Singeetam Srinivasa Rao

Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (born 21 September 1931) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, composer, and actor. He is widely regarded as one of India's most versatile and innovative filmmakers. He has directed around sixty films across multiple genres and languages, including Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, and English and is credited with revolutionizing South Indian cinema through his experimental approach. He has garnered numerous accolades throughout his career, including two National Film Awards, five Nandi Awards, three Karnataka State Film Awards, and three Filmfare Awards South. In 2011, he was honoured with the Life Achievement Award by the Film Federation of India.

Srinivasa Rao began his career as an assistant to the esteemed director K. V. Reddy, working on iconic films such as Mayabazar (1957) and Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961). He made his directorial debut with the Telugu film Neethi Nijayithi (1972), and subsequently directed critically acclaimed social problem films like Dikkatra Parvathi (1974), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, and Tharam Marindi (1977), which won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film.

He went on to direct notable films like Panthulamma (1978), Mayuri (1985), Anand (1986), Pushpaka Vimana (1987), Aditya 369 (1991), Brundavanam (1992), Magalir Mattum (1994), Bhairava Dweepam (1994), Madam (1994), and Son of Aladdin (2003). Mayuri won a record 14 Nandi Awards, while Pushpaka Vimana, a dialogue-less film, earned the National Film Award for Best Popular Film. Aditya 369 and Bhairava Dweepam are considered landmark films in the science fiction and fantasy genres, respectively, within Telugu cinema.

Srinivasa Rao is also known for his collaborations with actors Rajkumar and Kamal Haasan, which resulted in several commercially successful and critically acclaimed films. With Kamal Haasan, he worked on films such as Sommokadidhi Sokokadidihi (1979), Raja Paarvai / Amavasya Chandrudu (1981), Pushpaka Vimana (1987), Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989) and Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990). His collaboration with Rajkumar produced films like Haalu Jenu (1982), Chalisuva Modagalu (1982), Eradu Nakshatragalu (1983), and Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma (1986).