Gudavalli Ramabrahmam

Gudavalli Ramabrahmam was an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Telugu cinema. He is known for directing critically acclaimed social problem films like Mala Pilla (1938) and Raithu Bidda (1939). At a time when mythological films were ruling the roost, Ramabrahmam ushered in a new era in Telugu cinema by making films on contemporary social issues. In 1937, he founded the film production company Sarathi Films along with Raja of Challapalli, Yaralagadda Sivarama Prasad. In 1945, he was elected as the chairman for South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce. Early life and career Gudavalli Ramabrahmam was born in the village of Nandamuru, Krishna District in 1898 or 1902 to Gudavalli Venkayya and Bapamma. Viswanata Satyanarayana was also born in the same village. Ramabrahmam was educated in Indupalli, Gudivada, and Machilipatnam. He got married at the age of eighteen to Saradhamba. Later he gave up his education and joined the non-cooperation movement by burning foreign clothes in his father-in-law's house. In 1924, he started “Friends and Co,” a stationery shop in Vijayawada. This store became a meeting place for artists and litterateurs like Basavaraju Apparao, Samudrala Raghavacharya, and Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy. In 1931, he became the Chairman of Andhra Farmers Meeting organizing committee. In 1934, he was elected as the secretary of Andhra Nataka Parishathu. He then worked as the editor of Prajamithra magazine in Madras.