Sekhar Kammula

Sekhar Kammula (born 4 February 1972) is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer who works in Telugu cinema. He has garnered two Filmfare Awards South, and six state Nandi Awards for his directional works. Sekhar Kammula was among the director's delegation to represent South Indian Cinema at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. A Master of Science and Master of Fine Arts holder from Rutgers University and Howard University respectively, Sekhar Kammula made his directorial debut with the independent film Dollar Dreams (2000), which won him the National Film Award for Best First film of a director. The film was also screened at the International Film Festival of India. Kammula went onto direct critically and commercially successful Telugu films Anand (2004), Godavari (2006), Happy Days (2007), Leader (2010), Fidaa (2017), Love Story (2021), and Kuberaa (2025).

Infobox

Born

(1972-02-04) 4 February 1972 (age 53)Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India

Alma mater

Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology (B.Tech)Rutgers University (M.S)Howard University (M.F.A)

Occupations

mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li Film directorscreenwriterproducer

Years active

1999–present

Spouse

Sri Vidya

Awards

National Film Award

Website

www.sekharkammula.in

Tables

· Filmography

2000

Dollar Dreams

Role(s)

TeluguEnglish

Notes

Yes

2004

Anand

Role(s)

Telugu

Notes

Yes

2006

Godavari

Role(s)

Yes

Notes

Yes

2007

Happy Days

Role(s)

Yes

Notes

Yes

2008

Avakai Biryani

Role(s)

Notes

2010

Leader

Role(s)

Yes

Notes

Yes

2012

Life Is Beautiful

Role(s)

Yes

Notes

Yes

2014

Anaamika

Role(s)

TeluguTamil

Notes

Yes

2017

Fidaa

Role(s)

Telugu

Notes

Yes

2021

Love Story

Role(s)

Yes

Notes

Yes

2025

Kuberaa

Role(s)

TeluguTamil

Notes

Yes

Year	Film	Language	Credited as			Notes
Year	Film	Language	Director	Writer	Producer	Notes
2000	Dollar Dreams	TeluguEnglish	Yes	Yes	Yes	Directorial debut, Bilingual film
2004	Anand	Telugu	Yes	Yes	Yes	Also choreographer
2006	Godavari		Yes	Yes	No
2007	Happy Days		Yes	Yes	Yes	Also choreographer
2008	Avakai Biryani		No	No	Yes
2010	Leader		Yes	Yes	No
2012	Life Is Beautiful		Yes	Yes	Yes
2014	Anaamika	TeluguTamil	Yes	Screenplay	No	Released in Tamil as Nee Enge En Anbe, Bilingual film
2017	Fidaa	Telugu	Yes	Yes	No
2021	Love Story	Telugu	Yes	Yes	No
2025	Kuberaa	TeluguTamil	Yes	Yes	No	Bilingual film

· Filmography

2000

Dollar Dreams

Role(s)

Co-passenger to Srinu

2004

Anand

Role(s)

Auto driver

2006

Godavari

Role(s)

Kotigadu (voice)

2008

Avakai Biryani

Role(s)

Hotel customer

2014

Mukunda

Role(s)

Bus traveller

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2000	Dollar Dreams	Co-passenger to Srinu
2004	Anand	Auto driver
2006	Godavari	Kotigadu (voice)
2008	Avakai Biryani	Hotel customer
2014	Mukunda	Bus traveller

List of Sekhar Kammula recurring collaborations · Filmography › Recurring collaborations

Dollar Dreams (2000)

Film

Dollar Dreams (2000)

Vijay C. Kumar

Yes

Marthand K. Venkatesh

Yes

Anish Kuruvilla

Yes

Satya Krishnan

Yes

Anand (2004)

Film

Anand (2004)

Vijay C. Kumar

Yes

Marthand K. Venkatesh

Yes

Anish Kuruvilla

Yes

Satya Krishnan

Yes

K. M. Radha Krishnan

Yes

Kamalinee Mukherjee

Yes

Godavari (2006)

Film

Godavari (2006)

Vijay C. Kumar

Yes

Marthand K. Venkatesh

Yes

Anish Kuruvilla

Executive producer

K. M. Radha Krishnan

Yes

Kamalinee Mukherjee

Yes

C. V. L. Narasimha Rao

Yes

Tanikella Bharani

Yes

Happy Days (2007)

Film

Happy Days (2007)

Vijay C. Kumar

Yes

Marthand K. Venkatesh

Yes

Kamalinee Mukherjee

Cameo

Mickey J. Meyer

Yes

Leader (2010)

Film

Leader (2010)

Vijay C. Kumar

Yes

Marthand K. Venkatesh

Yes

Mickey J. Meyer

Yes

Tanikella Bharani

Yes

Life Is Beautiful (2012)

Film

Life Is Beautiful (2012)

Vijay C. Kumar

Yes

Marthand K. Venkatesh

Yes

Mickey J. Meyer

Yes

C. V. L. Narasimha Rao

Yes

Anaamika / Nee Enge En Anbe (2014)

Film

Anaamika / Nee Enge En Anbe (2014)

Vijay C. Kumar

Yes

Marthand K. Venkatesh

Yes

C. V. L. Narasimha Rao

Yes

Harshvardhan Rane

Yes

Fidaa (2017)

Film

Fidaa (2017)

Vijay C. Kumar

Yes

Marthand K. Venkatesh

Yes

Harshvardhan Rane

Cameo

Love Story (2021)

Film

Love Story (2021)

Vijay C. Kumar

Yes

Marthand K. Venkatesh

Yes

Kuberaa (2025)

Film

Kuberaa (2025)

Film	Vijay C. Kumar	Marthand K. Venkatesh	Anish Kuruvilla	Satya Krishnan	K. M. Radha Krishnan	Kamalinee Mukherjee	Mickey J. Meyer	C. V. L. Narasimha Rao	Tanikella Bharani	Harshvardhan Rane
Dollar Dreams (2000)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Anand (2004)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Godavari (2006)	Yes	Yes	Executive producer		Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes
Happy Days (2007)	Yes	Yes				Cameo	Yes
Leader (2010)	Yes	Yes					Yes		Yes
Life Is Beautiful (2012)	Yes	Yes					Yes	Yes
Anaamika / Nee Enge En Anbe (2014)	Yes	Yes						Yes		Yes
Fidaa (2017)	Yes	Yes								Cameo
Love Story (2021)	Yes	Yes
Kuberaa (2025)

· Awards and nominations

1999

National Film Awards

Role(s)

Best Debut Film of a Director

Notes

Dollar Dreams

2004

Nandi Awards

Role(s)

Best Director

Notes

Anand

Second Best Film

Role(s)

Won

2005

Filmfare Awards South

Role(s)

Best Film

Notes

Nominated

Best Director

Role(s)

Nominated

2006

Nandi Awards

Role(s)

Best Director

Notes

Godavari

Second Best Film

Role(s)

Won

Filmfare Awards South

Role(s)

Best Director

Notes

Nominated

2007

Nandi Awards

Role(s)

Best Film - Silver

Notes

Happy Days

2008

Filmfare Awards South

Role(s)

Best Film

Notes

Won

Best Director

Role(s)

Won

CineMAA Awards

Role(s)

Best Film

Notes

Won

Best Director

Role(s)

Won

Best Story

Role(s)

Won

Best Screenplay

Role(s)

Won

2009

Nandi Awards

Role(s)

Best Story Writer

Notes

Leader

2010

Filmfare Awards South

Role(s)

Best Film

Notes

Nominated

Best Director

Role(s)

Nominated

2018

Filmfare Awards South

Role(s)

Best Film

Notes

Fidaa

Best Director

Role(s)

Nominated

Zee Cine Awards Telugu

Role(s)

Best Director

Notes

Won

Year	Awards	Category	Film	Result
1999	National Film Awards	Best Debut Film of a Director	Dollar Dreams	Won
2004	Nandi Awards	Best Director	Anand	Won
2004	Nandi Awards	Second Best Film		Won
2005	Filmfare Awards South	Best Film		Nominated
2005	Filmfare Awards South	Best Director		Nominated
2006	Nandi Awards	Best Director	Godavari	Won
2006	Nandi Awards	Second Best Film		Won
2006	Filmfare Awards South	Best Director		Nominated
2007	Nandi Awards	Best Film - Silver	Happy Days	Won
2008	Filmfare Awards South	Best Film		Won
2008	Filmfare Awards South	Best Director		Won
2008	CineMAA Awards	Best Film		Won
		Best Director		Won
		Best Story		Won
		Best Screenplay		Won
2009	Nandi Awards	Best Story Writer	Leader	Won
2010	Filmfare Awards South	Best Film		Nominated
2010	Filmfare Awards South	Best Director		Nominated
2018	Filmfare Awards South	Best Film	Fidaa	Nominated
2018	Filmfare Awards South	Best Director		Nominated
2018	Zee Cine Awards Telugu	Best Director		Won

References

www.thehansindia.com
https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/tollywood/happy-birthday-shekar-kammula-first-look-poster-of-nc20-602497
The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/priceless-gesture-ghmc-sanitation-workers-show-their-gratitude-towards-sekhar-kammula/articleshow/75715364.cms
The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/article3754204.ece
The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news-interviews/Sekhar-Kammula-supports-Samantha/articleshow/28008864.cms
"Kammula"
https://web.archive.org/web/20110115161003/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2007082350180400.htm&date=2007/08/23/&prd=mp&
The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/others/news-interviews/Sekhar-Kammula-at-Cannes/etarticleshow/8247055.cms
"47th National Film Awards"
http://dff.nic.in/2011/47th_nff_2000.pdf
Alitho Saradaga | Sekhar Kammula (Director) | 12th April 2021 | Full Episode | ETV Telugu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHLepbxu1ZA&t=4m18s
idlebrain.com
http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/inter_sekharkammula.html
The Hindu
https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/year-2004-a-flashback/article28578111.ece
The News Minute
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/happy-days-revisiting-telugu-film-depicted-something-close-college-life-125142
Rediff
https://movies.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/19/south-telugu-movie-review-leader.htm
Firstpost
https://www.firstpost.com/fwire/life-is-beautiful-2012-version-of-happy-days-telugu-movie-review-457314.html
www.ibtimes.co.in
https://www.ibtimes.co.in/tollywood-2017-15-highest-grossing-telugu-movies-year-baahubali-2-khaidi-no-150-jlk-dj-753526
The Hindu
https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/sekhar-kammula-and-naga-chaitanya-resume-filming-love-story/article32542473.ece
www.thehansindia.com
https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/tollywood/nagarjuna-to-play-a-grey-shaded-role-in-dns-855656
Film Companion
https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/telugu-features/sekhar-kammula-movies-love-story-what-makes-unique-in-telugu-cinema-leader-happy-days-dollar-dreams/
The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/shekar-kammulas-cameo-in-varuns-mukunda/articleshow/45564976.cms
Idlebrain.com
http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/postmortem/godavari.html
International Business Times, India Edition
https://www.ibtimes.co.in/zee-telugu-golden-awards-2017-winners-list-photos-755196