S. V. Ranga Rao

Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao (3 July 1918 18 July 1974), popularly known as SVR, was an Indian actor and filmmaker known for his works majorly in Telugu and Tamil films. He is regarded as one of the finest actors in the history of Indian cinema.[1] He is known by the epithet "Viswa Nata Chakravarthi" (transl."Universal Emperor of Acting").[2][3] He was the earliest known character actor to have enjoyed a star status in South Indian cinema.[4] In a career spanning nearly three decades, Ranga Rao garnered various national and international honours.[2][5]

S. V. Ranga Rao
Ranga Rao on a 2013 stamp of India
Born
Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao

3 July 1918
Died18 July 1975 (aged 57)
Other namesSVR, Viswa Nata Chakravarthi
Occupation(s)Actor, Producer, Director
Spouse
Leelavathi
(m. 1947)
AwardsRashtrapati Award
International Honor
Signature

Ranga Rao was a method actor known for his natural acting style, portraying complex social, biographical, and mythological characters such as 'Nepala Manthrikudu', a tantric in Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Yama in Sati Savitri (1957), Ghatothkacha in Maya Bazaar (1957), Mayasura in Bhookailas (1958), Bhoja in Mahakavi Kalidasu (1960).[6] In 1964, he received the Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Kichaka in Nartanasala (1963) at the third Afro-Asian Film Festival held in Jakarta,[7] becoming the only Indian actor to have ever garnered the honour.[8][9] He then essayed Duryodhana in the blockbuster Pandava Vanavasam (1965), Hiranyakasipu in Bhakta Prahlada (1967), and Ravana in Sampoorna Ramayanam (1971) to name a few.[10][11][3]

His notable roles as a character actor include films such as Mana Desam (1949), Palletoori Pilla (1950), Devadasu (1953), Bangaru Papa (1954), Raju Peda (1954), Thodi Kodallu (1957), Chenchu Lakshmi (1958), Pelli Naati Pramanalu (1958), Nammina Bantu (1959), Gundamma Katha (1962), Sarada (1962), Aatma Bandhuvu (1962), Annai (1962), Karpagam (1963), Naanum Oru Penn (1963), Bobbili Yuddham (1964), Bandhavyalu (1968), Prema Nagar (1971), Dasara Bullodu (1971), Pandanti Kapuram (1972), Vasantha Maligai (1972), Thatha-Manavadu (1973), and Andaru Dongale (1974).[4][12]

Government of Andhra Pradesh instituted an award in his memory, presented every year to the best character acting performance, known as the S. V. Ranga Rao Award for Best Character Actor.[2]

Early life

Ranga Rao was born in Nuziveedu in erstwhile Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh in 1918 in a Telugu Zamindari family of Kapu caste.[3][13][14] His father, Samarla Koteswara Rao, was an excise inspector at Nuzvidu, and his mother's name was Smt. Lakshmi Narasayamma.[10][11] His grandfather was working as a doctor in the town. He had relatives scattered in East Godavari district. His grandfather, Kotayya Naidu, lived in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.[3]

His mother, Lakshmi Narasayamma, a staunch devotee of Lord Venkateswara, named the boy after him. Ranga Rao was sent to Madras, where he completed his schooling at Hindu College. He also studied in Eluru and Visakhapatnam.[3] At an early age of 12, he showed interest in stage acting. He ventured into acting after completing his bachelor's degree in sciences.[10][11][15]

Career

Ranga Rao in a scene from Punyavathi (1967).

S. V. R. got an invitation from one of his relatives, B. V. Ramanandam, to play the lead actor in his film Varoodhini (1947). He immediately abandoned the job, and left for Salem to join the celluloid world. However, the film didn’t do well at the box office.[3][4]

S. V. R. left Madras Presidency and reached Jamshedpur, where he took up the job as a budget assistant with the Tata company.[4][15] However, his love for theatre began to bloom multifold. At this juncture, he married Badeti Leelavathi on 27 December 1947. In the days that followed, S. V. R. was given an opportunity to appear in Palletoori Pilla (1950), produced by B. A. Subba Rao.[10] Shavukaru (1950) earned him recognition as a fine actor.[3][4]

His role as the antagonist 'Nepala Manthrikudu', a tantric in Pathala Bhairavi (1951) was a turning point in his career.[12][4] The film became a breakthrough for both Ranga Rao and the lead actor N. T. Rama Rao. Pathala Bhairavi was the only south Indian film screened at the first International Film Festival of India.[16][17][18] Ranga Rao also starred in the enduring classics Mayabazar (1957) and Nartanasala (1963), featured in the CNN-IBN's list of "100 greatest Indian films of all time".[19]

In a career spanning nearly three decades, he acted in over 160 films 109 in Telugu and 53 in Tamil.[12] He was one of the earliest stars to feature in commercials and his ad for the popular cigarette brand Berkeley, was extremely popular.[12]

Characters essayed

Personal life

Ranga Rao married Leelavati, daughter of Badeti Venkata Ramayya and Koteswaramma on 27 December 1947. They have three children: two daughters, Vijaya and Prameela and a son, Koteswara Rao.[10]

Ranga Rao wanted to launch his son into films and shot a few portions. But the film didn’t take off for unknown reasons.[4] He was a pet-lover, owned two German Shepherds at his residence. Ranga Rao was a poet and also wrote short stories for a few publications and nurtured a love for cricket, painting, hunting.[4]

Death

Ranga Rao had a cardiac arrest at Hyderabad in February 1974. He was admitted to Osmania General Hospital, and then discharged. Another attack on 18 July 1974 at Madras proved fatal and the actor died before any medical treatment could be administered.[10]

Legacy

Statue of S. V. Ranga Rao, inaugurated by Chiranjeevi at Tummalapalli Kshetraya School of Arts in Vijayawada

Government of Andhra Pradesh instituted an award in his memory, presented every year to the best character acting performance, known as the S. V. Ranga Rao Award for Best Character Actor.[2]

A bust-size bronze statue of Ranga Rao was unveiled by popular actor Chiranjeevi at Tummalapall Kalakshetram in Vijayawada in 2010.[20] In 2018, N. Chandrababu Naidu, then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh unveiled a 12.5 feet bronze statue of Ranga Rao at Kalaparru on the outskirts of Eluru and announced that the state government was planning to establish a museum on Ranga Rao in Eluru.[21][15]

Srivathsan Nadadhur of The Hindu wrote of him during his birth centenary in 2018 as follows, "S V Ranga Rao’s diction, towering on-screen persona, impressive quirks to his character-sketches, the ability to draw inspiration from society and literature have cemented his ‘irreplaceable’ stature over the years."[4]

CV Aravind of The News Minute wrote of him in 2018, "SV Ranga Rao was ranked on par with the superstars of the 1950s, 60s and 70s such as N. T .Rama Rao, Nageswara Rao, M. G. Ramachandran, and Sivaji Ganesan. Ranga Rao was one of the earliest to be hailed as a ‘method’ actor and a substandard performance from him was simply out of the question. Rated as one of the most dignified and cooperative stars, he was held in high regard by the acting fraternity."[12]

Awards

International honors
Nandi Award for Best Feature Film (Director)
Other honors
  • He was given distinguished titles such as Rashtrapati Award, Viswa Nata Chakravarti, Nata Sarvabhouma, Nata Sekhara, Nata Simha.[2]

Selected filmography

Actor

YearFilmCharacterLanguageNotes
1947VarudhiniTeluguDebut Film
1949Mana DesamTelugu
1950Bhale PapaBlind personTelugu
1950Palletoori PillaTaathaTelugu
1950ShavukaruSunnapu RangaduTelugu
1950TirugubatuTelugu
1951AkasarajuTelugu
1951Navvite NavaratnaluTelugu
1951Pathala Bhairavi Nepala MantrikuduTelugu

Tamil

1st International Film Festival of India
1952DaasiBadrinathTelugu
1952Kalyanam Panni PaarTamil
1952PalletooruGanapatiTelugu
1952Pelli Chesi ChooduZamindar VeeyannaTelugu
1953Bratuku TheruvuZamindarTelugu
1953ChandiraniPrachanduduTelugu
1953ChandiraniPrachanduduTamil
1953DevdasTamil
1953DevadasuZamindar Narayana RaoTelugu
1953JatakamTelugu
1953JatakaphalamTelugu
1953PardesiRangaduTelugu
1953Pempudu KodukuTelugu
1953PoongothaiTamil
1953RohiniTamil
1953SanghamTelugu
1954AnnadataTelugu
1954Anta ManavalleJagannathamTelugu
1954Bangaru PapaKotayyaTeluguNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1954ChandraharamTamil
1954ChandraharamDhoomakethuTelugu
1954ChakrapaniTelugu
1954Rajee Naa PranamTelugu
1954Rajee En KanmaniRich manTamil
1954Raju PedaKingTelugu
1954Thuli VishamNaga Nadu King VeeraMarththandanTamil
1955AnarkaliAkbarTelugu
1955Guna Sundari KathaKing UgrasenaTelugu
1955JayasimhaRudrasimhaTelugu
1955MissammaGopalamTelugu
1955MissiammaGopalanTamil
1955SantanamRangayyaTelugu
1956Charana DaasiRaghavaiahTelugu
1956ChintamaniTelugu
1956KanakataraTelugu
1956Naan Petra SelvamTamil
1956Mathar Kula ManickamTamil
1957Allauddin Adhbhuta DeepamJaffer, the magicianTelugu
1957Allavudeenum Arputha VilakkumTamil
1957Maya BazaarGhatotkajuduTelugu
1957Maya BazaarGhadotgajanTamil
1957Pathini DeivamTamil
1957Repu NeedeTelugu
1957SarangadharaRaja Raja NarendruduTelugu
1957Sati SavitriYamuduTelugu
1957SoubhagyavathiMaha Bhairavan, Bad MagicianTamil
1957Engal Veettu MahalakshmiLawyer GanapathiTamil
1957Thodi KodalluKutumba RaoTeluguNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1957Vinayaka ChavitiNarakasuruduTelugu
1958BhookailasMaayasuraTelugu
1958Bommala PelliTelugu
1958Chenchu LakshmiHiranyakashipaTamil
1958Chenchu LakshmiHiranyakashipuTelugu
1958Kadan Vaangi KalyanamTamil
1958Annaiyin AanaiTamil
1958Bommai KalyanamVeeramuthuTamil
1958Kudumba GouravamTamil
1958Pelli Naati PramanaluBheemasena RaoTeluguNational Film Award For Best Feature Film in Telugu
1958Sabaash MeenaAppadoraiTamil
1958Anbu EngeyMasilamani MudaliarTamil
1958ThirumanamDamodharamTamil
1958SarangadharaKing NarendraTamil
1959Mangalya BalamTelugu
1959Appu Chesi Pappu KooduDiwan Bahadur Mukunda RaoTelugu
1959Aval YarTamil
1959Bhakta AmbarishaTelugu
1959JayabheriVijayananda RamagajapatiTelugu
1959KalaivananTamil
1959Krishna LeelaluTelugu
1959Raja SevaiTamil
1959Manjal MahimaiTamil
1959Rechukka PagatichukkaTelugu
1959Vazhkai OppanthamTamil
1960Nammina BantuTelugu8th San Sebastián International Film Festival
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1960Bhatti VikramarkaMaantrikuduTelugu
1960DeepavaliNarakasuruduTelugu
1960DevanthakuduTelugu
1960HarishchandraHarischandra MaharajuTelugu
1960IrumputhiraiTamil
1960Mahakavi KalidasuBhoja RajuTeluguNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
1960Mamaku Tagga AlluduTelugu
1960Naan Kanda SorgamTamil
1960Padikkadha MedhaiTamil
1960Pattaliyin VetriTamil
1960Parthiban KanavuKing NarasimhavarmanTamil
1960Petra ManamTamil
1960VidivelliTamil
1964Velugu NeedaluRao Bahadur VenkataramaiahTelugu[23]
1961Ellam UnnakkagaTamil
1961Kalasivunte Kaladu SukhamTelugu
1961Kappalottiya ThamizhanTamil
1961KumudhamPublic Prosecutor, Shanthi's fatherTamil
1961Krishna PremaTelugu
1961PangaaligalOne of the 3 PartnersTamil
1961Pelli ThambulamTelugu
1961Sati SulochanaTelugu
1961Usha ParinayamBanasuraTelugu
1962Atma BandhuvuFatherTelugu
1962Bandha PasamTamil
1962DakshayagnamDakshaTelugu
1962Padithal Mattum PodhumaTamil
1962Deivathin DeivamTamil
1962Muthu MandapamTamil
1962Nichaya ThaamboolamRanganathanTamil
1962SaradaTamilNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1962Gaali MedaluPaanakaaluTelugu
1962Gundamma KathaRamabhadraiahTelugu
1962Kaathiruntha KangalTamil
1962Manchi ManasuluTelugu
1962Manithan MaravillaiTamil
1962Padandi MundukuTelugu
1962Sri Srikakula Andhra Mahavishnuvu KathaSuchandrasena MaharajuTelugu
1962Tiger RamuduTelugu
1962AnnaiTamilNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1962Visha BinduvuTelugu
1962KavithaTamil
1963Annai IllamTamil
1963Iruvar UllamTamil
1963Kalyaniyin KanavanKalyani's FatherTamil
1963KungumamPunniyakodi / James / SambasivamTamil
1963Needhikkuppin PaasamTamil
1963KarpagamTamilNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1963NarthanasalaKeechakuduTeluguBest Actor - 3rd Afro-Asian Film Festival, Jakarta
National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film
1963ThobuttuvuluTelugu
1963Naanum Oru PennTamilFilmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1964Bobbili YudhamTandra PaparayuduTelugu
1964Kai Kodutha DeivamTamil
1964Main Bhi Ladki HoonHindi
1964Murali KrishnaFather of MuraliTelugu
1964Ramudu BheemuduTelugu
1964Server SundaramTamil
1964Pachai VilakkuTamil
1965Enga Veetu PillaiFather of Saroja DeviTamil
1965Kakkum KarangalTamil
1965AadabrathukuTelugu
1965Naadi Aada JanmeTelugu
1965Pandava VanavasamDuryodhanuduTelugu
1965Vaazhkai PadaguRajan FatherTamil
1965Paditha ManaiviTamil
1966Aata BommaluTelugu
1965Sati SakkubaiTelugu
1965Thodu NeedaTelugu
1966Chilaka GorinkaTelugu
1966Kumari PennGrandfather of ShyamalaTamil
1966SelvamTamil
1966Thedi Vandha ThirumagalTamil
1966Thattungal ThirakkappadumChurch FatherTamil
1966Mohini BhasmasuraKannada
1966 Adugu Jaadalu Dr. Krishna Telugu
1966RamuTelugu
1967Pesum DheivamTamil
1967Bhakta PrahladaTamil
1967Bhakta PrahladaHiraynakashipuduTeluguNandi Award for Best Feature Film
1967ChadarangamTeluguNandi Award for Best Feature Film
1967RahasyamTelugu
1967Thaikku ThalaimaganFather of MalathiTamil
1967Kan Kanda DeivamThe LandlordTamil
1968BandhavyaluTeluguNandi Award for Best Feature Film
1968Bandhipotu DongaluBandipotu MalludoraTelugu
1968Lakshmi NivasamTelugu
1968Chinnari PapaluTelugu
1968Poovum PottumProfessor Raja RathinamTamil
1969Nam NaaduDharmalinghamTamil
1969Sivandha MannTamil
1969Kula VilakkuTamil
1969Kuzhandhai UllamTamil
1969Mooga NomuTelugu
1970Sambarala RambabuTelugu
1970 Jagath Jetteelu[24] Major Raghunath Telugu
1971Dasara BulloduBhushaiahTelugu
1971Debbaku Tha Dongala MuthaTelugu
1971PrapthamTamil
1971Thenum PaalumTamil
1971Irulum OliyumTamil
1971Aathi ParasakthiDhakshanTamil
1971 Anuradha[25] Bhushaiah Telugu
1971Prem NagarZamindarTelugu
1971Sampoorna RamayanamRavanaTelugu
1971Vidhyarthigale Ithile IthilePrincipalMalayalam
1972Bala BharatamBheeshmaTelugu
1972Iddaru AmmayiluLawyer Narayan RaoTelugu
1972Kathula RattayyaTelugu
1972Koduku KodaluTelugu
1972Pandanti KapuramHead of the familyTelugu
1972Papam PasivaaduVenugopalTelugu
1972Vasantha MaligaiTamil
1972Vazhaiyadi VazhaiTamil
1973Anbu SagodharargalElder BrotherTamil
1973Devudu Chesina ManushuluTelugu
1973 Bangaru Babu Raghavaiah Telugu
1972 Thatha-Manavadu Grandfather Rangayya Telugu Nandi Award for Best Feature Film
1973Minor BabuTelugu
1973Samsaram SagaramTeluguNandi Award for Best Feature Film
1974Andaru DongaleChanti BabuTelugu
1974Bangaru KalaluTelugu
1974ChakravakamDharma RayuduTelugu
1974GalipataluGanganna and MangannaTelugu
1974Inti KodaluTelugu
1974Premalu PelliluTelugu
1974Pillai SelvamTamil
1974Sivakamyin SelvanTamilLast film in Tamil
1975Yashoda KrishnaKamsaTeluguLast film in Telugu

Director

Producer

  • Bandhavyalu (1968) (producer)
  • Chadarangam (1967) (producer)
  • Naadi Aada Janme (1965) (producer)
  • Sukhadukhalu (1969)

References

  1. "CM N Chandrababu Naidu unveils 12.5 feet bronze statue of SV Ranga Rao". The New Indian Express. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2022. Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao, popular as SVR, one of the finest actors ever in the history of Indian Cinema ....
  2. Sanmana Satkaralu, Viswa Nata Chakravarti, M. Sanjay Kishore, Sangam Akademy, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 65.
  3. Srihari, Gudipoodi (19 September 2019). "S.V. Ranga Rao: The adored giant of the silver screen". The Hindu. Ranga Rao was born in Nuziveedu in Krishna District in 1918 in a zamindari family.
  4. Nadadhur, Srivathsan (2 July 2018). "S V Ranga Rao @ 100 : A golden standard for the craft". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  5. Narasimham, M. L. (21 July 2013). "Pelli Chesi Choodu (1952)". The Hindu.
  6. "4th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  7. "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF).
  8. "SVR's versatility remembered". The Hindu. 19 July 2010.
  9. Lindsay, Jennifer (1 January 2012). Heirs to World Culture: Being Indonesian, 1950-1965. BRILL. ISBN 9789004253513 via Google Books.
  10. Mahabhinishkramana, Viswa Nata Chakravarti, M. Sanjay Kishore, Sangam Akademy, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 69-70.
  11. "S.V. Ranga Rao's bronze statue unveiled". The Hindu. 19 July 2010.
  12. CV, Aravind (5 August 2018). "Remembering SV Ranga Rao: A versatile actor loved for his mythological roles". The News Minute. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  13. "Kapu community says no to 'Chandranna' samkshema bhavan". The Times of India. 22 May 2016. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  14. M. L. Kantha Rao (July 1999), A Study of the Socio-Political Mobility of the Kapu Caste in Modern Andhra. University of Hyderabad. Chapter 6. p. 280, 282–283. hdl:10603/25437
  15. "CM N Chandrababu Naidu unveils 12.5 feet bronze statue of SV Ranga Rao". The New Indian Express. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  16. "::Directorate Of Film Festivals". Archived from the original on 28 May 2015.
  17. "4th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  18. Eenadu Daily, Eenadu Sunday – 28 April 2013, 100 years of Indian Cinema, Early Tollywood, Page 9
  19. "News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News, Current News Headlines". News18. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013.
  20. "S.V. Ranga Rao's bronze statue unveiled". The Hindu. 19 July 2010. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  21. "Naidu announces museum in honour of S. V. Ranga Rao". The Hindu. 3 July 2018. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  22. "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF) (in Telugu). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  23. Narasimham, M.L. (13 May 2015). "Velugu Needalu (1961)". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  24. "Jagath Jettelu on Moviebuff.com". Moviebuff.com. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  25. "Anuradha 1971 Telugu Movie Cast Crew,Actors,Director, Anuradha Producer,Banner,Music Director,Singers & Lyricists". MovieGQ. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
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