Basavaraju Venkata Padmanabha Rao (20 August 1931 – 20 February 2010), known mononymously as Padmanabham, was an Indian actor, comedian, producer, and director who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre.[1][2] He is known for his comic expressions and dialogues.[3][4] In a career spanning over six decades, he acted in more than 400 films.[2]

Padmanabham
Born
Basavaraju Venkata Padmanabha Rao

(1931-08-20)20 August 1931
Simhadripuram, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Died20 February 2010(2010-02-20) (aged 78)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • director
  • film producer
AwardsNandi Awards

Padmanabham made his film debut as a child actor in 1945 with Mayalokam. Shavukaru (1949) was his first major hit and gave him a footing as a comedian.[2] Pathala Bhairavi (1951) helped him find a permanent place in Telugu cinema.[3] He acted in small roles alongside Relangi and Ramana Reddy in the golden era of Telugu cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. Later, he became a prominent comedian and remained so till the mid-1970s when Rajababu burst on the scene and replaced him.[3]

He also directed eight films including Kathanayika Molla (1969), a biographical film which won him the state Nandi Award.[5][3] Padmanabham introduced S. P. Balasubrahmanyam to the film industry through Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna (1967).[3][6][7]

Early life

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Padmanabham was born to Basavaraju Venkata Seshayya and Santhamma in Simhadripuram near Pulivendula in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, on 20 August 1931.[2][3] He was a regular yoga practitioner and enjoyed good health till his death.[2]

Career

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He started acting in his teenage when the director Gudavalli Ramabrahmam gave him a chance in Maayalokam (1945). Throughout his acting career he worked with almost 80 directors and acted in more than 400 movies.[1][2] Padmanabham cherished his association with Gudavalli Ramabrahmam, Ghantasala Balaramayya, L. V. Prasad, and K. V. Reddy the most.[2]

Padmanabham found it hard to mention any particular comic role as his most memorable one, but made a special mention of the role of a rickshaw puller that he played in Desoddhaarakudu (1975). "It had ample measure of 'karuna rasa' in it and I could display the other shade of my talent," he said.[1][2] The role became famous for the song "Aakalayyi Annamadigithe Pichchodannaru Naayaallu".

Death

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Padmanabham died at his residence at Rangarajapuram, Kodambakkam, in Chennai at 8 am on 20 February 2010 due to a heart attack.[3] He was survived by his wife, five daughters, and son. One of his sons died in September 2009.[2]

Selected filmography

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As actor

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As producer

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As director

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  • 1969 Sri Rama Katha
  • 1969 Midatam Bottulu
  • 1970 Kathanayika Molla
  • 1974 Pellikaani Thandri

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Going great guns". The Hindu. 25 August 2006. Archived from the original on 21 January 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Actor Padmanabham no more". The Hindu. 21 February 2010. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Popular comedian Padmanabham is dead". The New Indian Express. 21 February 2010. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  4. ^ Lakshmi Nivasam Songs - Soda Soda Andhra - Padmanabham. 16 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)
  6. ^ Murali, S. (25 September 2020). "S.P. Balasubrahmanyam: The end of an era". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  7. ^ "A very RARE picture of SP Balasubrahmanyam goes viral". The Times of India. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Krishna Leelalu (1959)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Mohini Bhasmasura 1966 Telugu Movie Cast Crew, Actors, Director, Mohini Bhasmasura Producer, Banner, Music Director, Singers & Lyricists". MovieGQ. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Vintha Kapuram Movie Cast".
  11. ^ "Sri Rama Katha (1969)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Karpura Harathi (1969)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Mattilo Manikyam (1971)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Srivaru Maavaru (1973)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Mayadari Malligadu (1973)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Gundelu Teesina Monagadu Cast & Crew". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Andharu Bagundali (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Neram Nadikadu Akalidi (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Eetharam Manishi (1977)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Indradhanusu (1978)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Agent Gopi (1978)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Sree Vinayaka Vijayamu (1979)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  23. ^ #పెళ్లి గోల || Pelli Gola Telugu Full Length Movie | Mohan Babu | Murali Mohan | Gayatri, retrieved 13 June 2023
  24. ^ "Kalahala Kapuram (1982) | V CINEMA - Movie, Review, Cast, Songs & Release Date". www.vcinema.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Mayaladi (1985)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  26. ^ "Kongumudi (1985)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  27. ^ ETV Cinema (9 September 2024). Intiko Rudramma Full Movie | Bhanuchander,Sumalatha,Ranganath,Sharada,Sujatha,Giribabu | ETV Cinema. Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ Intiko Rudramma (1985) - S.A. Chandrashekhar | Cast and Crew | AllMovie. Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via www.allmovie.com.
  29. ^ "Punnami Rathri 1985 Full Movie Online - Watch HD Movies on Airtel Xstream Play". Airtel Xstream (Airtel TV). Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  30. ^ "Dorakani Donga (1988)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 18 April 2023.