Gollapudi Maruti Rao

Gollapudi Maruti Rao
Rao in 2007
Born(1939-04-14)14 April 1939
Died12 December 2019(2019-12-12) (aged 80)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India[1]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • writer
  • director

Gollapudi Maruti Rao (14 April 1939 – 12 December 2019) was an Indian actor, writer and director known for his works in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre and Telugu Literature. Rao acted in over 250 Telugu films in a variety of roles.[2][3] His noted literary works and plays, like Rendu Rellu Aaru, Patita, Karuninchani Devatalu, Mahanatudu, Kaalam Venakku Tirigindi, Aasayaalaku Sankellu, won numerous State Awards.[4]

He was a member of the Script Scrutiny Committee of National Film Development Corporation and served as a Jury Member at International Film Festival of India for the Indian Panorama section in 1996. He was known for scripting landmark films like Doctor Chakravarthy, Tharangini, Samsaram Chadharangam, Kallu etc. He garnered six Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards.[5][6] In 1997, he established the Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation, which presents the Gollapudi National Award, for the best first film of a director in Indian cinema.[7]

Rao was also known for his works in All India Radio and Journalism, for over two decades. His play was included in the Master of Arts (Telugu literature) curriculum of Osmania University. This work was translated into all Indian languages by the National Book Trust, under the Aadaan Pradaan programme. The work was remade into a Telugu film in 1988 which won the Nandi Award for the Best Story in 1989. His 1975 play Kallu, was also remade into a Telugu film Kallu, which also garnered Nandi Award for Best Feature Film.[8] His play Oka Chettu – Rende Puvvulu was purchased by the Song and Drama Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for popular exhibition.[9][10]

A volume of essays on theatre, Telugu Nataka Rangam, was prescribed as a textbook for the Department of Theatre Arts, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam (1967). He published two research articles appearing in Andhra Vignana Sarvaswam (Telugu Encyclopedia) 11th volume: "History of the development in 'Thought' and 'Technique' of Telugu Play-writing" and "Amateur Theatre – its origin and growth in relation to the World Amateur Theatre movement.[11] His Telugu play Vandemaataram, the first one in Telugu about the Sino-Indian War, was published by Andhra Pradesh State Information & Public Relations Department, (1963).[12]

  1. ^ "Gollapudi Maruthi Rao dead". The Hindu. 12 December 2019. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  2. ^ "No Video Found – Andhra/Telangana News updates 24x7 – Video". www.aplatestnews.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Gollapudi Maruthi Rao Movies List Telugu Actors Pluz Cinema". Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  4. ^
  5. ^ "Rich tributes paid to Bharago". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 15 April 2010. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010.
  6. ^ "Stalwarts enliven Ugadi festivities". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 5 April 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  7. ^ "The Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation". Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  8. ^ "The saga of a lensman". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 9 June 2003. Archived from the original on 23 October 2003.
  9. ^ "Channels dishing out decorated lies: Gollapudi". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 26 December 2012. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  10. ^ "Stories captured Yanam milieu". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 29 January 2013. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Uphold values, says Gollapudi". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 6 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 April 2011.
  12. ^ "elugu Colours, Complete Biography of Gollapudi Maruthi Rao". www.telugucolours.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2010.