Veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao reportedly passes away at 94

Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, the filmmaker known for unconventional films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi, has reportedly passed away at the age of 94. According to reports, he died on the night of Saturday, October 3, in Chennai. He had been receiving treatment at Kauvery Hospital after his health worsened in recent days.

Rao was born on September 21, 1931, in Gudur, in what is now Andhra Pradesh. Theatre and music caught his interest as a student, and he studied physics at Presidency College in Chennai before joining films as an assistant director. He made his first film as director, the Telugu film Neethi Nijayithi, in 1972.

He never stuck to one style. Mayuri told the life story of classical dancer Sudha Chandran, while the 1987 black comedy Pushpaka Vimanam, starring Kamal Haasan, was made without regular spoken dialogue and told its story through visuals. That film won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

In 1991 he took one report into science fiction with Aditya 369, a time travel story starring Nandamuri Balakrishna that was an unusual idea for its time. He and Balakrishna also made the fantasy adventure Bhairava Dweepam. His long partnership with Kamal Haasan gave audiences Raja Paarvai, Apoorva Sagodharargal and Michael Madana Kama Rajan, and in Kannada he directed Rajkumar in Haalu Jenu, Chalisuva Modagalu, Eradu Nakshatragalu and Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma.

Apart from directing, Rao also wrote screenplays, produced films, composed music and acted. His honours include National Film Awards, Nandi Awards, Karnataka State Film Awards and Filmfare Awards South, and the Film Federation of India gave him a Life Achievement Award in 2011.

He stayed close to cinema well into his nineties. His last film, the musical fantasy Sing Geetham produced by Nag Ashwin, was reportedly completed in 2026 and marked his return to direction after a gap of several years. Actors, filmmakers and technicians from across the South Indian film industry have taken to social media to remember him and his work.