A tribute to Dasari Narayana Rao Guruvu Garu

GURUVU GARU

“Director is the captain of ship” – Dr. Dasari Narayana Garu, you made telugu film industry know this definition. The director who directed 150 films , just not a captain of the ship but captain of Telugu film industry, one of the kind in Indian film industry - one and only "Darsakaratna Dasari NarayanaRao garu. We all proudly call him as "Guruvugaru" (Teacher). You are not physically here Guruvugaru but you are and always will be in my heart. I am really missing the way you address me "ra Amma Ayodhya ". Very few people who are close to my heart in Telugu film industry and you are one of them. It is a big loss to me personally, feel like losing a family member, feel like missing a godfather. Guruvu garu is the real godfather of Telugu independent film or a small film or a meaningful film.

I don’t know whether this generation knows are not but when NTR garu, ANR garu and Kirshna garu doing two or three different films a day on shift basis. Dasari garu is the only one director who has directed different films on different sets on same day. You are the one who made telugu film industry realize what a director is , you’re the one who told “film is a director's medium”. And for decades you are our front runner for the word called “DIRECTOR”.

Just not the directon department, you have identified many and given hundreds of techinicians and actors in telugu film industry. Whenever there is any progressive update or movement in the film industry, you stood for them and fought for them.
మా అందరికి తెలిసిందే మీరు వేసిన పునాదుల మీద నుంచున్నం. శ్రామికులు, కర్షకులు, దర్శకులు, నటులు ఇలా అందరి సమస్యలు తలకేత్తుకునే మీరు నడిచిన బాటలో, మీరు చూపించిన బాటలో మేము ప్రయాణం చేస్తున్నాము.

For those who don’t know directly what you have been doing to telugu film industry for decades , I want to share an example called “Minugurulu”. In December 2013 Guruvu garu watched the film at midnight, he called me next day morning and said “you have made an excellent film, I have to release this film and I feel proud to present this film as “Dasari Narayanarao presents”. I went to his place, and rest is the story. He released the film in 2014 January. But the main point here is how extent one person can go to help you out, he might have made 50 calls infront of me , to Governer, politicians, social activits, distributors and exhibitors ( theatre owners). వ్యక్తులు శక్తులుగా మారినప్పుడే సమాజం ముందుకు వెళ్తుంది. అటువంటి శక్తీ మన గురువుగారు. Not only he made hundreds of phone calls but also he extended his help to an utmost point that you would not imagine. I am so grateful for that, Guruvugaru. We both did not go after the money in Minugurulu’s case, but we fought to take this film to general audience. So this is just one example to tell how much he supports good cinema (not talking about my film but in general).

I was really sad when you were in hospital , though I visted you few times in hospital , my only regret is I could not meet you after winning seven Nandi awards. Jayasudha garu mentioned to me that you felt very happy about Minugurulu winning Nandi news, But I personally could not see your happy face because I was in US.

A man who has guts, a man who has big heart, a man who touched many a heart, that’s why we all touch your feet with love and respect Guruvu garu. I can't touch your feet for last time because I am in in US, but I can touch my heart and say "Salute Guruvugaru ".

గురువుగారికి ప్రేమతో..
Ayodhyakumar Krishnamsetty
Even more proud Director/Producer of Minugurulu