Pudipeddi Sai Kumar (born 27 July 1960[1]) is an Indian actor, dubbing artist and television presenter who works predominantly in Tamil Telugu and Kannada films.[2]

P. Sai Kumar
Sai Kumar at IFFI (2010)
Born
Pudipeddi Sai Kumar

(1960-07-27) 27 July 1960 (age 64)
Education
Occupations
  • Actor
  • dubbing artist
  • television presenter
Years active1976–present
Children2, including Aadi
FatherP. J. Sarma
RelativesP. Ravi Shankar (brother)

He has received three state Filmfare Awards South, two Nandi Awards and two SIMA Awards for his work in Telugu and Kannada. His performance in Prasthanam (2010) featured in the list of the "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade" by Film Companion.[3]

Early and personal life

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Sai Kumar was born to P. J. Sarma and Krishna Jyothi, as one of five children. Sarma moved from Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh to Chennai and established himself as an actor and dubbing artist while Jyothi, hails from Bagepalli, Karnataka and has acted in several Kannada films.[4][2]

Kumar's brothers P. Ravi Shankar and Ayyappa P. Sharma are also actors. They have two sisters.[4] Kumar has a master's degree in Arts from Presidency College, Chennai and completed M.Phil. at Madras Christian College, where he also taught briefly.[5]

Sai Kumar's son Aadi is an actor in Telugu cinema.[6]

Film career

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He started his career at an early age as a dubbing child artist. His father, P. J. Sarma was a leading dubbing artist. Sai Kumar followed in his father's footsteps, having dubbed for Suman and Rajasekhar for many of their films. As a child actor, he appeared in Devudu Chesina Pelli (1975) and Sneham (1977). He resumed acting as an adult, appearing in Challenge (1984), Kalikalam (1991), Major Chandrakanth (1993) and others.[7]

He started in Tamil movies like Thaiyalkaran (1991), Kaaval Geetham (1992), Vaettiya Madichu Kattu (1998) and then the action roles such as Aathi (2006), Thenavattu (2008) and Thiruvannamalai (2008).

He appeared in the 1996 Kannada film Police Story, which was also voice dubbed in Telugu and Tamil. His Kannada films Agni IPS (1997), Central Jail (1997), Police Story 2 (2007) were all major hits at the box office and Sai Kumar became a household name in Karnataka.[8] Sai Kumar says, 'I am indebted to Karnataka for making me a star and giving me Police Story during my struggling days.'[5] His Kannada film RangiTaranga was one of the 300 films eligible to be nominated for the Oscars in 2016[9] and his performance in the film was not only praised by the critics, but also earned him an IIFA Utsavam and SIIMA Award.[10][11]

Television career

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In addition to his films, he also hosted Deal or No Deal on Gemini TV and Etv Kannada in Telugu and Kannada respectively. He also hosted WOW-Sakkhath Kick Kodo game show on ETV Kannada and WOW S1 - Manchi Kick Ichche, WOW S2 game shows on ETV. He hosted a game show, Manam on ETV.[12]

Awards

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Nandi Awards
Filmfare Awards
IIFA Awards
CineMAA Awards
SIMA Awards
Other Awards
Television Awards (As anchor)
  • TV Award 2009 for Best Male Anchor presented by Delhi Telugu Academy in Hyderabad on 8 August 2010.[13]
  • Tata Docomo Media Award – Most Popular Male Anchor was given on 15 August 2010 for anchoring the TV show Wow on ETV Telugu.[citation needed]
  • 'Best Male Anchor Award' was presented at the AP Cinegoers' 6th Annual TV Awards – 2009 on 28 December 2010 for his anchoring of Wow on ETV Telugu.[14]

Filmography

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As actor

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Telugu

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List of P. Sai Kumar Telugu films and roles
Year Title Role Notes
1975 Devudu Chesina Pelli
1977 Sneham
1981 Maa Voori Pedda Manushulu
1984 Challenge Prakasam
1985 Agni Parvatam
Vande Mataram
Pratighatana
Jwala Sarvottama Rao's son
Maharaju
1987 Yugakarthalu
Bharatamlo Arjunudu
1990 Kartavyam
Doctor Bhavani
Neti Dowrjanyam[15] S.P. Ranjith
Aayudham China Venkatarayudu
1991 Kalikalam
Amma Rajinama
1992 Laati Prithvi
Rowdy Inspector Narasimham
Valu Jada Tolu Beltu
Bangaru Mama
Prema Vijetha
1993 Major Chandrakanth
1994 Pacha Thoranam
1996 Police Story
1998 Rowdy Durbar
Swarnamukhi
Kodukulu
Anthahpuram Prakash
1999 A. K. 47 Ramu [16]
2001 Narahari
Sivanna
Khaki Chokka Pratap
Athanu
2002 Seema Simham Simbhu Prasad
Janam Jeeva
2004 Sivaram Sivaram
2005 Slokam
2006 Samanyudu Bhagavan Raj
2007 Vijayadasami Durga Prasad
2008 Indrajith
2009 Dhee Ante Dhee
2010 Prasthanam Loknath Naidu 3rd on the list of Film Companion's "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade"[3]
2011 Ayyare Gajapathi
2012 Uu Kodathara? Ulikki Padathara? Bujji
Shirdi Sai Nanavali
2013 Okkadine Shivaji Rao
Pavitra
Jagadguru Adi Shankara Mandana Misra
Kamina Dharma
2014 Yevadu Dharma
Autonagar Surya Sirisha's father
Galata
2015 Pataas DGP Murali Krishna
Pandaga Chesko Sai Reddy
Bhale Manchi Roju Shakti
2016 Sarrainodu Jaya Prakash "J.P."
Supreme Narayana Rao
Chuttalabbai Babji's father
Janatha Garage Police Commissioner K. Chandra Shekar
Manalo Okkadu Pratap
2017 Om Namo Venkatesaya Guru Anubhananda Swamy
Vaisakham
Jai Lava Kusa Kaakha
Raja the Great Surya Murthy
2018 Naa Peru Surya, Naa Illu India Mustafa
Subrahmanyapuram Ayushmaan
Suvarna Sundari Guna
2019 Maharshi Pallavi's father
2021 Sreekaram Ekambaram
Yuvarathnaa Raghav Reddy (Education minister)
Ardha Shathabdham Ramanna
SR Kalyanamandapam Dharma
Raja Vikramarka Chakravarthy
2022 Gaalivaana Komarraju web series
S5 No Exit CM Subrahmanyam Naidu
2023 Sir Pathi Papa Rao
Natho Nenu Koteswara Rao
Jorugaa Husharugaa Santhosh's father [17]
2024 RAM (Rapid Action Mission)
Gangs of Godavari
Committee Kurrollu President Bujji
Saripodhaa Sanivaaram
Dhoom Dhaam

Kannada

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Tamil

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As dubbing artist

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List of P. Sai Kumar film credits as dubbing artist
Actor Titles Notes
Suman Tarangini
Neti Bharatam
Sitaara
Merupu Dhadi
America Alludu [18]
Bava Bavamaridi
Athiradi Padai
Rajasekhar Aahuti also dubbed for Tamil versions of his films
Ankusam
Magaadu
Aagraham
Allari Priyudu
Gangmaster
Omkaram
Subhakaryam
Evadaithe Nakenti
PSV Garuda Vega
Rajinikanth Baashha For Telugu versions
Pedarayudu
Lal Salaam
Manoj K. Jayan Thirumalai
Souryam
Amitabh Bachchan Khuda Gawah For Telugu dubbed version
Arjun Sarja Singakottai
Vijayakanth Police Adhikari For Telugu dubbed versions
Captain Prabhakaran
City Police
Raja Simha
Raghupathi IPS
Mathru Bhoomi
Vishnuvardhan Sangathana For Telugu dubbed versions
Suresh Gopi Police Commissioner For Telugu dubbed versions
Mammootty Chief Minister For Telugu dubbed versions
The King
Delhi Simham
Mohanlal Yoddha For Telugu dubbed versions
Abhimanyu

As producer

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References

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  1. ^ "Happy Birthday Sai Kumar: Makers of Sreekaram share first look of the ace actor". The Times of India. 27 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b "The Hindu : Metro Plus Visakhapatnam : 'Dialogue King' on a roll". Archived from the original on 2 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Film Companion's 100 Greatest Indian Performances of the Decade - Movie list". Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Ravi Shankar: Dad was straightforward, mom encouraged creativity". Deccan Herald. 12 June 2020. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Sai Kumar interview - Telugu Cinema interview - Telugu film actor". Idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Aadi is a producer's hero: Sai Kumar". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Sai Kumar interview - Telugu Cinema interview - Telugu film actor". Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Making waves in Kannada films". Screen India. Archived from the original on 20 February 2001. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  9. ^ "RangiTaranga director Anup Bhandari never expected his film to make it to the Oscars race". India Today. 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  10. ^ "'Srimanthudu', 'Rangitaranga' win laurels at IIFA Utsavam". 26 January 2016. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Kannada cinema's big winners at SIIMA 2016". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Desi Hub: Telugu Movies's Weblog – 'Karalu Miriyalu' on TCV committee". Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
  13. ^ "Cities / Hyderabad : Delhi Telugu Academy awards presented". The Hindu. 9 August 2010. Archived from the original on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  14. ^ "Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Lifetime achievement award for Shanti Swaroop". The Hindu. 29 December 2010. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  15. ^ "Neti Dowrjanyam (1990) Telugu Movie: Watch Full HD Movie Online On JioCinema". www.jiocinema.com. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  16. ^ "AK 47". Sify. Archived from the original on 30 January 2005.
  17. ^ "Jorugaa Husharugaa Telugu Movie Review". 15 December 2023.
  18. ^ Sri (2 April 2010). "Retrospect : America Alludu (1985)". Telugucinema.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  19. ^ Hooli, Shekhar H. "Aadi says his tapori role in Garam will appeal to mass as well as elite audience". International Business Times, India Edition. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
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