| Venu Yeldandi | |
| Birth Place: | Siricilla, Andhra Pradesh, India (now in Telangana, India) |
| Yearsactive: | 2004present |
| Other Names: | Jai Venu,[1] Nalla Venu,[2] Munna Venu |
Venu Yeldandi, is an Indian actor and director who works in Telugu cinema. He made his acting debut with Jai (2004) and directorial debut with Balagam (2023). He has won Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu for Balagam[3] .
He worked as a junior artist in many films for small roles as a comedian starting with Jai (2004). His first major role was in Munna (2007) as Tillu.[4] He also was a part of the comedy television series Jabardasth.[5]
In 2014, during filming of the series, Yelandi and his team were attacked by a group who were offended by the portrayal of their caste in the scenes being filmed. The police arrested Yeldandi and others involved. Both Venu and the community leaders lodged official complaints, each claiming the other party was at fault. Yelandi was charged under Section 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman) and 323 (causing hurt), while members of the community who attacked the group were charged under Section 341 (wrongful restraint).[6]
He worked as a ghost writer for Rudhramadevi (2015) and Jai Lava Kusa (2017).[7]
Yelandi's directorial debut was with his film Balagam.[8]
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Jai | Student | |||
| 2005 | Dhairyam | Prakash | |||
| 2006 | Ranam | Bhagawati's henchmen | |||
| Seethakoka Chiluka | |||||
| 2007 | Jagadam | Nalla Mahesh | |||
| Munna | Tillu | ||||
| Takkari | Tirupathi's friend | ||||
| Godava | College student | ||||
| 2008 | Kantri | ||||
| Kathanayakudu | |||||
| Siddu from Sikakulam | Dose Babu | ||||
| Ankit, Pallavi & Friends | Sunil | [9] | |||
| Dongala Bandi | |||||
| King | Bottu Seenu's henchman | ||||
| 2009 | Kurradu | Kumar | |||
| 2010 | Sadhyam | ||||
| Maro Charitra | Balu and Sandhya's coworker | ||||
| Don Seenu | Bar waiter | ||||
| Kathi Kantha Rao | Nalla Sreenu | ||||
| 2011 | Naaku O Lovervundi | [10] | |||
| Pilla Zamindar | Bangkok | ||||
| 2012 | Neeku Naaku Dash Dash | Bapineedu's sidekick | [11] | ||
| Daruvu | |||||
| Sudigadu | Auto driver | ||||
| Lucky | Lucky's friend | ||||
| 2013 | Jabardasth | Dance master | [12] | ||
| Jaffa | Venu Bongula | ||||
| Shadow | Drunkard | ||||
| 1000 Abaddalu | Satya's friend | [13] | |||
| Adda | |||||
| Attarintiki Daredi | Sashi's kidnapper | ||||
| Madhumati | |||||
| 2014 | Billa Ranga | ||||
| Galata | |||||
| Ra Ra Krishnayya | |||||
| Alludu Seenu | Lungi Baba's friend | ||||
| Boochamma Boochodu | |||||
| Dikkulu Choodaku Ramayya | |||||
| The End | Watchman | [14] | |||
| Lakshmi Raave Maa Intiki | |||||
| 2015 | Beeruva | ||||
| Tiger | Tiger's friend | ||||
| Mantra 2 | |||||
| Mirchi Lanti Kurradu | |||||
| Bruce Lee's friend | |||||
| Bhale Manchi Roju | Eesu | ||||
| 2016 | Sardaar Gabbar Singh | ||||
| Okka Ammayi Thappa | |||||
| Babu Bangaram | |||||
| 2017 | Kittu Unnadu Jagratha | ||||
| Nakshatram | |||||
| Mahanubhavudu | |||||
| Gulf | Somulu | ||||
| Prematho Mee Karthik | |||||
| 2018 | Raa Raa | ||||
| Brand Babu | Diamond Babu's assistant | ||||
| Nannu Dochukunduvate | Giri | [15] | |||
| Anaganaga O Premakatha | [16] | ||||
| 2019 | Okate Life | Ram's friend | [17] | ||
| Vajra Kavachadhara Govinda | |||||
| Rajdooth | Donka | ||||
| 2020 | Wife, I | Varma's friend | [18] | ||
| 2021 | Drushyam 2 | Auto driver | |||
| 2023 | Ranga Maarthaanda | ||||
| Nireekshana | Cheenu | Only dubbed version released | [19] | ||
| Bhola Shankar | Shankar's friend | ||||
| 2024 | Darling | Baba |
| 2013 | Jabardasth | Various | ETV | |
| 2023 | Save the Tigers | Raghava | Disney+ Hotstar |