Singeetam Srinivasa Rao

Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (born 21 September 1931) is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, composer, singer, lyricist and actor, known for his works in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi films, across multiple genres. The octogenarian is widely regarded as one of the versatile directors of India. He is credited with having revolutionised the South Indian cinema with experimental films. He has garnered two National Film Awards, seven state Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, and three Karnataka State Film Awards.

In 2010, Srinivasa Rao headed the Jury of the Indian Panorama at the 8th Chennai International Film Festival. In 2011, Rao received the Life Achievement Award from the Film Federation of India at the 4th Global Film Festival. Rao was also the Guest of honor alongside Barrie Osbourne at the Media and Entertainment Business Conclave 2012 hosted by FICCI and FFI. In 2012, Rao served as one of the selection committee member for the Sundance Institute's screenwriters lab.

The 2003 animation film, Son of Aladdin had 1100 shots and 125 characters. The film won Special Mention in the Competition section at the 2003 International Children’s Film Festival Hyderabad, and was subsequently premiered at the 37th International Film Festival of India. The 2008 animation film Ghatothkach, was premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival in the Critics' Week section, and was also premiered to special mention at the Grand Finale - Children's Film Festival 2014 of the 44th International Film Festival of India.

Rao served as the executive director for the 1970 Kannada film, Samskara which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film, and Bronze Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival.

He made his Telugu directorial debut with Neethi Nijayithi (1972). He then directed social problem films like Dikkatra Parvathi (1974), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil for that year, and Tharam Marindhi, which won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film, both of which were premiered at International Film Festival of India and the Moscow Film Festival. The 1988 silent film, Pushpaka Vimana gained international acclaim, including 1988 Cannes Film Festival premiere in the International Critics' Week. The film has received the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and Filmfare Award South for Best Film.

He graduated with a Physics Degree from University of Madras. Rao worked as associate director and singer to Harindranath Chattopadhyay, K. V. Reddy, and Pingali Nagendrarao, for films like Mayabazar (1957), Pelli Naati Pramanalu (1958), Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961), Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddham (1963), Sathya Harischandra (1965) etc. In 1972, subsequently Rao ventured into direction, and directed about sixty films in various languages including Hindi and English.

Rao was the executive director of the 1970 Kannada movie Samskara directed by Pattabhirama Reddy. It won the President's gold medal for National Film Award for Best Feature Film. Rao directed Kannada blockbusters like Haalu Jenu (1982), Chalisuva Modagalu (1982), Eradu Nakshatragalu (1983), Shravana Banthu (1984), Jwaalamukhi (1985) Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma (1985), Anand (1986), Devatha Manushya (1988), Chiranjeevi Sudhakara (1988), Ksheera Sagara (1992), Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi (1999) and Make-Up(2002). He was also the script-writer of Belliyappa Bangarappa (1992). The Kannada Film Journalists Association has honoured Srinivasa Rao with a Special Biography. Rao received three Karnataka State Film Awards, including two for Best Screenplay. A disciple of legendary composer S. Rajeswara Rao, he also composed music for 2 Kannada movies - Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma (directed by him) and Samyuktha - (not directed by him).

He has the distinction of having directed Rajkumar and all his 3 sons - the first director to do so. He directed Rajkumar in 7 movies including his 200th movie Devatha Manushya . He was also the director of debut movies of Rajkumar sons - Shiva Rajkumar's Anand and Raghavendra Rajkumar's Chiranjeevi Sudhakara. He also directed Puneeth Rajkumar in a lead role as a child artist in Eradu Nakshatragalu in which he had played a dual role.

Lyricist and Composer

He composed lyrics for films like Bhairava Dweepam (1994), and sound tracks for few Kannada films. He edited many magazines in Telugu such as Bharati, and scripted plays like Brahma, Antya Ghattam, and Chitrārjuna. Chitrārjuna was also translated into English, and was telecasted in American Television.

The 1984 Telugu biographical dance film, Mayuri, which won the National Film Award – Special Mention (Feature Film), was premiered at the 1985 International Film Festival of India, has also received several state Awards, including the State Nandi Award for Best Feature Film, and Filmfare Award South for Best Direction. The film was later remade into Hindi as Naache Mayuri.

In 1988, He co-produced, scripted and directed the first Indian silent film, Pushpak premiered at Cannes Film Festival, and has received the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Filmfare Award South for Best Film, and several International honors, including special mention at Shanghai Film Festival. The film was listed among CNN-IBN's hundred greatest Indian films of all time. The comedy-drama blockbuster Apoorva Sagodharargal was one of the enduring works on dwarfism in popular media. The film won the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil, and was premiered at the International Film Festival of India.

The Telugu Crossover cinema like America Ammayi, and America Abbayi, were box office hits. The 1990 action comedy, Michael Madana Kama Rajan became an instant hit at the box office. The Science fantasy in Telugu Aditya 369 was the highest grossing Telugu film of 1991. The film grossed ₹90 million (US$1.4 million) at the box office. Another science fantasy in Tamil, Chinna Vathiyar was also an instant hit. The 1994, folklore Bhairava Dweepam has garnered the state Nandi Award for Best Direction.

• Life Time Achievement Award

• 1974 - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil - Dikkatra Parvathi
• 1988 - National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment - Pushpaka Vimana

• 1977 - Nandi Award for Best Feature Film (Silver) - Tharam Marindhi
• 1985 - Nandi Award for Best Feature Film (Gold) - Mayuri
• 1985 - Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer - Mayuri
• 1985 - Nandi Award for Best Director - Mayuri
• 1986 - Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer - Brundavanam
• 1994 - Nandi Award for Best Director - Bhairava Dweepam
• 2012 - "Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy National Award" for Life Time Achievement.

• 1982 - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Film - Haalu Jenu
• 1985 - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay - Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma
• 1986 - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay - Anand

• 1974 - Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil - Dikkatra Parvathi
• 1985 - Filmfare Best Director Award (Telugu) - Mayuri
• 1987 - Filmfare Award for Best Director - Kannada - Pushpaka Vimana