Tadepalli Lakshmi Kantha Rao (16 November 1923 – 22 March 2009) was an Indian actor and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema.[1] Regarded as one of the finest method actors, Rao appeared in more than 400 feature films, starring in many, in a variety of genres including mythological, social and folklore. After a success string in folklore and swashbuckling films, he became popularly referred to as Kattula Kantha Rao. He has also acted in a few Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam movies. He has produced about five films under the Hyma Films banner.[2]
Kantha Rao | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tadepalli Lakshmi Kantha Rao 16 November 1923 |
| Died | 22 March 2009 (aged 85) Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Other names |
|
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1950s–1990s |
| Spouses |
|
In the 1960s, he was one of the primary actors in Telugu cinema, along with N. T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Kantha Rao was known for portraying the roles of Narada, Lord Krishna and Arjuna in mythological films. He played Lakshmana in the blockbuster film Lava Kusa, for which he received Vishehsa Puraskaram in 1963.[3][4][5]
Early life
editRao was born into a Telugu Brahmin family to Kesavarao and Seetaramamma at Kodad of Nalgonda district in present-day Telangana on 16 November 1923.[6] According to the Hindu calendar, it corresponds to Rudhirodgari Samvatsara Kartika Sudha Ashtami day. He lost his father the next year. His primary education was done in Gudibanda and Khammam. He was exposed to puranas and Hindu epic stories from his grandmother.[citation needed]
Career
editSurabhi Drama troupe has visited their village. Impressed by their professional performances, he established "Balamitra Natya Mandali" and used to play Gayopakhyanam and Madhuseva plays with his friends. He played the character Brahma in Sri Krishna Leelalu in the group "Surabhi" and subsequently in the plays Madhuseva, Kanakatara and Telugu Talli.
Rao was sent to Tenali to distract from the drama activities. Tenali used to be very active in drama activities with stalwarts like Pulipati Lakshminarayana. He used to stay in same street where Rentachintala Satyanarayana and Banda Kanakalingeswara Rao used to live.[citation needed]
He then shifted to Madras in 1950 and used to stay with T. Krishnamachari, who used to work as assistant director for H. M. Reddy's Rohini Pictures.[citation needed]
H. M. Reddy gave him a chance to play a small role in Nirdoshi in 1951 and as his hero for Pratigna in 1953. He has acted in 450 films and in about 100 films as hero, whereas in others as different character roles. They include some popular roles in films like Jayasimha (1955), Shri Krishna Pandaviyam (1966), Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu (1963), Lava Kusha (1963), Nartanasala (1963), Pandava Vanavasam (1965) and Muthyala Muggu (1975). His last movie was Pandurangadu, with Balakrishna, directed by K. Raghavendra Rao in 2008.[7]
He produced four films between 1969 and 1974, Saptaswaralu, Gandara Gandadu, Premajeevulu and Gundelu Theesina Monagadu and lost all his previous earnings. The last film he made was Swathi Chinukulu. Subsequently, he moved to Hyderabad.[8]
Awards
edit- National honours
- Visesha Puraskaram in Ramineni Foundation Awards in 2004.
- Mahanati Savitri Award
- C.H. Narayana Rao Award
- Raghupathi Venkaiah Award by the government of Andhra Pradesh in 2000, for lifetime achievement.
- Nandi Award for Best Book, for Anaganaga Oka Raakumaarudu won for the year 2007.
Filmography
editTelugu films
editOther language films
edit| Year | Title | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Nagarjuna | Kannada | |
| 1963 | Manthiri Kumaran | Tamil | |
| 1972 | Sree Guruvayoorappan | Malayalam | |
| 1974 | Devi Kanyakumari | Malayalam | |
| 1975 | Alakh Niranjan | Hindi |
Producer
edit- Saptaswaralu (1969)
- Gandara Gandadu (1969)
- Premajeevulu (1971)
- Gundelu Teesina Monagaadu (1974)
- Swaati Chinukulu (1989)
Personal life
editRao was married to Suseela and had a daughter in 1942. The daughter died of smallpox during infancy. They had a son in 1945 named after his father as Keshav. He married Hymavathi in 1950 and subsequently Suseela died of illness. His son also died of typhoid fever in his childhood. He has four sons and a daughter by Hymavathi, named Pratap, Keshav, Suseela, Raja and Satyam, in that order. [56]
His son Raja (Rajeswara Rao) has acted in Sudigundalu, Prema Jeevulu, Gandara Gandadu, Gundelu Teesina Monagadu, Swati Chinukulu, Ukku Pidugu, Rajasimha, Evaru Monagadu, Maro Prapancham and Manushulu Matti Bommalu.
His son Satyam also has acted in Saptaswaralu, Prema Jeevulu and Gandara Gandadu. His grandson Sai Eshwar also worked as child artist in Television industry.
Death
editRao died at Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad on 22 March 2009 due to cancer complications.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Exposure in films decried". The Hindu. 25 February 2007. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
- ^ Murali Krishna. "T L KANTHA RAO ~ Early Tollywood". Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
- ^ Social Post (25 March 2009). "Kantha Rao becomes a memory | News – Oneindia Entertainment". Entertainment.oneindia.in. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
- ^ Ramachandran, T.M. (1973). Film world. Vol. 9.
- ^ The Times of India directory and year book including who's who. Times of India Press. 1984.
- ^ Tanmayi, Bhawana. "Kantha Rao biopic to go on floors soon". Telangana Today. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
- ^ "Kanta Rao passes away". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012.
- ^ "Planet-Bollywood - Photo Album". ntippi.tripod.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012.
- ^ "Sahasra Siracheda Apoorva Chintamani (1960)". The Hindu. 25 February 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Aasha Sundari (1960) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew". chiloka.com. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ "Kanakadurga Pooja Mahima (1960)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Naagaarjuna (1961) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew". chiloka.com. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ "Somavara Vratha Mahathyam (1963)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Thotalo Pilla Kotalo Rani 1964 Full Movie Online - Watch HD Movies on Airtel Xstream Play". Airtel Xstream (Airtel TV). Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Pratigna Palana (1965) | V CINEMA - Movie, Review, Cast, Songs & Release Date". www.vcinema.com. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Aakasaramanna (1965)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Mohini Bhasmasura 1966 Telugu Movie Cast Crew,Actors,Director, Mohini Bhasmasura Producer,Banner,Music Director,Singers & Lyricists". MovieGQ. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "Paduka Pattabhishekamu 1966 Telugu Movie Cast Crew,Actors,Director, Paduka Pattabhishekamu Producer,Banner,Music Director,Singers & Lyricists". MovieGQ. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Srimathi (1966)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Iddaru Monagallu (1967)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Devuni Gelichina Manavudu (1967)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Aggi Dora (1967)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Evaru Monagadu (1968)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ "Devudichina Bharta on Moviebuff.com". Moviebuff.com. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Ukku Pidugu (1969) CINEMA". www.moviebuff.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Gandara Gandadu 1969 Telugu Movie Info".
- ^ "Suguna Sundari Katha". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Merupu Veerudu (1970)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Kathiki Kankanam (1971)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Andam Kosam Pandem (1971)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Mayadari Malligadu (1973)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Padi Pantalu (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ "Raaja (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ "Shri Rajeshwari Vilas Coffee Club | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "Agent Gopi (1978)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Patnavasam (1978)". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Sahasavantudu (1978)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "Andhadu Aagadu (1979)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Korikale Gurralaithe (1979)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Maa Voori Devatha (1979)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Mahalakshmi (1980)". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "Shamsher Shankar (1982)". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Prathignya (1982)". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Chattaniki Veyi Kallu". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Moogavani Paga (1983)". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Puli Debba". MovieBuff. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ SkyVideos Telugu (26 March 2018). Mayagadu Telugu Full Length Movie HD | Mohan babu | Kavitha | Chakravarthy @skyvideostelugu. Retrieved 23 October 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Lanke Bindelu (1983)". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ "Sardar (1984)". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Sundari Subbarao on Moviebuff.com". Moviebuff.com. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ "Mantradandam (1985) | V CINEMA - Movie, Review, Cast, Songs & Release Date". www.vcinema.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Musugu Donga Cast and Crew".
- ^ "Chanakya Sapadam (1986)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ ALLUDI PORU AMMAI JORU | TELUGU FULL MOVIE | SUMAN | VENITHA | CHANDRA MOHAN | TELUGU CINEMA ZONE, 14 October 2019, archived from the original on 18 May 2023, retrieved 18 May 2023
- ^ "Naga Shakthi (1998)". Indiancine.ma.
- ^ "Actor Kanta Rao passed away at 85 Years". Deccan Radio. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011.
External links
edit- Kantha Rao at IMDb