Cinematography
Teja, whose birth name is Jasti Dharma Teja, is an Indian cinematographer turned director and screenwriter known for his work primarily in Telugu cinema. He was born on February 22, 1966, in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India. Teja began his career as a cinematographer and made his debut in that role in Ram Gopal Varma's film "Raat" in 1992, for which he won the Nandi Award for Best Cinematography.
As a cinematographer, Teja has worked on several notable films in different languages, including Telugu and Hindi. Some of his notable works include "Baazi," "Ghulam," "Sangharsh," "Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain," "Krodh," "Krishna," "Shastra," "Rakshak," "Money," "Tere Mere Sapne," and "Vishwavidhaata." He has also worked as a crew member on films like "Kshana Kshanam," "Rangeela," "Drohi," "Antham," "Gaayam," and "Govinda Govinda."
Teja ventured into direction with successful films such as "Chitram," "Nuvvu Nenu," and "Jayam." His directorial debut, "Chitram," was a hit and marked the beginning of a new wave of romantic films in Telugu cinema. "Nuvvu Nenu" became an all-time blockbuster and won several awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Director - Telugu.
Teja's other directorial ventures include "Nijam," which received critical acclaim, and "Jai," starring Navdeep. He also started directing two films simultaneously, "Dhairyam" and "Avunanna Kaadanna." However, he dropped "Dhairyam" midway due to creative differences with the producer and disowned the project. "Avunanna Kaadanna" had a successful run at the box office.
Teja is known for his distinctive style and has received accolades for his contributions to the Telugu film industry.