Indian Cinema Loses A Visionary: Legendary Filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao Dies At 94

Legendary filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, whose imagination, innovation and fearless experimentation produced some of Indian cinema's most memorable films, died at a private hospital here on Saturday night. He was 94.

Rao breathed his last at Kauvery Hospital following ill health, family sources said. His mortal remains have been kept at his residence in Virugambakkam for public homage. His final rites are scheduled for around 2 pm at the Nesapakkam crematorium in Chennai.

Over a career spanning more than six decades, Rao worked across languages and genres, moving effortlessly between comedy, drama, fantasy, science fiction and experimental cinema. His celebrated films include 'Dikkatra Parvathi', 'Mayuri', 'Raja Paarvai', 'Pushpaka Vimanam', 'Apoorva Sagodharargal', 'Michael Madana Kama Rajan', 'Aditya 369', 'Bhairava Dweepam', 'Kadhala Kadhala' and 'Little John'.

His 1987 classic 'Pushpaka Vimanam', starring Kamal Haasan, became a landmark for telling an entire story without spoken dialogue, while 'Aditya 369' took Telugu audiences on an ambitious time-travel adventure. 'Mayuri', based on dancer Sudha Chandran's life, combined human emotion with an inspiring real-life story.

Rao's work earned him National Film Awards, including recognition for 'Dikkatra Parvathi' and 'Pushpaka Vimanam'. His long creative partnership with Kamal Haasan also resulted in several iconic films, particularly 'Apoorva Sagodharargal' and 'Michael Madana Kama Rajan'.

His filmmaking philosophy was perhaps best captured by his simple response when asked why he made the dialogue-free 'Pushpaka Vimanam': "Why not?" Even in his nineties, his passion for experimentation remained undiminished. His final directorial venture, 'Sing Geetham', was released earlier this year.

The film fraternity mourned the loss. Kamal Haasan remembered Rao as a filmmaker whose curiosity and youthful spirit remained intact. SS Rajamouli hailed his imagination and pioneering approach, while Jr NTR and Mahesh Babu remembered him as a visionary far ahead of his time.

Nani, Venkatesh Daggubati, Ravi Teja, Rishab Shetty, Vijay Deverakonda, Vishnu Manchu, Devi Sri Prasad and Nag Ashwin were among those who paid tributes.