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Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao
SV Ranga Rao's bust in Vijayawada
Born	3 July 1918 Nuzvidu, Krishna dist, Andhra Pradesh, India
Died	18 July 1974 (aged 56) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Cause of death	Cardiac Arrest
Other names	SVR, Viswanata Chakravarthi
Occupation(s)	Film Actor, Producer, Director
Spouse(s)	Leelavathi,
Awards	Rashtrapati Award International Honor
Signature

Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao (3 July 1918 – 18 July 1974), popularly Known as S.V.R., was an Indian film actor, director and producer known for his works in Telugu and Tamil cinema. Widely recognized as one of the finest Indian method actors, Rao was popularly known as "Viswa Nata Chakravarthi." He was known for his natural acting and for portraying versatile roles of Hindu mythological characters like Ravana, Ghatotkacha, Duryodhana, Kamsa and Kichaka from Indian mythology. In 1963, he garnered the Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Kichaka in Nartanasala at the Indonesian Film Festival held in Jakarta. He has garnered the erstwhile Rashtrapati Award, five times for acting in Telugu and Tamil cinema.

Early life

Rao was born in Telugu Speaking family, to Samarla Lakshmi and Samarla Koteswara Rao, an excise inspector at Nuzvidu town in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India when World War I was drawing to a close. His mother, Lakshmi Narasayamma, a staunch devotee of Lord Venkateswara, named the boy after him. The possessive father sent S.V.R. to the erstwhile Madras Presidency where he completed his schooling at Hindu College. At an early age of 12, he showed interest in stage action, he ventured into acting after completing his B.sc.

Film career

S.V.R. got an invitation from one of his relatives, B.V. Ramanandam, to play the lead actor in his film Varoodhini. He immediately abandoned the job, and left for Salem to join the celluloid world. In fact, it was a great beginning for the young man. The film Varoodhini was released. However, S.V.R. left the Madras presidency and reached Jamshedpur, where he took up the job as a budget assistant with the Tata Company. However, his love for dramas began to bloom multifold. At this juncture, he was married to Leelavathi Badeti on 27 December 1947. In the days that followed, S.V.R. was given an opportunity to play the villain in the film, "Palletoori Pilla", produced by B. A. Subba Rao.

Opportunity tapped at S.V.R.'s door through Vijaya Pictures, which offered him the most memorable Nepala Mantrikudu role in Pathala Bhairavi. Immediately, he came into the limelight, followed by Pelli Chesi Choodu (1952). Its Tamil version was also played by him. Notable mythological roles he played are Ghatohkacha in Maya Bazaar, Keechaka in Nartanasala, Dhuryodhana in Pandava Vanavasam, Hiranyakashapaya in Bhakta Prahlada, Bheeshma in Bala Bharatham and Kamsa in Yashoda Krishna etc. Equally he has made his influence and trademark onscreen in social movies with his meaty roles as grand father, father and elder brother. The best example for his acting prowess are his roles in the movies Appuchesi pappu koodu, Missamma, Kalisi unte kaladu sukham, Thodikodallu, Gundammakatha, Devudu chesina manushulu, Dasarabullodu, Manchimanasulu, Thathamanavadu. SVR was the second Indian actor to get an international award in Jakarta International Film Festival for his role of Keechaka in Nartanasala.

Awards

Rashtrapati Award in acting

• Annai (1962)
• Sarada (1962)
• Naanum Oru Penn (1963)
• Karpagam (1963)
• Nartanasala (1963)

Nandi Award for Best Feature Film (director)

• Chadarangam (1967) - Silver Nandi
• Bandhavyalu (1968) - Gold Nandi

Filmfare Awards South

• Filmfare Special Award - South for Naanum Oru Penn (1963)

International honors

• Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Keechaka in Nartanasala at the Indonesian Film Festival at Jakarta in 1963.

Other honors

• He was given the distinguished names as Viswa Nata Chakravarti, Nata Sarvabhouma, Nata Sekhara, Nata Simha.

Characters played

• Akbar Padusha in Anaarkali
• Banasura in Usha Parinayam
• Bandit in Bandipotu Dongalu
• Bhishma in Bala Bharatam
• Bhoja in Mahakavi Kalidasu
• Daksha in Dakshayagnam
• Duryodhana in Pandava Vanavaasam
• Ghatotkacha in Mayabazaar
• Harischandra in Harischandra
• Hiranyakashipu in Bhakta Prahlada
• Kamsa in Yashoda Krishna and Srikrishna Leelalu
• Keechaka in Narthanasala
• Mayasura in Bhookailas
• Narakasura in Vinayaka Chaviti
• Rajaraja Narendra in Sarangadhara
• Ravana in Sampoorna Ramayanam
• Tandra Paparayudu in Bobbili Yudham
• Yama in Sati Savitri

Personal life

He has married Leelavati, daughter of Badeti Venkata Ramaiah and Koteswaramma on December 27, 1947. They had three children: two daughters, Vijaya and Prameela and a son, Koteswara Rao.

Death

He had a coronary failure at Hyderabad in February 1974. He was admitted to Osmania General Hospital, where he recovered with an advise to rest. Another attack on July 18, 1974 at Chennai proved fatal and the actor was dead before any medical treatment could be instituted.

Notable filmography

Actor

Director

• Bandhavyalu (1968)
• Chadarangam (1967)

Producer

• Bandhavyalu (1968) (producer)
• Chadarangam (1967) (producer)
• Naadi Aada Janme (1965) (producer)
• Sukhadukhalu (1969)

References

1. http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6IIFAAward.aspx?PdfName=6IIFA.pdf
2. Sanmana Satkaralu, Viswa Nata Chakravarti, M. Sanjay Kishore, Sangam Akademy, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 65.
3. PELLI CHESI CHOODU (1952) - The Hindu
4. ^ Mahabhinishkramana, Viswa Nata Chakravarti, M. Sanjay Kishore, Sangam Akademy, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 69-70.
5. S.V. Ranga Rao's bronze statue unveiled - The Hindu
6. S.V. Ranga Rao - Keywords
7. Directorate of Film Festival

External links

• S.V. Ranga Rao at IMDb
• S. V. Renga Rao,The Man of Myth and Reality in My Movie Minutes

• 1918 births
• 1974 deaths
• Telugu male actors
• Male actors in Tamil cinema
• Recipients of the Rashtrapati Award
• Filmfare Awards South winners
• Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners
• Telugu film directors
• Nandi Award winners
• 20th-century Indian film directors
• 20th-century Indian male actors
• People from Krishna district
• Male actors from Andhra Pradesh