Veteran actor Gollapudi Maruti Rao no more

Telugu actor Gollapudi Maruti Rao passed away here on Thursday at a hospital in Chennai. He was 80.

Born on April 14, 1939 in Vizianagaram, Rao ventured into the film industry with Intlo Ramaiah Veedilo Krishnaiah and went on to act in over 250 films. He authored various books, novels and plays. He worked as Station Incharge and host in All India Radio. He used to write columns and stories in various books. He slowly moved to Theater writing but never left AIR. Annapurna Pictures establisher, Dukkipati Madhusudhan Rao read his stories and novels, also heard his criticism about recent films.

So, he approached him to write for films. Gollapudi did not take up the job immediately and it is lyrics writer Dasaradhi, who convinced him to take screen-writing. He started with dialogues and then wrote screenplays for several films. Watching his typical body language and acting prowess, Kodi Ramakrishna encouraged him to act in Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya. Gollapudi reluctantly agreed but he became one of the top actors in Telugu Cinema.

Even though Kaikala Satyanarayana, Allu Ramalingaiah, Prabhakar Reddy and Rao Gopal Rao were established as character actors before his introduction, he became as popular as they were and even completed 290 films as character actor.

His performances in films Kallu, Samasaram Oka Chadarangam, Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya and his typical dialogue delivery made him a must in films. Later, he became a comic actor and his nose has become a centre point for many jokes. His literary works and plays, like Rendu Rellu Aaru, Patita, Karuninchani Devatalu, Mahanatudu, Kaalam Venakku Tirigindi, Aasayaalaku Sankellu, have won numerous State Awards.

He is survived by his a son. Maruti Rao had two sons and the younger one, Srinivas died too early. On Srinivas's name, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao established a theatre group and an award to encourage stage artists. Telugu Cinema will miss a legend like him.