S. V. Ranga Rao

Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao (3 July 1918 – 18 July 1974), popularly known as S. V. Ranga Rao and SVR, was an Indian actor and filmmaker who primarily worked in Telugu and Tamil films. He is regarded as one of the finest actors in the history of Indian cinema. He is known by the epithet "Viswa Nata Chakravarthi" In a career spanning nearly three decades, Ranga Rao garnered various national and international honours.

Ranga Rao was a method actor known for his natural acting style, portraying complex social, biographical, and mythological characters. Some of his most iconic roles include 'Nepala Manthrikudu', a tantric in Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Yama in Sati Savitri (1957), Ghatothkacha in Maya Bazaar (1957), Mayasura in Bhookailas (1958), and Bhoja in Mahakavi Kalidasu (1960). becoming the only Indian actor to have ever received the honour. His other notable performances include roles as Duryodhana in Pandava Vanavasam (1965), Hiranyakasipu in Bhakta Prahlada (1967), and Ravana in Sampoorna Ramayanam (1971).

In his honour, the Government of Andhra Pradesh instituted the S. V. Ranga Rao Award for Best Character Actor, which is presented annually to recognize outstanding performances in character roles. His father, Samarla Koteswara Rao, was an excise inspector at Nuzvidu, and his mother's name was Smt. Lakshmi Narasayamma.

Career S. V. R. got an invitation from one of his relatives, B. V. Ramanandam, to play the lead actor in his film Varoodhini (1947). He immediately abandoned the job, and left for Salem to join the celluloid world. However, the film didn't do well at the box office. Ranga Rao also starred in the enduring classics Mayabazar (1957) and Nartanasala (1963), featured in the CNN-IBN's list of "100 greatest Indian films of all time".

In a career spanning nearly three decades, he acted in over 160 films 109 in Telugu and 53 in Tamil. In 2018, N. Chandrababu Naidu, then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh unveiled a 12.5 feet bronze statue of Ranga Rao at Kalaparru on the outskirts of Eluru and announced that the state government was planning to establish a museum on Ranga Rao in Eluru.

Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Film - (Director) - Chadarangam (1967)

Nandi Award for Best Feature Film (Director) Chadarangam (1967) - Second Best Feature Film (Silver)

1966 Adugu Jaadalu Dr. Krishna Telugu

1967 Punyavathi Telugu

1969 Jagath Kiladeelu CID Gangaram / Gangulu Telugu

1970 Jagath Jetteelu Major Raghunath Telugu

1971 Anuradha Bhushaiah Telugu

1973 Bangaru Babu Raghavaiah Telugu 1972 Thatha-Manavadu Grandfather Rangayya Telugu

1975 Mallela Manasulu Ramachandraiah Telugu

1988 Yamudiki Mogudu Balu's father Telugu Portrait 1990 Athisaya Piravi Balu's father Tamil Portrait (reprised)

Director Bandhavyalu (1968) Chadarangam (1967)

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