Gollapudi Maruti Rao

Gollapudi Maruti Rao (14 April 1939 – 12 December 2019) was an Indian film actor, screenwriter, dramatist, playwright, and dialogue writer known for his works in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre and Telugu Literature. Rao acted in over 250 Telugu films in a variety of roles.[2][3] His noted literary works and plays, like Rendu Rellu Aaru, Patita, Karuninchani Devatalu, Mahanatudu, Kaalam Venakku Tirigindi, Aasayaalaku Sankellu, won numerous State Awards.[4][5][6][7][8]

Gollapudi Maruti Rao
Gollapudi Maruti Rao on his way to SriKalahasthi, December 2007
Born(1939-04-14)14 April 1939
Vizianagaram, Madras Presidency, British India
(now in Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died12 December 2019(2019-12-12) (aged 80)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India[1]
OccupationChairman of Srikalahasti Pipes, Writer (plays, stories, novels), screenwriter, TV anchor,
journalist, film editor, actor, director
Websitewww.koumudi.net.

He was a member of the Script Scrutiny Committee of National Film Development Corporation and served as a Jury Member at International Film Festival of India for Indian Panorama section in 1996. He was known for scripting landmark films like Doctor Chakravarthy, Tharangini, Samsaram Chadharangam, Kallu etc. He garnered six Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards.[9][10] In 1997, he established the Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation, which presents the Gollapudi National Award, for the best first film of a director in Indian cinema.[11]

Rao was also known for his works in All India Radio and Journalism, for over two decades. His play was included in the Master of Arts (Telugu literature) curriculum of Osmania University. This work was translated into all Indian languages by the National Book Trust, under the Aadaan Pradaan programme. The work was remade into a Telugu film in 1988 which won the Nandi Award for the Best Story in 1989. His 1975 play Kallu, was also remade into a Telugu film Kallu, which also garnered Nandi Award for Best Feature Film.[12] His play Oka Chettu – Rende Puvvulu was purchased by the Song and Drama Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for popular exhibition.[13][14]

A volume of essays on theatre, Telugu Nataka Rangam, was prescribed as a textbook for the Department of Theatre Arts, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam (1967). He published two research articles appearing in Andhra Vignana Sarvaswam (Telugu Encyclopedia) 11th volume: "History of the development in 'Thought' and 'Technique' of Telugu Play-writing" and "Amateur Theatre – its origin and growth in relation to the World Amateur Theatre movement.[15] His Telugu play Vandemaataram, the first one in Telugu about the Sino-Indian War, was published by Andhra Pradesh State Information & Public Relations Department, (1963).[16]

Early life

Maruti Rao was born in a Telugu-speaking family on 14 April 1939, in Nandabalaga Village, Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh, India and graduated from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in 1959 specializing in Mathematical Physics.[17]

Literary activity

Maruti Rao has written and published several plays (9), playlets (18), novels (12), story volumes (4), essays (2), children's stories (3). He wrote a weekly column, "Jeevana Kaalam" (The Living Times), a kaleidoscopic study of contemporary social and political issues for over 24 years. It was a very popular feature in one of the largest circulated Telugu dailies of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Jyothy, and the feature continued to appear in Vaartha (Daily). His column with an audio reading (his voice) is presented, in an internet magazine Koumudi.[18]

His autobiography Amma Kadupu Challaga, a 550-page compendium of his memoirs was released in India, USA and Australia.[19] A travelogue Tanzania Teerthayatra was published by Koumudi in the US in 2008 in its collection. It is based on 15-day safari with his friend Ganti Prasada Rao in the major national parks and historical places in Tanzania. The novel Pidikedu Aakaasham was released as an audio publication on 16 February 2009 while conferring the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Vanguri Foundation in Hyderabad.[20][21][22]

Death

He died on 12 December 2019 in Chennai.[23] The loss of Gollapudi Maruti Rao was mourned by several noted writers and members of the Telugu film fraternity.[24]

Awards
Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards
  • Nandi Award for Best Story – Atma Gowravam (1965)
  • Nandi Award for Best Comedian – Tarangini (1983)
  • Nandi Award for Best Character actor – Ramayanamlo Bhagavatham (1985)
  • Nandi Award for Best Dialogue – Mestri kapuram (1991)
  • Nandi Award for Best Screenplay – Prema Pusthakam (1994)
  • Nandi Award for Best actor (Television) (1996)
All India Radio Awards
  • Best Script in the Inter-University Radio play contest conducted by All India Radio, for Anantam (1959)
  • Mahatma Gandhi Award for Creative Literature in an All India Contest, for Prasna

Literary awards and honours
Sangam Academy Awards
  • Sangam Academy Award for Best Play Kallu (1975)
  • Sarvaraya Dharmanidhi Puraskaram for the Best Humorous writing (1983)
Other awards
  • Gurazada Apparao Memorial Gold Medal by Vamsee Art Theatre (1985)
  • Telugu Velugu Award (1987)
  • Madras Telugu Academy Award for Best All-rounder (1996)
  • Paidi Lakshmayya Dharmanidhi Puraskaram (2002)
  • Pulikanti Krishna Reddy Puraskaram (2007)
  • Sarvaraya Memorial Puraskaram
  • Andhra Nataka Kala Parishad Award
  • Narasaraopeta Rangasthali Pratibha Puraskaram (2018) # First award recipient

Selected filmography
Actor
Television
Writer
Director

References
  1. "Gollapudi Maruthi Rao dead". The Hindu. 12 December 2019.
  2. "No Video Found - Andhra/Telangana News updates 24x7 - Video". www.aplatestnews.com.
  3. "Gollapudi Maruthi Rao Movies List Telugu Actors Pluz Cinema". Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  4. "Doing the write thing". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 30 September 2006.
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Mohan Krishna receives Gollapudi award". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 14 August 2006.
  7. "Telugu story stands out on many counts". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 5 March 2012.
  8. "Rich tributes paid to Gurajada Appa Rao". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 22 September 2012.
  9. "Rich tributes paid to Bharago". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 15 April 2010.
  10. "Stalwarts enliven Ugadi festivities". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 5 April 2011.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "The saga of a lensman". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 9 June 2003.
  13. "Channels dishing out decorated lies: Gollapudi". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 26 December 2012.
  14. "Stories captured Yanam milieu". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 29 January 2013.
  15. "Uphold values, says Gollapudi". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 6 February 2011.
  16. "elugu Colours, Complete Biography of Gollapudi Maruthi Rao". www.telugucolours.com.
  17. "Telugu short story collection released". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 14 September 2009.
  18. "Telugu poet selected for 'Saahithi Puraskar'". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 25 December 2006.
  19. "A liberating experience". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 15 November 2010.
  20. "Gollapudi's autobiography 'AMMA KADUPU CHALLAGA'".
  21. "Tamil literature needs to be explored, says Gollapudi". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2 January 2010.
  22. "Cinema News - Movie Reviews - Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz".
  23. Gopal, Madhu (12 December 2019). "Gollapudi Maruti Rao dead". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  24. "Veteran actor Gollapudi Maruthi Rao passes away". Telangana Today. 12 December 2019.
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