Sarath Babu

Sathyam Babu Dixithulu (31 July 1951 – 22 May 2023), known by his stage name Sarath Babu, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Tamil and Telugu cinema. He appeared in more than 300 films, including in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and a few Malayalam and Hindi films. He has received eight state Nandi Awards.

Babu was noted for his height, handsome looks, and charming smile throughout his acting career, which spanned for around five decades. He was known for his compelling screen presence, especially known for his camaraderie with Rajinikanth in the films where the duo acted together. He had also shared screen space with Kamal Haasan in many films.

Personal life Sarath Babu was born as Sathyam Babu Dixithulu on 31 July 1951. He was in a live-in relationship with Telugu actress Rama Prabha during the 1980s. The duo separated themselves from the living together lifestyle in 1988, and Rama blamed Babu by making allegations that he had cheated her and snatched all of her properties in Chennai. Babu denied the allegations but admitted to being in a relationship with Rama. However, he asserted that he had no intention of unlawfully claiming others' properties. Babu himself confirmed that he was much younger than Rama when he entered into a relationship with her. He was later married to Sneha Nambiar, daughter of M.N. Nambiar.

Career Although Babu's father, a hotelier, wanted him to manage the family business, Babu aspired to become a police officer. However, he developed shortsightedness during his college years, which prevented him from joining the police force. Many people close to Babu felt he could enter the film industry as an actor, and though his father objected, his mother was supportive.

Babu entered the film industry in 1973 through the Telugu film Rama Rajyam. He made his Tamil film debut with Pattina Pravesam (1977), directed by K. Balachander. He later became popular through the Tamil film Nizhal Nijamagiradhu (1978), which was also directed by Balachander. Balachander would eventually become Babu's guru in film career.

Babu's maiden collaboration with Rajinikanth, Mullum Malarum (1978), which was the directorial debut for Mahendran, became an evergreen cult classic hit in Tamil cinema, and the film also marked an important milestone in Tamil cinema. His supporting role alongside Rajinikanth received critical acclaim, and his performance in the film's song Senthazham Poovil became the talk of the town across Tamil Nadu. He later developed a deep rooted friendship with Rajinikanth following the success of Mullum Malarum.

Babu's other collaborations with Rajinikanth, such as Annamalai (1992) and Muthu (1995), also stamped his authority as a go-to supporting actor and was also praised for his onscreen chemistry with Rajinikanth, which was fueled by his characterization in those films. Babu played the role of a friend for Rajinikanth before becoming his foe in Annamalai and for Babu's performance in Annamalai as a villain, it stirred memes in social media even several years after the release of the film. He also tasted success in Kannada cinema with Amruthavarshini (1997).

Babu's last film acting role came in Vasantha Mullai, which released in 2023. Films such as Malli Pelli and Por Thozhil were posthumous releases of him.

Illness and death In April 2023, it was reported that Babu was suffering from sepsis. He died of multiple organ failure on 22 May 2023, after being placed on a ventilator at a private hospital in Hyderabad, Telangana. He was 71. Sarath Babu's final rites were performed in Chennai.

Partial filmography + List of Sarath Babu film credits Year Title Role Language1973 Stree Telugu Rama Rajyam 1976 Raaja Advocate Ramu 1977 Pattina Pravesam Tamil Panthulamma Telugu 1978 Nizhal Nijamagiradhu Venkatachalam Tamil Indradhanussu Nagesh Telugu Vattathukkul Chaduram TamilSahasavanthudu Gopi Telugu Maro Charitra Mullum Malarum KumaranTamil Mudi Sooda Mannan Bhairavan Ithu Eppadi Irukku Nenjil Aadum Poo Ondru 1979 Guppedu Manasu Buchi Babu Telugu Agal Vilakku Doctor Tamil Mambazhathu Vandu Nadagame Ullagam Nool Veli Buchi Babu Srungara Ramudu Jaipal Telugu Idi Katha Kaadu Bharani Ninaithale Inikkum Guest appearance Tamil Andamaina Anubhavam Telugu Tayaramma Bangarayya Gopala Krishna Urvasi Neeve Naa Preyasi Venu Padhai Marinaal Tamil Suprabatham Uthiripookkal PrakashChakkalathi Guest Appearance Thisai Maariya Paravaigal Rangamani Sarapancharam Swami Malayalam Pancha Bhoothalu Telugu 1980 Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal Tamil Kannil Theriyum Kathaikal Megathukkum Dhagam Undu Manmatha Ragangal Moodu Mulla Bandham Telugu Nenjathai Killathe Chandrasekhar Tamil Ponnagaram Raja Oru Iravu Oru Paravai Mangala Nayagi Saranam Ayyappa Andharangam Oomaiyanathu Pudhiya Thoranangal Uchakattam Dr. Kiran 1981 Tholi Kodi Koosindi Venkata Swamy Telugu Enga Ooru Kannagi Tamil Dhanya Malayalam 47 Natkal Dr Shankar Tamil 47 Rojulu Telugu Agni Poolu Ammayi Manasu Jeevitha Ratham Mohan Netrikkann Yuvaraj Tamil Arumbugal Radha Kalyanam Dr Anand TeluguPrema Natakam Rajasekharam Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum Srivathsan Tamil Bala Nagamma Vijayavarma Dhanya Malayalam Seetakoka Chiluka David Telugu Devi Dharisanam Tamil 1982 Aval Etriya Deepam Kanavugal Karpanaigal Theerpu Pelleedu Pillalu Chalapati Telugu Yamakinkarudu Kishore Azhagiya Kanne Prasanna Tamil Eera Vizhi Kaaviyangal Gopal Bala Nagamma Vijayavarma Telugu Metti Pattabhi Tamil Mettela Savvadi Telugu Pannai Purathu Pandavargal Tamil 1983 Sagara Sangamam Raghu Telugu Imaigal Tamil Amarajeevi Madhu Telugu Muddula Mogudu Madhu Telugu Sattam Ravi Tamil Villiyanur Matha Sitaara Zamindar Telugu Puli Debba Manohar Kaliyuga Daivam Gaaju Bommalu Sandhippu Vasanth Tamil Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu Kavitha's boss Kannada Makkale Devaru Ramu1984 Vellai Pura Ondru Tamil Kanchana Ganga Jayasimha TeluguKondaveeti Nagulu D.S.P. Narayana Rao Anbulla Malare Tamil Chiranjeevi Unnai Naan Santhithen Captain Jagdeesh Azhagu Ninaivugal Naan Paadum Paadal Barath Ezhuthatha Sattangal Dr. Basheer Mudivalla Arambam Dr. Ram Swati Satyam Telugu Agni Gundam 1985 Anveshana James Pagal Nilavu J. Peter Manohar Tamil Siksha George Prasad TeluguMusugu Donga Kiran Anuraga Bandham Vishakanya Vijayasimha Visha Kanni Tamil Thulasidala Sridhar Kannada Ooriki Soggadu Ravi Telugu 1986 Usha Kannada Jeevana Poratam Telugu Swati Mutyam Chalapati Muddula Manavaraalu Manakanakku Lakshmi's husband Tamil Dharma Devathai Chandrasekhar Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu Khaidi Rani Telugu Ukku Manishi Salim Kashmora Sridhar 1987 Velaikaran Rajkumar Tamil Shankar Guru Devi's father Chinnari Devatha Telugu Chellakutti Vijay TamilIda Prapancham Telugu Gautami Chaitanya Ratham Vijay Viswanatha Nayakudu Thimmappa Sankeertana Sravan Babu Gandhinagar Rendava Veedhi Ravi Dabbevariki Chedu Govardhanam Samsaram Oka Chadarangam Prakash Michael Raj Tamil1988 Shakthi ACP Bharath Kumar Kannada Kampana Jeevana Jyothi Sridhar Telugu Aatma Katha Dorakani Donga Tiger Raja Adhu Antha Kaalam Tamil Aanimuthyam Ravi Chandra Telugu Abhinandana Kamala's husband Daisy Malayalam Chattamtho Chadarangam Suryam and Nagabhushanam Telugu Neerajanam Prana Snehitulu Kanchana Seeta August 15 Raatri Ravindra Rendum Rendum Anju Balu Tamil Anna Chellelu Dr. Rajasekhar Telugu Manasukkul Mathappu Dr. Raja Tamil O Bharya Katha SubhashTelugu 1989 Chettu Kinda PleaderGopala Krishna Raktha Kanneeru Rajasekharam Swathi Chinukulu Yamapasam Thendral Sudum Tamil Thendral Puyalanadhu Paape Maa Pranam Richards Telugu Vijay Giridhar Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil Rajesh Tamil 1990 Kokila Police Officer Telugu Neti Siddhartha David Aggiramudu Ram Mohan Raktha Jwala Mrugathrushna Four First Nights Malayalam Sandhana Kaatru Dr Sarath Tamil 1991 Manjeera Nadam Telugu Keechu Raallu Malaichaaral Tamil Palleturi Pellam Telugu Ranachandi Kannada 1992 Naangal Rajasekhar Tamil Annaamalai Ashok Soori Kannada Aapad Bandhavudu Sripathi Telugu Sabarimalayil Thanka Sooryodayam Malayalam Naalaiya Theerpu Priya's brother Tamil 1993 Vedan Ganesh Manikantana Mahime Kannada Puthiya Thendral TamilNakshatra Poratam Telugu Rojavai Killathe Sathasivam Tamil Sivarathiri Kanyakumariyil Oru Kavitha Malayalam 1994 Captain Ramasamy Telugu Uzhiyan Anakkal Raj Tamil Hello Brother Chakravarthy Telugu Duet Paramaguru Tamil Makkala Sakshi Kannada Criminal Dr Pratap Telugu Teerpu ACP Madhu 1995 Muthu Prince Tamil Puthiya Aatchi Vivekanandan Chandralekha ShankarDesa Drohulu Telugu Pokiri Raja CM & Brahmam (Dual role) Muddayi Muddugumma Raja Kolangal Shankar Tamil Sisindri Sarah Kumar Telugu 1996 Mahaprabhu Eswari Pandian Tamil Vasantham Love Birds Prakash Amrutha Varshini Hemanth Kannada Gaaya Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi Vishnu Murthy Telugu 1997 Dongaata ASP VikramThodu Poonilamazha Chandran Malayalam 1998 Uyirodu Uyiraga Chandrasekhar Tamil Sandhippoma Nilani's father Gamyam Sriram Telugu Pelli Pandiri Inspector Rama Rao 1999 Janumadatha Srichandra Vidyasagar Kannada Rythu RajyamTelugu Nilave Mugam Kaattu Police officer TamilHrudaya Hrudaya Kannada 2000 Annayya Rangarao TeluguBharatha Naari Kannada Kadhal Rojavae Sarath Tamil 2001 Majnu Kannada Neela Palegar Jagadevaraya Daddy Doctor TeluguAalavandhan Tejaswini's father Tamil Ishtam Chakravarthy Telugu 2002 Law and Order Kannada Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu Panduranga Rao Telugu Baba The father of the girl saved by Baba Tamil Maaran District Collector 2003 Anbu Adithya's father Ninne Ishtapaddanu Sanjana's father Telugu Neeke Manasichaanu Vivek's father Indru Mudhal Geetha's father Tamil Puthiya Geethai Annamalai Ottran Manikkavel IPS, IG, Prisons 2004 Arul Doctor Shock Dr. Rajan Gajendra Azhagarsamy Kavithai Subbulakshmi's father Pedababu Pedababu's step-father Telugu 2005 Rendella Tharuvatha Gandham Kannadi Pookal Child psychiatrist Tamil O Priyathama Nagaraj Kannada 2006 Kalvanin Kadhali Sathya's boss Tamil Sri Ramadasu Sage Bhadra Telugu Evandoi Srivaru Chandrasekhar Miss California Prasad Kannada Parijatham Sumathi/Subhathra father Tamil Perarasu Chakkaravarthi Pandiyan Rocky The Rebel Ajay Sinha: Rocky's father Hindi Student Kannada Rakhi Police Commissioner Telugu 2007 Aata Srikrishna's father Shankar Dada Zindabad Suresh's father Chandrahas Chatrapati Waking Dreams Dr Kumar English 2008 Velli Thirai Balaji Tamil Uliyin Osai Raja Raja Cholan Souryam Police Commissioner Telugu Payana Kaveri's father Kannada Neenyare Haage Summane 2009 Namyajamanru Dr. Patil Neramu Siksha Lawyer Telugu Magadheera Maharaj Vikram Singh Kannukulle Joseph Aruldoss Tamil Adada Enna Azhagu Vaikam Malayn Meiyappan aka Annachi 2010 Nagavalli Shankar Rao Telugu 2011 Ilaignan Deivanayagam Tamil It's My Love Story Vandana's father Telugu 2012 AK 56 Kannada Dhoni Chief Minister Tamil / Telugu Shirdi Sai Mahalsapati Telugu 2013 Donga Police Telugu Masani Village head Tamil Brindavana Kannada Backbench Student Karthik's Father Telugu2014 Ramanujan Diwan Bahadur R Ramachandra Rao ICS English / Tamil Aryan Kannada 2017 Si3 K. C. D. P. Sathyanarayana Reddygaru Tamil 2018 Nela Ticket Ananda Bhupathi Telugu Next Enti? Prakash Prashna Parihaara Shaala Malayalam 2020 Entha Manchivaadavuraa Siva Prasad Telugu 2021 Vakeel Saab Discipline Committee Chairman 2023 Vasantha Mullai Doctor Tamil Malli Pelli Narendra's stepfather Telugu Por Thozhil Kennedy Sebastian Tamil

Dubbing artist

Television + List of Sarath Babu television credits Year Title Role Network Language 1987 Silandhi vallai Doordarshan Tamil 1988 Narendhiranin vinodha vazhakku 1991 Penn 1989 Ivala En Manaivi Doordarshan 1997–2001 Antharangalu ETV Telugu 1997 Ethanai Manidhargal Doordarshan Tamil 2000–2002 Gopuram Vasanthan / Jayanthan Sun TV 2000–2001 Janani ETV Telugu 2001–2002 Preetigagi Kannada 2003–2004 Rekkai Kattiya Manasu Raj TV Tamil 2005–2006 Agnigundalu ETV Telugu 2013 Rajakumari Sun TV Tamil 2014 Mannan Magal Jaya TV

Awards Nandi Awards Best Supporting Actor – Seethakoka Chilaka (1981) Best Supporting Actor – O Bharya Katha (1988) Best Supporting Actor – Neerajanam (1989)

Other Awards Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Character Artiste (Male) for the film Malayan (2009).