Bio-data of Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao, Minister of State for Coal and Mines
A multi-faceted personality, Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao, is an artiste par excellence, film director and producer, journalist, writer, publisher and a political and social worker. Impressed by his achievements, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam conferred on him an honorary Doctorate in 1986.
Born to Shri D. Sairaju and Smt. Mahalaxmi in Palakole village of West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh on May 04, 1947, he was interested in writing and acting from his childhood. He is married to Dasari Padma and has two sons and a daughter.
Dr. Rao was the founder publisher and editor of 'Udayam', a Telugu Daily; 'Sivaranjani' and 'Meghasandesam', film journals and a Political Weekly, 'Bobbilipuli'. He has directed a record 148 films with a success ratio of 82 per cent and produced 53 films. He scripted dialogues for 250 films and composed nearly 1,000 lyrics for different films. He has 66 celluloid hits as an actor. Through his films he has championed the cause of women, girl child and the downtrodden and has raised his voice against dowry, bonded labour and other social evils. He has bagged a large number of film awards as an actor, director and producer. His name appears in the Limca Book of World Records as a director of the highest number of films in the world and expects an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records.
He associated himself with many film organisations and Trade Unions during his career. He became the President of Andhra Pradesh Film Chambers of Commerce, South Indian Film Directors Association, Film Employees Federation of South India, South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, Telugu Film Producer Council and South Indian Film Writers Association. He was the Chairman of Wage Board of All India Film Workers and nominated by AP Government to the Andhra Pradesh Film Industry Development Committee. A Women’s College at Palakole has been established in his name. He has raised funds for many national causes by organising film events. He has visited USA and USSR on Government invitation as a journalist and Member of film delegation. He has also visited United Kingdom in 2002.
Dr. Rao was elected to Rajya Sabha in April 2000 and was a Member of many Parliamentary Committees attached to different Ministries. He was a Member in the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology. Since 1989, he is in active politics. In 2001, he was appointed as Senior Vice-President of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee. During the General Elections 2004, he was the Chairman, Election Campaign Committee.
Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao was appointed as the Minister of State for Coal and Mines in the United Progressive Alliance Government and assumed office on May 24, 2004.