Rajanala Kaleswara Rao

Rajanala Kaleswara Rao, known mononymously by his surname as Rajanala, was an Indian actor known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre, and a few Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films. In a film career spanning more than four decades, Rajanala acted in more than 1400 feature films in a variety of characters. Regarded as one of the finest method actors, Rajanala was known for his gruesome portrayals of lead antagonist roles during the Golden age of Telugu cinema. The Government of Andhra Pradesh and the film industry felicitated him for his achievements and contribution to Indian Film Industry. He won several Filmfare Awards South and Nandi Award.

Early life and characteristics Rajanala was born on January 3, 1925, in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. While working as a revenue inspector in Nellore from 1944 to 1951 he made his entry into theatre. A post graduate in philosophy from University of Lucknow and a voracious reader of English literature. Before coming to Cinema, he won several awards and accolades for his acting in Theatre. He was a noted villain against N.T.Rama Rao, a versatile actor of Telugu filmdom at that time. Rajanala had well proportioned body, he also won MR. Madras for his Physique. Rajanala iconic acting was mostly through the movement of his eyes, he evince the cruelty by widening his eyes to various levels and his maniacal laughter was very famous. Rajanala played many villainous roles, but in real life he was an intellectual and spiritual man. Rajanala Kaleswara Rao, the first actor to star alongside three chief ministers, i.e. NT Rama Rao, M. G. Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, he also had good friends in other film industry Kollywood and Bollywood.

Death Being a diabetic, his right leg could not withstand the rigours of outdoor shooting in Araku valley in 1995 when he was playing a full-fledged role in Telugu Veera Levara. His leg which was injured during the shooting had to be amputated at Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences. Later Rajanala shifted to Chennai taken cared by his daughter and son-in-law who was a businessman. Rajanala had severe cardiac arrest and was admitted in Vijaya Hospital in Chennai. He died on 21 May 1998 in Chennai, aged 73.

Filmography

Pratigya (1953) Vaddante Dabbu (1954) Jayasimha (1955) as Mahaveerudu Suvarna Sundari (1957) Dongallo Dora (1957) Kutumba Gowravam (1957) Vinayaka Chaviti (1957) Vaddante Pelli (1957) as Raghunath Sati Anasuya (1957) Raja Nandini (1958) as Tirumala Nayak Sri Krishna Maya (1958) as Indra Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddham (1958) as Anjaneya Karthavarayuni Katha (1958) Dongalunnaru Jagratha (1958) Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu (1958) Pelli Sandadi (1959) Raja Malaya Simha (1959) Raja Makutam (1959) Mahishasura Mardini (1959) (Kannada) Banda Ramudu (1959) Rechukka Pagatichukka (1959) Vachina Kodalu Nachindi (1959) Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960) Runanubandham (1960) as Veerabhadram Anna Chellelu (1960) as Aggi Pidugu Jaggadu Sahasra Siracheda Apoorva Chinthamani (1960) as Mathivadana Maharaju Vimala (1960) as Ugrasimha Aasha Sundari (1960) (Kannada) as Kapalabhairava Kanaka Durga Pooja Mahima (1960) as Meghanathudu Pillalu Thechina Challani Rajyam (1960) as Mahasena Usha Parinayam (1961) Nagarjuna (1961) (Kannada) as Anjaneya Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961) as Threesokanandudu Taxi Ramudu (1961) as Nagu Khaidi Kannaiah (1962) Siri Sampadalu (1962) as Bhujangam Gulebakavali Katha (1962) as Vakraketu Gaali Medalu (1962) Chitti Tammudu (1962) Dakshayagnam (1962) as Indra Gundamma Katha (1962) Swarna Manjari (1962) as Rajaguru Mahendra Shakthi Madana Kamaraju Katha (1962) as Bhoothapathi Paruvu Prathishta (1963) as Narendra Bandipotu (1963) as Soorasimha Valmiki (1963) (Kannada) Valmiki (1963) Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu (1963) as Keertisena Ramudu Bheemudu (1964) as Panakala Rao Vaarasatwam (1964) as Narasimham Devatha (1964) Sabhash Suri (1964) as Seshu Thotalo Pilla Kotalo Rani (1964) as Durjaya Desa Drohulu (1964) Aggi Pidugu (1964) as Veerendrudu Bobbili Yudham (1964) as Vijayaramaraju Pratigna Palana (1965) as Arindhava Pandava Vanavasam (1965) as Saindhava Mangamma Sapadham (1965) Aakasaramanna (1965) as Narasinga Rayulu C.I.D. (1965) Sri Simhachala Kshetra Mahima (1965) as Indra Vijaya Simha (1965) as Prathap Dorikithe Dongalu (1965) as Sudarsanam Satya Harishchandra (1965) Jwala Dweepa Rahasyam (1965) as Bhallataka Varma Veerabhimanyu (1965) as Duryodhana Aada Brathuku (1965) Sri Krishna Pandaviyam (1966) Pidugu Ramudu (1966) as Gajendra Varma Palnati Yudham (1966) Goodachari 116 (1966) Sri Krishna Tulabharam (1966) as Indra Aame Evaru? (1966) Gopaludu Bhoopaludu (1967) as Veerabahu Kanchu Kota (1967) Devuni Gelichina Manavudu (1967) as Mahabaludu Bhama Vijayam (1967) as Kalinga Bhupati Kamavardhanudu Nindu Manasulu (1967) as Seshu Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna (1967) Sri Krishnavataram (1967) as Sisupala Ave Kallu (1967) as Rajasekhar Farz (1967) (Hindi) Apoorva Piravaigal (1967) (Tamil) Rahasyam (1967) as Virupaksha Niluvu Dopidi (1968) Ranabheri (1968) as Ranamallu Aggi Meeda Guggilam (1968) Bandhavyalu (1968) as Panakala Swamy Tikka Sankaraiah (1968) as Sodabuddi Subbayya Nene Monaganni (1968) as Bhadrayya Deva kanya (1968) as Kamapala, Maharaja of Kamarupa Baghdad Gajadonga (1968) Ramu (1968) Bhagya Chakramu (1968) Pedarasi Peddamma Katha (1968) Devudichina Bharta (1969) as Ghantasura Ukku Pidugu (1969) as Jwalabhairava Jarigina Katha (1969) as Bhujangam Varakatnam (1969) Raja Simha (1969) as Udayanamaha Maharaju Gandara Gandadu (1969) as Ranjith Gandikota Rahasyam (1969) as Pratapa Rudrudu Mooga Nomu (1969) Bhale Tammudu (1969) as Gun / Ganapathi Saptaswaralu (1969) Takkari Donga Chakkani Chukka (1969) Basti Kiladilu (1970) Merupu Veerudu (1970) Ananda Nilayam (1971) Sri Krishna Vijayamu (1971) as Lord Shiva Raitu Bidda (1971) as Pullayya Pagabattina Paduchu (1971) as Sekharam Sati Anasuya (1971) Bhale Papa (1971) as Sankar, leader of a gang of bandits Kathiki Kankanam (1971) as Durjaya Andam Kosam Pandem (1971) as Sambharudu Suputhrudu (1971) as Nagabhushanam Mattilo Manikyam (1971) as Bhujanga Rao Pavitra Hrudayalu (1971) Chinnanati Snehitulu (1971) as Nagabhushanam Debbaku tha Dongala Mutha (1971) as Phool Shah Sri Krishnanjaneya Yuddham (1972) as Anjaneya Attanu Diddina Kodalu (1972) as Jagapati Sri Krishna Satya (1972) as Satrajit Inspector Bharya (1972) as Nagabhushanam Oka Nari Vanda Thupakulu (1973) as Bhujangam Desoddharakulu (1973) as Tata Rao Doctor Babu (1973) as Pothuraju Jeevana Tarangalu (1973) as Pundarikakshaiah Alluri Seetarama Raju (1974) as Major Goodall Nippulanti Manishi (1974) as Narendra Varma Galipatalu (1974) Mallela Manasulu (1975) as Kodandam/Balaji Kotha Kapuram (1975) as Shavukaru Sagaraiah Annadammula Anubandham (1975) as Jailor Yashoda Krishna (1975) as Indra Andharu Bagundali (1976) as Businessman soliciting company Magaadu (1976) Maa Daivam (1976) Kotalo Paga (1976) as Veerabhadra Bhupathi Aradhana (1976) Muthyala Pallaki (1976) as Meesala Rosi Reddy Daana Veera Soora Karna (1977) as Drona Chanakya Chandragupta (1977) Agent Gopi (1978) as Boss No. 1 Yuga Purushudu (1978) as Benerjee Mugguru Muggure (1978) Dudu Basavanna (1978) as Bangaraiah Lawyer Viswanath (1978) Rajaputra Rahasyam (1978) Pottelu Punnamma (1978) as Judge Dongala Veta (1978) as Balwantha Rao Nindu Manishi (1978) as Public Prosecutor Devadasu Malli Puttadu (1978) as Raja Ranga Raju Dongalaku Saval (1979) as Major Chandrasekhar Seethe Ramudaithe (1979) as Bhairavaiah Evadabba Sommu (1979) as Nalla Trachu Nagu Gandharva Kanya (1979) as Vikrama Varma Maa Voori Devatha (1979) as Madhavaiah Sri Madvirata Parvam (1979) as Drona Nakili Manishi (1980) Sivamethina Satyam (1980) as Singh Kiladi Krishnudu (1980) as Manager Mama Allulla Saval (1980) as Judge Srirasthu Subhamasthu (1981) Patalam Pandu (1981) as Chellayya Pagabattina Simham (1982) as Ramapuram Zamindar Bobbili Puli (1982) Nijam Chepithe Nerama (1983) as Govt. Official Chattaniki Veyyi Kallu (1983) Rangaiah, Commissioner of Police Bhale Thammudu (1985) Surya Chandra (1985) Punnami Ratri (1985) as Zamindar Vishakanya (1985) as Maharaju Kashmora (1986) as Vishachi Magadheerudu (1986) Number One (1994) Hello Brother (1994) as Rajanala Jailor Gaari Abbayi (1994) Telugu Veera Levara (1995) as Goodall Puttinti Gowravam (1996) as Party Leader

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