Chandra Sekhar Yelati

• Name — Chandra Sekhar Yeleti • Birthplace — Tuni, Andhra Pradesh, India • Years Active — 2003–present • Born — 4 March 1973 • Birth Name — Chandra Sekhar Yeleti • Occupation — Film director, Screenwriter • Relatives — Gunnam Gangaraju (Cousin)

He was born in Tuni on 4 March 1973. He studied in Ganavaram St.Johns until 10th grade.

He worked as an assistant director under his cousin, Gangaraju Gunnam, for Little Soldiers (1996). He also directed the first 10 episodes of the cult Telugu TV series, Amrutham. After working as an assistant director, he made his debut as a director with the small-budgeted film, Aithe (2003). Made on a budget of about 1.5 crores, it opened to critical acclaim and performed well commercially, with a box-office collection of 6 crores. After almost two years, he directed his next film, Anukokunda Oka Roju (2005). Like his debut film, Anukokunda Oka Raju too opened to critical acclaim and performed extremely well commercially. Both the films were produced by Gunnam Gangaraju and Venkat Dega, under Just Yellow Media. Aithe and Anukokunda Oka Roju are considered to be the two of the greatest Telugu films ever made.

After a gap of two years, he directed his third film with Gopichand as the protagonist, titled Okkadunnadu (2007). However, unlike his first two films, Okkadunnadu released to polarizing reviews upon release. Gopichand's attmept to cater to different sections of the audience was praised, however, the film underperformed at the box-office. In 2009, Yeleti directed his fourth film, Prayanam, with Manchu Manoj as the lead actor. Though the attempt to revitalize the romantic comedy genre in Telugu cinema was praised, it underperformed at the box-office as well. After four years, he teamed up with Gopichand in the with action adventure thriller, Sahasam (2013). Unlike his previous two films, Sahasam opened to positive reviews from both the critics and audience, alike, and was commercially successful. In October 2015, Yeleti met Mohanlal and narrated a family subject to him. The script was green-lit by Mohanlal, and Yeleti started production for the Telugu drama thriller, titled Manamantha, with an ensemble supporting cast of Gautami, Viswant Duddumpudi, Nassar, Chandra Mohan, Vennela Kishore, Gollapudi Maruti Rao, Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao, Brahmaji, L. B. Sriram, and Ayappa P. Sharma. It received positive reviews from the both critics and audience, alike, upon release. After a long gap of five years in 2021 owing to the declining commercial viability of theatrical releases during the COVID-19 pandemic, Yeleti released his seventh film, the prison drama Check, starring Nithiin, Rakul Preet Singh, and Priya Prakash Varrier. It opened to mixed reviews from both the critics and audience, alike, upon release and failed at the box-office.

He got married on 19 May. Filmmaker Gunnam Gangaraju and costume designer Rama Rajamouli are his cousins.

• Amrutham (2001–2007): Directed 10 episodes