S. V. Ranga Rao

Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao (3 July 1918 18 July 1974), popularly known as S.V.R., was an Indian film actor, director and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema and Tamil cinema. Regarded as one of the finest method actors in the history of cinema and one of the greatest actors in Telugu Cinema, Rao was popularly known as "Viswa Nata Chakravarthi".[1] Throughout his film career, which spanned a total of thirty years, Rao garnered various National Honors, International Honors, State Nandi Awards, and the Filmfare Special Award - South.[1][2] In 1951, Rao appeared in the fantasy film, Pathala Bhairavi, screened at the first India International Film Festival, held in Mumbai on 24 January 1952.[3] Rao received wide reception for his portrayal of Nepala Manthrikudu the tantric in the super-hit film.[4]

Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao
Rao on a 2013 stamp of India
Born3 July 1918
Nuzvidu, Krishna dist, Andhra Pradesh, India
Died18 July 1974 (aged 56)
Other namesSVR, Viswanata Chakravarthi
OccupationFilm Actor, Producer, Director
Spouse(s)
Leelavathi
(m. 1947)
AwardsRashtrapati Award
International Honor
Signature

Rao was known for his natural acting style, portraying complex - social, biographical, and mythological characters such as - Ghatotkacha in Maya Bazaar (1957) which is regarded as the "greatest Indian film of all time" by CNN-India Poll, and was screened at the 1957 International Film Festival of India and the Indonesian Film Festival; Mayasura in Bhookailas (1958); Bhoja in Mahakavi Kalidasu (1960) which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu. In 1964, Rao received the Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Kichaka in Nartanasala (1963) at the Third Afro-Asian Film Festival held in Jakarta,[5] becoming the only Indian actor to have ever garnered the honor.[6][7] In the same year, he received Filmfare Special Award - South for his performance in Naanum Oru Penn. He then essayed Duryodhana in the blockbuster Pandava Vanavasamu (1965); Hiranyakashipu in Bhakta Prahlada (1967), which won the Nandi Award for Second Best Feature Film; and Ravana in Sampoorna Ramayanamu (1971) to name a few.[8][9]

Rao has made his foray as a character actor in super-hits such as Mana Desam (1949), Palletoori Pilla (1950), Devadasu (1953), Bangaru Papa (1954), Raju Peda (1954), Thodi Kodallu (1957), Chenchu Lakshmi (1958), Pelli Naati Pramanalu (1958), Nammina Bantu (1959), Gundamma Katha (1962), Sarada (1962), Annai (1962), Karpagam (1963), Naanum Oru Penn (1963), Bobbili Yudham (1964), Bandhavyalu (1968), Lakshmi Nivasam (1968), Prem Nagar (1971), Dasara Bullodu (1971) and Vasantha Maligai (1972). Since he is considered as the golden standard for acting, the Andhra Pradesh Government instituted an award in his memory, presented to the best character acting performance of every year, known as the S.V. Ranga Rao Award for Best Actor.[1]

Early life

Statue of S. V. Ranga Rao, inaugurated by Chiranjeevi at Tummalapalli Kshetraya School of Arts in Vijayawada

Rao was born in Dowlaiswaram near Rajahmundry in East Godavari District to a Telugu Speaking family. Samarla Lakshmi was his mother and Samarla Gotteswara Rao, an excise inspector at Nuzvidu town in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India, was his father.[8][9] His mother, Lakshmi Narasayamma, a staunch devotee of Lord Venkateswara, named the boy after him. Rao was sent to the erstwhile Madras Presidency where he completed his schooling at Hindu College. At an early age of 12, he showed interest in stage action, he ventured into acting after completing his bachelor's degree in sciences.[8][9]

Cinema

S.V.R. got an invitation from one of his relatives, B.V. Ramanandam, to play the lead actor in his film Varoodhini. He immediately abandoned the job, and left for Salem to join the celluloid world. In fact, it was a great beginning for the young man when the film was released. However, S.V.R. left the Madras presidency and reached Jamshedpur, where he took up the job as a budget assistant with the Tata Company. However, his love for dramas began to bloom multifold. At this juncture, he married Leelavathi Badeti on 27 December 1947. In the days that followed, S.V.R. was given an opportunity to appear in Palletoori Pilla, produced by B. A. Subba Rao.[8] Rao was offered his first lead antagonist role by Vijaya Pictures.[9]

Characters essayed

Personal life and Death

Ranga Rao married Leelavati, daughter of Badeti Venkata Ramaiah and Koteswaramma on 27 December 1947. They have three children: two daughters, Vijaya and Prameela and a son, Koteswara Rao.[8] Rao had a cardiac arrest at Hyderabad in February 1974. He was admitted to Osmania General Hospital, and then discharged. Another attack on 18 July 1974 at Madras proved fatal and the actor died before any medical treatment could be administered.[8](!)

Awards

International honors
Rashtrapati Award for Best Acting
Nandi Award for Best Actor
Nandi Award for Best Feature Film (Director)
Filmfare Awards South
Other honors
  • He was given the distinguished names as Viswa Nata Chakravarti, Nata Sarvabhouma, Nata Sekhara, Nata Simha.[1]

Selected filmography

Actor

YearFilmLanguageCharacterNotes
1947VarudhiniTeluguDebut Film
1949Mana DesamTelugu
1950Bhale PapaTeluguBlind person
1950Palletoori PillaTeluguTaatha
1950ShavukaruTeluguSunnapu Rangadu
1950TirugubatuTelugu
1951AkasharajuTelugu
1951Navvite NavaratnaluTelugu
1951Pathala BhairaviTelugu

Tamil

Nepala Mantrikuduscreened at the 1st International Film Festival of India
1952DaasiTeluguBadrinath
1952Kalyanam Panni PaarTamil
1952PalletooruTeluguGanapati
1952Pelli Chesi ChooduTeluguZamindar Veeyanna
1953Bratuku TheruvuTeluguZamindar
1953ChandiraniTeluguPrachandudu
1953ChandiraniTamilPrachandudu
1953DevdasTamil
1953DevadasuTeluguZamindar Narayana Rao
1953JatakamTelugu
1953JatakaphalamTelugu
1953PardesiTeluguRangadu
1953Pempudu KodukuTelugu
1953PoongothaiTamil
1953RohiniTamil
1953SanghamTelugu
1954AnnadataTelugu
1954Anta ManavalleTeluguJagannatham
1954Bangaru PapaTeluguKotayyaNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1954ChandraharamTamil
1954ChandraharamTeluguDhoomakethu
1954ChakrapaniTelugu
1954Rajee Naa PranamTelugu
1954Rajee En KanmaniTamilRich man
1954Raju PedaTeluguKing
1954Thuli VishamTamilNaga Nadu King VeeraMarththandan
1955AnarkaliTeluguAkbar
1955Guna Sundari KathaTeluguKing Ugrasena
1955JayasimhaTeluguRudrasimha
1955MissammaTeluguGopalam
1955MissiammaTamilGopalan
1955SantanamTeluguRangayya
1956Charana DaasiTeluguRaghavaiah
1956ChintamaniTelugu
1956KanakataraTelugu
1956Naan Petra SelvamTamil
1956Mathar Kula ManickamTamil
1957Allauddin Adhbhuta DeepamTeluguJaffer, the magician
1957Allavudeenum Arputha VilakkumTamil
1957Maya BazaarTeluguGhatotkajudu
1957Maya BazaarTamilGhadotgajan
1957Pathini DeivamTamil
1957Repu NeedeTelugu
1957SarangadharaTeluguRaja Raja Narendrudu
1957Sati SavitriTeluguYamudu
1957SoubhagyavathiTamilMaha Bhairavan, Bad Magician
1957Engal Veettu MahalakshmiTamilLawyer Ganapathi
1957Thodi KodalluTeluguKutumba RaoNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1957Vinayaka ChavitiTeluguNarakasurudu
1958Appu Chesi Pappu KooduTeluguDiwan Bahadur Mukunda Rao
1958BhookailasTeluguMaayasura
1958Bommala PelliTelugu
1958Chenchu LakshmiTamilHiranyakashipa
1958Chenchu LakshmiTeluguHiranyakashipu
1958Kadan Vaangi KalyanamTamil
1958Annaiyin AanaiTamil
1958Bommai KalyanamTamilVeeramuthu
1958Kudumba GouravamTamil
1958Mangalya BalamTelugu
1958Pelli Naati PramanaluTeluguBheemasena RaoNational Film Award For Best Feature Film in Telugu
1958Sabaash MeenaTamilAppadorai
1958Anbu EngeyTamilMasilamani Mudaliar
1958ThirumanamTamilDamodharam
1958SarangadharaTamilKing Narendra
1959Aval YarTamil
1959Bhakta AmbarishaTelugu
1959JayabheriTeluguVijayananda Ramagajapati
1959KalaivananTamil
1959Krishna LeelaluTelugu
1959Nammina BantuTeluguNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1959Raja SevaiTamil
1959Manjal MahimaiTamil
1959Rechukka PagatichukkaTelugu
1959Vazhkai OppanthamTamil
1960Bhatti VikramarkaTeluguMaantrikudu
1960DeepavaliTeluguNarakasurudu
1960DevanthakuduTelugu
1960HarishchandraTeluguHarischandra Maharaju
1960IrumputhiraiTamil
1960Mahakavi KalidasuTeluguBhoja RajuNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1960Mamaku Tagga AlluduTelugu
1960Naan Kanda SorgamTamil
1960Padikkadha MedhaiTamil
1960Pattaliyin VetriTamil
1960Parthiban KanavuTamilKing Narasimhavarman
1960Petra ManamTamil
1960VidivelliTamil
1964Velugu NeedaluTeluguRao Bahadur Venkataramaiah[12]
1961Ellam UnnakkagaTamil
1961Kalasivunte Kaladu SukhamTelugu
1961Kappalottiya ThamizhanTamil
1961KumudhamTamilPublic Prosecutor, Shanthi's father
1961Krishna PremaTelugu
1961PangaaligalTamilOne of the 3 Partners
1961Pelli ThambulamTelugu
1961Sati SulochanaTelugu
1961Usha ParinayamTeluguBanasura
1962Atma BandhuvuTeluguFather
1962Bandha PasamTamil
1962DakshayagnamTeluguDaksha
1962Padithal Mattum PodhumaTamil
1962Deivathin DeivamTamil
1962Muthu MandapamTamil
1962Nichaya ThaamboolamTamilRanganathan
1962SaradaTamilRashtrapati Award for Best actor
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1962Gaali MedaluTelugu
1962Gundamma KathaTeluguRamabhadraiah
1962Kaathiruntha KangalTamil
1962Manchi ManasuluTelugu
1962Manithan MaravillaiTamil
1962Padandi MundukuTelugu
1962Sri Srikakula Andhra Mahavishnuvu KathaTeluguSuchandrasena Maharaju
1962Tiger RamuduTelugu
1962AnnaiTamilRashtrapati Award for Best actor
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1962Visha BinduvuTelugu
1962KavithaTamil
1963Annai IllamTamil
1963Iruvar UllamTamil
1963Kalyaniyin KanavanTamilKalyani's Father
1963KungumamTamilPunniyakodi / James / Sambasivam
1963Needhikkuppin PaasamTamil
1963KarpagamTamilRashtrapati Award for Best actor
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1963NarthanasalaTeluguKeechakuduBest Lead Actor - 3rd Afro Asian Film Festival, Jakarta
Rashtrapati Award for Best actor
1963ThobuttuvuluTelugu
1963Naanum Oru PennTamilRashtrapati Award for Best actor
Filmfare Special Award - South
Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1964Bobbili YudhamTeluguTandra Paparayudu
1964Kai Kodutha DeivamTamil
1964Main Bhi Ladki HoonHindi
1964Murali KrishnaTeluguFather of Murali
1964Ramudu BheemuduTelugu
1964Server SundaramTamil
1964Pachai VilakkuTamil
1965Enga Veetu PillaiTamilFather of Saroja Devi
1965Kakkum KarangalTamil
1965AadabrathukuTelugu
1965Naadi Aada JanmeTelugu
1965Pandava VanavasamTeluguDuryodhanudu
1965Vaazhkai PadaguTamilRajan Father
1965Paditha ManaiviTamil
1966Aata BommaluTelugu
1965Sati SakkubaiTelugu
1965Todu NeedaTelugu
1966Chilaka GorinkaTelugu
1966Kumari PennTamilGrandfather of Shyamala
1966SelvamTamil
1966Thedi Vandha ThirumagalTamil
1966Thattungal ThirakkappadumTamilChurch Father
1966Mohini BhasmasuraKannada
1966RamuTelugu
1967Pesum DheivamTamil
1967Bhakta PrahladaTamil
1967Bhakta PrahladaTeluguHiraynakashipuduNandi Award for Best Feature Film
1967ChadarangamTeluguNandi Award for Best Feature Film
1967RahasyamTelugu
1967Thaikku ThalaimaganTamilFather of Malathi
1967Kan Kanda DeivamTamilThe Landlord
1968BandhavyaluTeluguNandi Award for Best Actor
Nandi Award for Best Feature Film
1968Bandhipotu DongaluTeluguBandipotu Malludora
1968Lakshmi NivasamTelugu
1968Chinnari PapaluTelugu
1968Poovum PottumTamilProfessor Raja Rathinam
1969Nam NaaduTamilDharmalingham
1969Sivandha MannTamil
1969Kula VilakkuTamil
1969Kuzhandhai UllamTamil
1969Mooga NomuTelugu
1971Dasara BulloduTeluguBhushaiah
1971Debbaku Tha Dongala MuthaTelugu
1971PrapthamTamil
1971Thenum PaalumTamil
1971Irulum OliyumTamil
1971Aathi ParasakthiTamilDhakshan
1971Prem NagarTeluguZamindar
1971Sampoorna RamayanamTeluguRavana
1971Vidhyarthigale Ithile IthileMalayalamPrincipal
1972Bala BharatamTeluguBheeshma
1972Iddaru AmmayiluTeluguLawyer Narayan Rao
1972Kathula RathaiahTelugu
1972Koduku KodaluTelugu
1972Pandanti KapuramTeluguHead of the family
1972Papam PasivaaduTeluguVenugopal
1972Tata ManavaduTeluguGrandfather RangaiahNandi Award for Best Feature Film
1972Vasantha MaligaiTamil
1972vazhaiyadi vazhaiTamil
1973Anbu SagodharargalTamilElder Brother
1973Devudu Chesina ManushuluTelugu
1973Minor BabuTelugu
1973Samsaram SagaramTeluguNandi Award for Best Feature Film
1974Andaru DongaleTeluguChanti Babu
1974Bangaru KalaluTelugu
1974ChakravakamTelugu
1974Gali PataluTelugu
1974Inti KodaluTelugu
1974Premalu PelliluTelugu
1974Pillai SelvamTamil
1974Sivakamyin SelvanTamilLast film in tamil
1975Yashoda KrishnaTeluguKamsaLast film in telugu

Director

Producer

  • Bandhavyalu (1968) (producer)
  • Chadarangam (1967) (producer)
  • Naadi Aada Janme (1965) (producer)
  • Sukhadukhalu (1969)

References

  1. Sanmana Satkaralu, Viswa Nata Chakravarti, M. Sanjay Kishore, Sangam Akademy, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 65.
  2. Narasimham, M. l (21 July 2013). "PELLI CHESI CHOODU (1952)" via The Hindu.
  3. "::Directorate Of Film Festivals::". Archived from the original on 28 May 2015.
  4. "4th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  5. "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF).
  6. "SVR's versatility remembered". 19 July 2010 via The Hindu.
  7. Lindsay, Jennifer (1 January 2012). Heirs to World Culture: Being Indonesian, 1950-1965. BRILL. ISBN 9789004253513 via Google Books.
  8. Mahabhinishkramana, Viswa Nata Chakravarti, M. Sanjay Kishore, Sangam Akademy, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 69-70.
  9. "S.V. Ranga Rao's bronze statue unveiled". 19 July 2010 via The Hindu.
  10. "Nandi Awards - 1968 - Winners & Nominees".
  11. "Nandi Awards - 1967 - Winners & Nominees".
  12. Narasimham, M.L. (13 May 2015). "Velugu Needalu (1961)". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.