Padmanabham (actor)

Basavaraju Venkata Padmanabha Rao (20 August 1931 – 20 February 2010), known mononymously as Padmanabham, was an Indian actor, comedian, director, and producer predominantly known for his work in Telugu cinema and theatre,[1][2] comic expressions, and dialogues.[3][4] Padmanabham was primarily a theatre artist, although he also acted in over 400 feature films. He made his film debut in 1945 with Mayalokam. He co-founded a theatre group with his friend: Vallam Narasimha Rao, Rekha and Murali Arts with S. P. Kodandapani as the music director.

Padmanabham
Born
Basavaraju Venkata Padmanabha Rao

(1931-08-20)20 August 1931
Simhadripuram, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Died20 February 2010(2010-02-20) (aged 78)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • director
  • film producer
AwardsNandi Awards

Padmanabham found it hard to mention any particular comic role as his most memorable one, but made a special mention of the role of a rickshaw puller that he played in Desoddhaarakudu (1975). "It had ample measure of 'karuna rasa' in it and I could display the other shade of my talent," he said.[1][2] The role became famous for the song "Aakalayyi Annamadigithe Pichchodannaru Naayaallu". Padmanabham, who directed eight films, introduced S. P. Balasubrahmanyam to the film industry through Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna. Kathanayika Molla, the 1969 film that he directed, won him the Nandi Award.

Early life and career

Padmanabham was born to Basavaraju Venkata Seshaiah and Santham in Simhadripuram, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, on 20 August 1931.[2]

He started acting at the age of 12 when the director Gudavalli Ramabrahmam gave him a chance in Maayalokam (1943). Throughout his acting career he worked with almost 80 directors and acted in more than 400 movies.[1][2]

Death

Padmanabham died at his residence at Rangarajapuram, Kodambakkam, in Chennai, India, at 8 am on 20 February 2010 due to a heart attack.[2]

Selected filmography

As actor

As producer

As director
  • 1969 Shri Rama Katha
  • 1969 Midatam Bottulu
  • 1970 Kathanayika Molla
  • 1974 Pellikaani thandri

References
  1. "Going great guns". The Hindu. 25 August 2006. Archived from the original on 21 January 2007.
  2. "Actor Padmanabham no more". The Hindu. 21 February 2010. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  3. "Popular comedian Padmanabham is dead". The New Indian Express.
  4. Lakshmi Nivasam Songs - Soda Soda Andhra - Padmanabham. 16 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021 – via YouTube.
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