Posani Krishna Murali


Posani Krishna Murali is an Indian screenwriter, actor, director and producer who primarily works in Telugu cinema. He worked as a writer for over 150 Telugu films and directed a number of films. In 2009, he also contested in Andhra Pradesh state legislative assembly elections from Chilakaluripet constituency but lost the elections.

Early life and education

Posani Krishna Murali was born on 22 January 1958 in Pedakakani, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. His father Posani Subba Rao worked as a small-time employee in Pedakakani and his mother was a housewife. He has an elder sister Rajyalakshmi and a younger sister Prameela. He also has a younger brother Posani Amar Bhosale. Growing up, Murali's family struggled financially and his father was not educated and wanted Murali to study well so that he could have a better life. Murali did his schooling in a small village in Guntur district and went on to do his B.Com. He joined Acharya Nagarjuna University in Guntur and graduated with an MA degree. During his time in Nagarjuna University, he was elected as the general secretary for the student body. After completing his Masters, he worked in a small chit fund company in Hyderabad. He was offered a job in Margadarsi Chit Fund. After a year of working there, he resigned his job and went back to Guntur. Murali, saddened and distressed after his father's untimely death, went to Chennai to find work. With no friends in Chennai, Murali met Paruchuri Gopala Krishna at his home and asked him for work. Gopal Krishna gave him an opportunity to work as an assistant under him. Murali later joined Presidency College and graduated with a M.Phil degree, which was his second master's degree. He wanted to obtain a PhD degree. Although he joined a college to do so, he later discontinued his studies because of his work.

Career

Assistant writer and early work (1992–1998)

He joined as an assistant writer under the writing duo Paruchuri Brothers. While he was still working under them and pursuing his M.Phil degree in Madras, Ram Gopal Varma asked him to write dialogues for one of his films. Murali declined the offer and told Ram Gopal Varma that he still had a lot to learn from the Paruchuri Brothers and he wasn't ready to take up a film on his own. Murali worked for five years under the Paruchuri Brothers assisting them in over 100 films. In 1992, he finally quit as assistant writer to further his career. He played a small cameo role in the 1992 Telugu film Dharma Kshetram. He landed a job of writing story and dialogues for the film Police Brothers under the direction of Mohan Gandhi. Also Ram Gopal Varma gave him an opportunity to write dialogues for his 1993 film Gaayam. Varma also recommended Murali to Akkineni Nagarjuna, which led him to write for the film Rakshana. He was also given a breakthrough opportunity to write for Chiranjeevi's Alluda Majaka directed by E. V. V. Satyanarayana. He wrote the story, dialogues and screenplay for the film. He continued working in successful films such as Pavithra Bandham, Thaali, Preminchukundam Raa, Pellichesukundam, Gokulamlo Seetha, Sivayya, Ravanna and Master.

Popularity and acting (1999–2004)

In 1999, he worked as a writer for eight films, the highest by any Telugu writer in that year. In 2000, he worked as a writer for nine films. In 2001, while still busy as a writer, he began his acting career with Srihari's Evadra Rowdy for which he also wrote the story and screenplay. In 2002, his second film as an actor Gemini starring Venkatesh was released. The same year also saw Murali in Mahesh Babu's Bobby which was directed by Sobhan. Although the film was a failure at the boxoffice, Murali's performance in the film was praised. He continued to appear in films such as Good Boy and Bhadradi Ramudu. He also continued writing for films such as Orey Thammudu, Raghavendra, Simhachalam, Bhadradi Ramudu, Palanati Brahmanaidu, Seetayya, Tiger Harish Chandra Prasad and Gemini.

Direction and success (2005–present)

After writing for about one hundred and fifty Telugu films, Posani Krishna Murali decided to direct a film. He established the production company called UP Cinema Lines. In 2005, he wrote, directed and produced Sraavanamasam starring Krishna, Harikrishna, Suman, Vijaya Nirmala, Bhanupriya, Keerthi Chawla, Kalyani, and Gajala. Although the film had a big star cast and more than sixty character artists which included comedians and artists of Telugu cinema like Brahmanandam, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Krishna Bhagavaan, Tanikella Bharani, Giri Babu, Kondavalasa, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, Sunil, Venu Madhav, L.B. Sriram, M. S. Narayana, Mallikarjuna Rao, AVS, Ali and Babu Mohan, the film was a failure at the box office and Murali's direction was heavily criticised. Murali also incurred heavy losses financially due to the failure of this film. Post Sravaanamasam, he acted in films such as Athadu, Game and Munna. In 2006, he began working on his next directorial venture. He wrote the script and approached Telugu actor Srikanth to play a lead role in the film. Impressed by the script, Srikanth agreed to do the film and Murali secured a producer for the project. The film was a political satire and was titled Operation Duryodhana and was released in 2007. The film was successful at the box office earning nearly ten times its budget. Murali's direction was also praised by the critics. He continued to direct films such as Apadamokkulavadu, Mental Krishna, Rajavari Chepala Cheruvu, Posani Gentleman and Dushasana. He also began acting in lead roles in films such as Mental Krishna, Rajavari Chepala Cheruvu and Posani Gentleman. He has also been playing supporting roles in prominent Telugu films, with his latest being the 2018 film MLA.

Filmography

As a director

As an actor

Television

  1. Bathuku jataka bandi Zee Telugu
  2. Gangstars Amazon Video

    As a writer

  3. Gaayam Dialogues
  4. Rakshana Dialogues
  5. Police Brothers Story, Dialogues, Screenplay
  6. Alluda Majaka Story, Dialogues, Screenplay
  7. Pavitra Bandham Dialogues
  8. Nenu Premisthunnanu Dialogues
  9. Taali Dialogues
  10. Preminchukundam Raa Dialogues
  11. Gokulamlo Seetha Dialogues
  12. Pelli Chesukundam Dialogues
  13. Master Dialogues
  14. Pelli Kanuka Dialogues
  15. Auto Driver Dialogues
  16. Aahaa...! Dialogues
  17. Pellaadi Choopista Story, Dialogues, Screenplay
  18. Seetharama Raju Dialogues
  19. Preyasi Rave Story, Screenplay and Dialogues
  20. Bharat Ratna Story, Dialogues
  21. Ravanna Story, Dialogues
  22. Manoharam Dialogues
  23. Orey Tammudu Story, Screenplay
  24. Evadra Rowdy Story, Screenplay, Dialogues
  25. Bhadrachalam Dialogues
  26. Gemini Dialogues
  27. Idi Maa Ashokgadi Love Story Screenplay, Dialogues
  28. Raghavendra Story, Screenplay, Dialogues
  29. Palnati Brahmanayudu Story, Screenplay
  30. Shambhu Dialogues
  31. Simhachalam Dialogues
  32. Seetayya Story, Dialogues
  33. Raja Narasimha Kannada Story
  34. Tiger Harishchandra Prasad Story, Screenplay
  35. Sheshadri Naidu Story, Screenplay, Dialogues
  36. Bhadradi Ramudu Story, Screenplay, Dialogues
  37. Swamy Story, Dialogues
  38. Aaptudu Dialogues
  39. Aapada Mokkulavaadu Story, Screenplay
  40. Mental Krishna Story, Screenplay, Dialogues
  41. Rajavaari Chepala Cheruvu Story, Screenplay, Dialogues
  42. Posani Gentleman Story, Screenplay, Dialogues
  43. Dussasana Story, Screenplay, Dialogues

    As a producer