Chalam

For the writer, see Gudipati Venkatachalam

Chalam (18 May 1929 - 4 May 1989) was an Indian actor from the 1950s to the 1980s. He played versatile roles in the Telugu film industry as an actor, comedian, producer, art director, and set director. He acted with popular actors and comedians N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Relangi Venkata Ramaiah, B. Padmanabham and Ramana Reddy in many movies. He produced and acted in hit movies such as Sambarala Rambabu in 1970 and Mattilo Manikyam in 1971. Mattilo Manikyam won National Film Award for Best feature film in Telugu. He was a very close friend of fellow Telugu actors Shoban Babu and Chandra Mohan.

Born : Korada Simhachalam ( or ) Korada Surya Chalam on 18 May 1929, he shot to fame with Dasi, his second movie in the role of Subbarao. Chalam debuted with the film Naa Chellelu. After marrying Ramanakumari, he changed his name to Ramana Chalam. Ramana Kumari died in 1964 in a fire. Chalam later remarried, to Urvasi Sharada, his co-star in her debut film, Tandrulu Kodukulu. They later divorced. Chalam died on 4 May 1989, two weeks before his 60th birthday, from undisclosed causes.