| D. Madhusudana Rao | |
| Birth Date: | 27 July 1917 |
| Birth Place: | Peyyeru, Gudivada Taluk, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Occupation: | Producer, Screen writer |
| Spouse: | Suseela Devi |
| Children: | Sitaramaswami Dukkipati Lalitha Kumari GandhamaneniKalyani Polavarapu Lakshmi Kanta TummalaRama Devi Maddipoti |
| Awards: | National Film Awards Nandi Awards |
Dukkipati Madhusudhana Rao (27 July 1917 – 26 March 2006) was an Indian film producer and screenwriter in Telugu cinema.[1] As a producer, he received four National Film Awards and three Nandi Awards throughout his career. In recognition of his contributions to Telugu cinema, he was honoured with the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award by the Andhra Pradesh government in 1993.
Madhusudhana Rao played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of several actors, most notably Akkineni Nageswara Rao. In 1951, he co-founded Annapurna Pictures, which went on to produce landmark films such as Donga Ramudu (1955), Thodi Kodallu (1957), and Doctor Chakravarthy (1964). His collaboration with director Adurthi Subba Rao resulted in some of Telugu cinema’s most celebrated films. Additionally, he was instrumental in relocating the Telugu film industry to Hyderabad and was recognized for his philanthropy, particularly as the Founder President of the Filmnagar Cooperative Housing Society. He passed away on 26 March 2006 at the age of 88.[2]
Dukkipati Madhusudhana Rao was born on 27 July 1917 in Peyyeru, Gudivada Taluk of Krishna district, to Sitarama Swamy and Gangajalam. He married Suseela Devi in 1937. The couple had four daughters and a son.
In collaboration with Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Katragadda Srinivasa Rao, Koratala Prakash Rao, and T. V. A. Surya Rao, he established Annapoorna Pictures on 10 September 1951. The studio's inaugural production was Donga Ramudu (1955), directed by K. V. Reddy and starring Nageswara Rao and Savitri. Madhusudhana Rao produced several landmark films, including Thodi Kodallu, Iddaru Mitrulu, Chaduvukunna Ammayilu, Doctor Chakravarthy, Pula Rangadu, and Atma Gowravam. Iddaru Mitrulu is notable for being the first Telugu film to feature a double role.
Most of his films were directed by Adurthi Subba Rao, with whom he created classics like Thodi Kodallu, Mangalya Balam, Velugu Needalu, Iddaru Mitrulu, Chaduvukunna Ammayilu, Dr. Chakravarthy, Pula Rangadu, and Vichitra Bandham. He is also credited with introducing several new talents to the Telugu film industry, including Korrapati Gangadhara Rao, Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao, Ranganayakamma, K. Viswanath, Ashalatha Kulkarni, Ramakrishna, Jeedigunta Ramachandra Murthy, and Sarada.