Padmanabham (actor)

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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
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • director
  • film producer
AwardsNandi Awards

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 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 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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Padmanabham died of a heart attack at his residence at Rangarajapuram, Kodambakkam, in Chennai on 20 February 2010.[3]

Selected filmography[edit | edit source]

As actor[edit | edit source]

As producer[edit | edit source]

As director[edit | edit source]

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

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Going great guns". The Hindu. 25 August 2006. Archived from the original on 21 January 2007.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Actor Padmanabham no more". The Hindu. 21 February 2010. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "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. ↑ "Loguttu Perumaallu Keruka (1966)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  10. ↑ "Mohini Bhasmasura 1966 Telugu Movie Cast Crew, Actors, Director, Mohini Bhasmasura Producer, Banner, Music Director, Singers & Lyricists". MovieGQ. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "Vintha Kapuram Movie Cast".
  12. ↑ "Sri Rama Katha (1969)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  13. ↑ "Karpura Harathi (1969)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  14. ↑ "Mattilo Manikyam (1971)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  15. ↑ "Srivaru Maavaru (1973)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  16. ↑ "Mayadari Malligadu (1973)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  17. ↑ "Gundelu Teesina Monagadu Cast & Crew". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  18. ↑ "Andharu Bagundali (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "Iddaru Iddare (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  20. ↑ "Neram Nadikadu Akalidi (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  21. ↑ "Eetharam Manishi (1977)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  22. ↑ "Indradhanusu (1978)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  23. ↑ "Agent Gopi (1978)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  24. ↑ "Sree Vinayaka Vijayamu (1979)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  25. ↑ #పెళ్లి గోల || Pelli Gola Telugu Full Length Movie | Mohan Babu | Murali Mohan | Gayatri, retrieved 13 June 2023
  26. ↑ "Kalahala Kapuram (1982) | V CINEMA - Movie, Review, Cast, Songs & Release Date". www.vcinema.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  27. ↑ "Mayaladi (1985)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  28. ↑ "Kongumudi (1985)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  29. ↑ ETV Cinema (9 September 2024). Intiko Rudramma Full Movie | Bhanuchander,Sumalatha,Ranganath,Sharada,Sujatha,Giribabu | ETV Cinema. Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  30. ↑ Intiko Rudramma (1985) - S.A. Chandrashekhar | Cast and Crew | AllMovie. Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via www.allmovie.com.
  31. ↑ "Punnami Rathri 1985 Full Movie Online - Watch HD Movies on Airtel Xstream Play". Airtel Xstream (Airtel TV). Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  32. ↑ "Dorakani Donga (1988)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
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