He made a sci fi movie way back in 1991, when you could count Indian movies in that genre, on your fingers. And it remains one of the best ever to date. He made a silent movie, and it has been regarded as a cult classic to date.
Yet for all his accomplishments, this man really has not got due appreciation, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, inspite of the fact that he made movies across all genres, using the latest techniques.
Fun fact- He worked as an assistant director for the classic Mayabazaar, and he remains to date the only surviving member of the cast and crew of that movie.
In the days, when Telugu cinema, was dominated mostly by formula commercial cinema or family dramas, he actually experimented with different themes, and integrating with the commercial elements well. Over 3 decades he came up with some really good cinema in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada.
Way back in 1987, he made Pushpak/Pushpaka Vimana, a homage to the silent movies of that era, and a brilliant black comedy, that is a cult classic even now.
His Aditya 369 remains a landmark combining two different genres- sci fi and period drama. The splendor of Shri Krishnadeva Raya's court, and Hampi is well depicted, and for a movie shot in the 90s, the special effects are quite good, though a bit tacky in places. In spite of all the advances in technology and graphics, to date no Telugu movie maker has even tried to attempt something similiar. And Balayya as Shri Krishnadeva Raya was brilliant, making you wonder why he kept wasting his talent in a whole lot of meaningless movies.
And in the 90s, he again bought back the Janapada genre, with Bhairava Dweepam, when it had faded out completely. The movie was a huge hit, and the graphics again were quite good for a movie made during that time.
He made a biopic Mayuri, featuring Sudha Chandran, a classical dancer who had lost her leg, in an accident, and then again came back. This was a biopic, where the lead role was played by the real life character herself. It was remade in Hindi later as Nache Mayuri.
He had a real good combination with Kamal Hassan, all their movies together Raja Parvai( Amavasya Chandrudu), Pushpak, Apoorva Sahodaragal( Vichitra Sodarulu) and Michael Madan Kama Raju have been some real classics that can be enjoyed even now.
Apoorva Sahodaragal had a standard formula story, hero taking revenge for the murder of his father, but it was the narration, that made it totally different from the routine stuff. By making the dwarf Appu as the main protagonist, who uses his brain to eliminate the villians, he ensured the movie did not become another routing formula story.
And Michael Madana Kama Raju remains one of the best madcap comedies ever, especially role of Kamal as the Brahmin cook Kama, and his Bheem Boy, Bheem Boy scene. Just watch this song, where you have 3 Kamals in one frame, the picturization is brilliant.
In Kannada he again had a great combo with Dr. Rajkumar, directing him in a whole lot of hit movies- Halu Jennu, Chalisuva Modagalu, Bhagyada Lakshmi Bharamma. He also directed his sons Shiva Raj Kumar( debut movie Anand) and Raghavendra Rajkumar.
Apart from this he wrote lyrics for Bhairava Dweepam, edited magazines in Telugu like Bharati, scripted plays, composed music for two Kannada movies both starring Dr. Rajkumar( Bhagyada Lakshmi Bharamma and Samyuktha). He also directed two animation movies Son of Aladdin(2003) and Ghatothkach(2008) which were well received.
A truly versatile movie maker, who deserves much more appreciation.