Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, director of Pushpaka Vimana, dies at 95
Indian filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao died on Oct. 3 in Chennai. He was 95.
He died on Saturday night after treatment at Kauvery hospital, ET Now News reported. The Hindu reported age-related health complications, while Variety noted a period of ill health.
His career covered some 60 features in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi, four Indian languages with large cinema industries of their own, according to Variety. He also composed music for some of his films and took occasional acting roles. He trained under director K.V. Reddy, assisting on “Mayabazar” (1957) and “Jagadeka Veeruni Katha” (1961), before making his directorial debut in 1972 with the Telugu drama “Neethi Nijayithi.” His Tamil film “Dikkatra Parvathi” (1974) won the Indian National Film Award for best Tamil feature, the country’s national screen honours.
His long partnership with actor Kamal Haasan began with the 1979 Telugu comedy “Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi,” in which Haasan played two parts. “Raja Paarvai” (1981) followed as Haasan’s 100th film and his first as producer. Rao then wrote and co-produced the 1987 comedy “Pushpaka Vimana,” in which nobody utters a line. The film won the National Film Award for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment. It was mounted on a budget of Rs 15 lakh, The Indian Express reported in June.
The pair continued to build stories around multiple roles. In “Apoorva Sagodharargal” (1989), Haasan took three roles, including a circus performer with dwarfism. In “Michael Madana Kama Rajan” (1990), he had four roles. They reteamed on “Magalir Mattum” and, in 2005, on “Mumbai Xpress,” Variety reported.
Outside that collaboration, actor Rajkumar starred in seven Rao films, beginning with “Haalu Jenu” in 1982. Rao cast dancer Sudha Chandran in “Mayuri” (1985), a dramatisation of her comeback after losing a leg. “Mayuri” collected 14 Nandi Awards, the state honours of Andhra Pradesh. He directed “Aditya 369” (1991), a time-travel adventure, with Nandamuri Balakrishna, and won the Nandi Award for best director for the folklore fantasy “Bhairava Dweepam” (1994). He was also known for films including “Pantulamma” and “Mayuri,” The Hindu reported.
Awards followed across states and decades. He won three Karnataka State Film Awards, and the Film Federation of India presented him with its Life Achievement Award in 2011.
He kept working late in life. “Sing Geetham,” in which the cast sings rather than speaks, reached cinemas in June 2026. It was his first film as director in a decade.
Actors, filmmakers and other members of the film industry paid tribute after his death, The Indian Express reported. Those mourning him included Kamal Haasan, S.S. Rajamouli and Jr NTR.
