Singeetham Srinivasa Rao passes away at 94

Singeetham Srinivasa Rao passes away at 94; ‘Aditya 369’ director mourned by celebrities, fans.

Veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao passed away at a private hospital in Chennai on Saturday, October 3, at the age of 94. The celebrated director had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments, as reported by Telangana Today.Actor Vishnu Manchu was among those who expressed grief over the filmmaker's demise. Remembering the influence of Singeetham Srinivasa Rao's work on his own love for cinema, Vishnu described the director as a creative force who never restricted himself to established filmmaking conventions.

Vishnu Manchu remembers Singeetham Srinivasa Rao

Vishnu Manchu shared an emotional tribute on social media. He recalled watching his films before understanding the technical aspects of filmmaking and said his respect for the veteran only increased as he entered the industry.“This loss feels deeply personal. Singeetham Srinivasa Rao garu was one of my favourite directors growing up. I watched his films with wonder, long before I fully understood the craft behind them.

As I grew older and became a part of cinema myself, my admiration for him only grew stronger. He was a true lover of cinema. Fearless in his imagination, constantly experimenting, never allowing himself to be confined by a genre or a formula.

Every film he made has something to teach us. Every film is a textbook. For me, he will always remain one of those filmmakers who made me fall in love with the magic of movies. We have lost a true legend, but his cinema will live on and continue to inspire generations. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Singeetham garu. Thank you for the cinema..”

Fans pay tribute to the veteran director

News of the filmmaker's death also drew emotional reactions from cinema enthusiasts on X.One fan wrote, “A Legend Leaves Us Singeetham Srinivasa Rao Garu, One of Indian cinema's most inventive filmmakers is no more. His cinema will remain immortal.” Another user posted, “Rest In Peace Legend You will forever live on in our memories. #SingeethamSrinivasaRao.”

‘Aditya 369’ and other films that defined his career

Born on September 21, 1931, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao worked as a director, screenwriter, producer, composer and actor. His career spanned Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi and English cinema.

He directed approximately 60 films and earned a reputation for exploring unconventional ideas across different genres.His best-known works include ‘Aditya 369’, a science-fiction comedy that brought time-travel storytelling to Telugu cinema, and ‘Bhairava Dweepam’, a fantasy film rooted in folklore. Another notable work, ‘Pushpaka Vimana’, distinguished itself through its dialogue-free narrative. The movie had Kamal Haasan in the lead.

From assistant director to award-winning filmmaker

Singeetham Srinivasa Rao began his career as an assistant to acclaimed director K. V. Reddy. During this period, he worked on films such as ‘Mayabazar’ (1957) and ‘Jagadeka Veeruni Katha’ (1961). He made his directorial debut with the Telugu film ‘Neethi Nijayithi’ in 1972.His filmography also included socially relevant stories. ‘Dikkatra Parvathi’ (1974) won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, while ‘Tharam Marindi’ (1977) received the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film.

A filmmaker who continued working into his nineties

His achievements included 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.Singeetham Srinivasa Rao remained involved in filmmaking well into his nineties. His final directorial venture was ‘Singeetham’, produced by Nag Ashwin.