced that Nandamuri Harikrishna would act in his next film Seetayya as a solo hero and revealed its poster in the same event. This film was released on 22 August 2003 and became successful. Even during the release of Seetayya, Chowdary announced that its 100 days event would be held at Anantapur on 1 December 2003 which couldn't be held due to famine.

Chowdary faced many hurdles during the production of the film. Production had to be halted due to health issues of various actors and accidents to crew members. He had to bear all the expenses being a producer hence budget and production time were increased. There were instances where his own crew used to bet that this film would not be released, even if it does it would be a flop. But Chowdary was so confident on the film that he wanted to organize its 100 days event at his hometown Gudiwada. With the help of Ramoji Rao, chairman of Eenadu Group, film was released on 1 May 2002 and Gemini Kiran helped in marketing it. The film became successful and ran for 100 days and he organized the event at Gudiwada.

Chowdary approached Mahesh Babu and narrated him a story. By that time Babu's debut film Raja Kumarudu was not released. He accepted to work with Chowdary by listening to story for half an hour. That became Yuvaraju, Chowdary's third film. Though he wanted to opt new actresses as female leads he had to cast established actresses Simran and Sakshi Shivanand opposite Babu due to various reasons. The film released on 14 April 2000 didn't do as expected at box office but distributors had their profits. "Yuva Raju didn't work well because it didn't have required advertising. No audience will see the movie without proper advertising", Chowdary said in an interview.

After the success of first film, Akkineni Nagarjuna gave Chowdary an opportunity to direct him and that turned out to be his second film Seetharama Raju. It was produced by Nagarjuna and D. Siva Prasad Reddy jointly under "Great India Entertainments" and "Kamakshi Movies" production houses. With the rapport Chowdary had with Nandamuri Harikrishna while working for Pattabhishekam, he approached him to play the role of Nagarjuna's brother in his film. As Harikrishna appeared in a guest role in Sri Ramulayya directed by N. Shankar before, he accepted the role in Seetharama Raju. At the time of release, this film had a tough competition with Samarasimha Reddy directed by B. Gopal and Antahpuram directed by Krishna Vamsi, made on similar backdrop of factionism. Besides this, Harikrishna stepped out of Telugu Desam Party and established Anna Telugu Desam Party prior to one week of film's release. This caused a major separation in NTR fans and followers. But Seetharama Raju, released on 5 February 1999 crossed all these hurdles and was successful. That brought Chowdary 13 offers from different producers.

Yalamanchili Venkata Satyanarayana Chowdary is an Indian Telugu cinema writer, director, producer, distributor, exhibitor and a music company owner. He made his debut as a director in 1998 with the film Sri Sita Ramula Kalyanam Chootamu Raarandi produced by Akkineni Nagarjuna under "Great India Entertainments". He then directed Seetharama Raju starring Nagarjuna and Nandamuri Harikrishna, Yuvaraju starring Mahesh Babu. He then established his own production house "Bommarillu Vari" and started producing his own directorials with Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo. Later, he directed Seetayya, Devadasu, Okka Magaadu, Saleem, Rey. Among these, Saleem is the only film which is not from his production house. He has directed nine films till date. In 2012, he produced Nippu starring Ravi Teja under the direction of Gunasekhar.

Chowdary wanted new actors for his debut film and Nagarjuna accepted his request. He opted Venkat - Chandini as lead pair and senior actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao for a prominent role. During that time, Nagarjuna's friends advised him that film with new actors would not work. As an example Chowdary showed Tene Manasulu, which was made with the then debut actors Krishna, Ram Mohan and was successful. At the time of release, Sri Sitaramula Kalyanam Chutamu Rarandi had a competition with senior directors' films like Paradesi directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, Kalyana Praptirastu directed by Dasari Narayana Rao and Sindhooram directed by Krishna Vamsi. While rest were flops, Chowdary's debut film, released on 26 June 1998 was successful which brought him 26 offers from different producers.

Chowdary was born on 23 May 1965 at Gudiwada of Krishna district as a last child to the couple Yalamanchili Narayana Rao and Ratnakumari. His father was a truck driver and mother was a housewife. His family was of lower middle class and his parents were uneducated. But his father could make a signature. Chowdary has an elder sister and an elder brother. He had a friend AV Rao who was from an affluent family. Chowdary and Rao together watched films of their favorite actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao whenever Rao gets his pocket money of 50 rupees.

Chowdary was a good student in his schooldays. He stood first at school level in 6th and 7th standards and he stood first at Gudiwada town level in 8th standard. During 9th standard, he formed "NTR Fans Association" at Gudiwada and held its president position. After that, Chowdary never topped but stood at distinction level. He used to collect money from fans of Rao and decorate his cutouts and theaters where his films were exhibited. He stated in an interview that he watched Rao's film Vetagaadu for 59 times out of 62 days of its exhibition at Gudiwada