Datla Venkata Suryanarayana Raju (English: Datla Venkata Suryanarayana Raju, born 13 December 1928; died 13 November 2010) was an Indian film producer, known for his work in Telugu cinema and Bollywood. He was instrumental in shifting the Telugu film industry from Chennai to Hyderabad. He was awarded the ‘Raghupathi Venkaiah Award’, ‘Bhishma Award’ and Padma Shri in 2001 for his contribution to Indian cinema.
D.V.S. Raju was born on 13 December 1928 in Allavaram, East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, into a Telugu Raju family. He went to Madras (now Chennai) in 1950 and met D.V.S. Productions banner established. Before setting up the DVS Productions banner, he worked with N. T. Rama Rao and N. Was a managing partner in National Arts Theater with Trivikram Rao.
D.V.S. Raju N. Produced some popular films starring T. Rama Rao like- Pidugu Ramudu, Chinnanathi Snehithulu etc. Some of his famous movies are Jeevana Nauka, Jeevan Jyoti, Chanakya Sapdham, Pichi Pulaiya. ‘Jeevan Jyoti’ had won the ‘Nandi Award’.
D.V.S. Raju served as a jury member at the 15th National Film Awards and as chairman at the 46th National Film Awards. He was also the Chairman of the National Film Development Corporation of India and President of the Indian Film Association (1979–1980). D.V.S. as Chairman of NFDC. Raju played a key role in co-financing the production of Richard Attenborough’s Oscar award-winning film ‘Gandhi’. He also served as the Chairman of the State Film Development Corporation.
D.V.S. Raju died on November 13, 2010, at the age of 82.
