Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Oct 4: Legendary filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, one of Indian cinema's most innovative and versatile directors, died at Kauvery Hospital in Chennai on Saturday night. He was 94.
Rao had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments after his health deteriorated recently. His death marks the end of a career spanning more than five decades, during which he directed films in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi and English and experimented with a wide range of genres, including comedy, fantasy, science fiction and social drama.
Born on September 21, 1931, in Gudur, Andhra Pradesh, Rao studied physics at Presidency College in Chennai. He began his career under legendary filmmaker K. V. Reddy, initially working as an apprentice and assistant. He was associated with landmark films such as Mayabazar and Jagadeka Veeruni Katha during his early years in cinema.
Rao made his directorial debut with the Telugu film Neethi Nijayithi in 1972. He went on to direct around 60 films, with reports putting his total at 61, establishing a reputation for taking up unconventional subjects and experimenting with filmmaking techniques.
Among his best-known works was Pushpaka Vimana (1987), a dialogue-free black comedy starring Kamal Haasan. The film relied largely on visual storytelling and went on to win the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. His association with Kamal Haasan also produced films including Raja Paarvai, Apoorva Sagodharargal and Michael Madana Kama Rajan.
Rao also made a significant contribution to science fiction and fantasy cinema. Aditya 369 (1991), a time-travel film starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, became one of his most celebrated works, while Bhairava Dweepam earned recognition for its fantasy and folklore-based storytelling.
His 1985 film Mayuri, based on the life of dancer Sudha Chandran, was another major success and reportedly won 14 Nandi Awards. His 1974 film Dikkatra Parvathi won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, while Tharam Marindi received the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film.
Rao received several honours during his career, including two National Film Awards, five Nandi Awards and three Karnataka State Film Awards. In 2011, the Film Federation of India honoured him with a Life Achievement Award.
Even after crossing 90, Rao remained active in cinema. His final directorial venture, Singeetham, was released earlier this year. Produced by Nag Ashwin, the musical fantasy was the realisation of an idea Rao had carried for about four decades and marked his 61st film as a director.
Rao's distinctive body of work, spanning multiple languages and genres, established him as one of the most inventive filmmakers in Indian cinema. His films, particularly Pushpaka Vimana, Aditya 369, Mayuri, Apoorva Sagodharargal and Bhairava Dweepam, remain widely remembered for their originality and experimentation.