K. N. T. Sastry name might not be known to audience who watch commercial and mainstream movies only. But he is very well known personality for those who watch meaningful cinema. He worked in Telugu as well as Kannada movies and he has garnered six National Film Awards. He passed away today at the age of 70 years.
He has recently completed his children’s film Shaanu. This film is based on Kho Kho game. He also directed films Snehanveshana, The Aliens, Harvesting Baby Girls, Snehe Geethe, and Sarasammana Samadhi in Kannada and English.
2001 Telugu film Thiladaanam: His 2001 film Thiladaanam stars Tanikella Bharani, Brahmaji and Model Jaya Sheel. The film was about astrologer father vs son who believes in leftist ideology. The film was based on Telugu short story. The film was premiered in the Indian Panorama section at the International Film Festival of India. He also got National award – Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director for this movie.
2006 Telugu film Kamli: His 2006 film “Kamli” stars Nandita Das in the title role of a Lambada girl and this film was showcased at the Busan International Film Festival in Korea and the Asian Film Festival in Mumbai. It got National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu and Nandita got Nandi Award for Best Actress. Actually director wanted to make film with Soundarya as the main female lead of Kamli, but she died in a helicopter crash, and finally made the film with Nandita Das.
He also National Film Award for Best Film Critic in 1989. He was a jury member for many international film festivals. He served as chairman of critics Jury at National Film Awards and has served as a Jury Member for Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Awards too.
