My 55 years experience (L.V.Prasad)

After some time, there was a retrenchment in Imperial Film Company and my services were terminated. Again I stood at the cross roads of life, unemployment staring at my face without mercy. I then got a job in Krishna Cinema (Dreamland) as a door-keeper. At that time, Sri H. M. Reddy was entrusted with the direction of the Hindi picture "SITASWAYAMVAR" and I did a role in that picture. Sri. Reddy had some misunderstanding with the producer and he left the Company when the picture was almost nearing completion. But I continued to work in the company and even worked as representative for that picture after its release. The producers were impressed by my sincerity and hard work and made me the Manager of the company. But as ill-luck would have it, that Company was closed after a few days.

Again I found myself at the cross-roads of life. Getting a job, losing it and again facing unemployment had become a regular feature and I got accustomed to it, never feeling hopeless or discouraged to face any situation. I then worked as a Production Manager in New Era Company and afterwards as a Manager-cum Camera Assistant in Renuka Pictures. I also worked as a camera assistant for the film "STHREE".

I then played a number of bit roles in many pictures. At this time, Sri. H. M. Reddy asked me if I could come to Madras and work as his assistant. I readily agreed and went with him to Madras. I did not have many opportunities to study and learn the technical aspects of film making. Besides working as Mr. Reddy's assistant, I played the hero's role in his picture "SATYAME JAYAM" and a small role in "TENALI RAMAKRISHNA".

In 1942, one Mr. Thandra Subramanyam took me as the director for his picture "KASHTA JEEVI" to be produced in Bombay. So I went back to Bombay again. But that picture was abandoned after three reels were shot. I then worked as an assistant director for Geethanjali Pictures, "SAWAL". Then I joined Valli Saheb and worked for his picture "LADY DOCTOR". Afterwards I worked as an assistant director for the pictures "DARBAAN" and "NEK PERVIN" and also wrote the script for the film "DEVER". I then joined Prithvi Theaters and played small roles in the dramas "DEEWAR" and "SHAKUNTALA".

In 1945, I went to Madras to direct the Telugu film "GRIHA PRAVESHAM". I also played the hero's role in that picture. The picture was very well received by the public and I earned a good name as a Director. The year 1945 was a land mark in my life; and after "GRUHA PRAVESAM", a number of pictures such as PALNATI UDDHAM, DROHI, MANA DESAM, SHAVUKAR, PELLI CHESI CHOODU, PARDESI, MISSAMMA, SAMSARAM, Manohara, Mangayar Thilagam and Bhagyavathi were directed by me. THAYILLA PILLAI and IRUVAR ULLAM were produced as well as directed by me.

I floated Laxmi Productions in 1955 and produced "ILAVELPU" in Telugu and then started Prasad Productions Private Ltd in 1956 and produced my first Hindi film "SHARADA" and then a series of Hindi films.

I feel happy that the Industry in which I toiled and sweated has at last blessed me with success and high honours. I recollect, with nostalgic memories, the fifty five years of my bitter and sweet and looking back, I enjoyed every moment of my fight for a place in the industry to reach where God has placed me today. I remember with deep reverence those great men of the past who toiled and laboured against odds for the advancement of this industry and paved the way for making it mighty and strong as it stands today. May the film industry grow still bigger and mightier, this is my only prayer.

Primarily I owe everything to the people who see my films. But how can anyone see a film without the most precious of God's gift to man, namely, the EYES? I am told that over 75% of the curable blind in this country belong to the younger age group and the poorer section. I thought that I should in some small measure repay back to them the affection shown to me, by establishing THE L.V. PRASAD EYE INSTITUTE, so I sponsored on 17-10-86 to this Institute Rupees one crore and sixty lakhs and the land. The foundation stone was laid by the Honourable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Sri N. T. Rama Rao at Hyderabad. With the dedicated efforts of Doctor Gullapalli Nageshwara Rao, who is internationally recognised for his research in Cornea transplants, it will be ready to serve the public in 1988 with modern and sophisticated equipment.