Veteran Indian filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao passes away

Veteran Indian filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, known for films including Pushpaka Vimanam and Aditya 369, died in Chennai on Saturday at the age of 94.

Rao died at Kauvery Hospital on Saturday night, where he had been undergoing treatment following a recent deterioration in his health. He had been suffering from ailments associated with old age.

Born on September 21, 1931, in Gudur, Andhra Pradesh, Rao entered the film industry as an assistant to filmmaker L V Prasad. He made his directorial debut with the 1972 Telugu film Neeti Nijayiti.

During a career spanning more than five decades, Rao worked across five languages and became known for combining experimentation with mainstream entertainment.

He remained involved with cinema well into his later years. His final project, Sing Geetham, a musical fantasy backed by filmmaker Nag Ashwin, was released earlier this year.

Among Rao’s best-known films was the 1987 black comedy Pushpaka Vimanam, starring Kamal Haasan. The film was made without spoken dialogue and went on to win the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

Rao also explored science fiction with Aditya 369, the 1991 Telugu film starring Nandamuri Balakrishna and featuring music by Ilaiyaraaja. Rao and Balakrishna later collaborated on the fantasy adventure ‘Bhairava Dweepam’.

His filmography extended beyond Telugu cinema, with Rao also directing films in Kannada and Hindi. He also helmed Mayur, a biographical film about classical dancer Sudha Chandran, who continued her career after losing a leg.

News of Rao’s death prompted tributes from several members of the Indian film fraternity.

Actor Jr NTR remembered Rao as “a visionary who thought ahead of his time, delivering films that feel fresh even across generations”.

Composer Devi Sri Prasad also paid tribute to the filmmaker, calling him an “unparalleled legend” and praising his "futuristic Ideas and Techniques”.

Actor Chiranjeevi Konidela described Rao as “a true visionary” whose “imagination and courage to explore new ideas gave Indian cinema some of its most unforgettable films”.

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli remembered Rao for his willingness to experiment, writing that he “made a film without a single line of dialogue, took us travelling through time, and moved from comedy to fantasy to deeply human drama”.

Actor Venkatesh Daggubati described Rao as a filmmaker defined by “curiosity, originality and playfulness”, while Mahesh Babu called him “a giant of Indian cinema”.

Kamal Haasan also mourned Rao’s death, describing himself as one of the filmmaker’s disciples and recalling the influence of his youth and creative spirit.