Y. V. Rao (producer and journalist)

Y. Venkat Rao, commonly known as Y. V. Rao, was an Indian film producer and journalist known for his work in Telugu cinema. Active from the 1960s to the early 1980s, he produced around 25 films, working with notable actors such as Krishna, N. T. Rama Rao, and Chiranjeevi. Initially a journalist, Y. V. Rao managed the magazines Tempo, Film, and Rathi, before launching the successful crime fiction magazine Detective.

In the 1960s, Y. V. Rao transitioned into film production, initially working alongside his brother-in-law S. Bhavanarayana at Gauri Productions in films such as Gopaludu Bhupaludu (1967). He later founded his own production company, Ravi Chitra Films. His debut as an independent producer came with Takkari Donga Chakkani Chukka (1969), followed by hits such as Paga Saadhista (1970), Revolver Rani (1971), and Nippulanti Manishi (1974), which marked a career revival for N. T. Rama Rao, and Sri Rama Bantu (1979). Y. V. Rao was also known for his technical innovations, notably introducing CinemaScope sequences in Oka Naari Vanda Tupakulu (1973).