| Intro | Indian actor, producer |
| A.K.A. | Padmanabham |
| Was |
Actor Film producer |
| From | India |
| Type | Film, TV, Stage & Radio |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 20 August 1931, Simhadripuram |
| Death |
20 February 2010, Chennai (aged 78 years) |
Basavaraju Venkata Padmanabha Rao (20 August 1931 – 20 February 2010), popularly known as Padmanabham, was an Indian film, character actor, comedian, director and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. Padmanabham is regarded as one of the finest comic actors of India, noted particularly for his comic expressions, and dialogues during the golden age of Telugu cinema. Padmanabham was essentially a theatre artist, although he also found success in cinema, and has acted in over 400 feature films. He made his film debut in 1945 with Mayalokam. He co-founded a Theatre group with his friend Vallam Narasimha Rao, Rekha and Murali Arts with S. P. Kodandapani as their music director.
The veteran finds it hard to mention any particular comic role as his most memorable one, but makes 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 says. The role became famous for the song ‘Aakalayyi Annamadigithe Pichchodannaru Naayaallu’. Padmanabham, who directed eightfilms in all, introduced S.P. Balasubrahmanyam to the film industry through Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna. Kathanayika Molla, which he directed in 1969 fetched him the Nandi Award.
Early life and career
He was born to Santham and Basavaraju Venkata Seshaiah in Simhadripuram, Pulivendula, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh on August 20, 1931.
Padmanabham started acting at the age of 12 when the legendary director Gudavalli Ramabrahmam gave him a break in “Maayaokam(1943)”. He worked with almost 80 directors and acted in more than 400 movies in his long career. Padmanabham cherishes most his association with Gudavalli Ramabrahmam, Ghantasala Balaramayya, L. V. Prasad and K. V. Reddy.
Death
Padmanabham died at his residence at Rangarajapuram, Kodambakkam, in Chennai at 8 a.m. on 20th February 2010 from a heart attack. He was 78 and is survived by wife, five daughters and a son. The veteran actor had been a regular yoga practitioner and enjoyed good health till his death.
Selected Filmography
Producer
- Kathanayika Molla (1970)
- Shri Rama Katha (1969)
- Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna (1967)
- Potti Pleader (1966)
- Devatha (1964)
Director
- Pellikaani thandri (1974)
- Kathanayika Molla (1970)
- Shri Rama Katha (1969)