Chennai — Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, the veteran filmmaker whose career spanned more than six decades across Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi cinema, died on Saturday, October 3, at the age of 94. He had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments, reports said.
Born on September 21, 1931, Singeetham built a reputation as one of Indian cinema's most fearless experimenters, moving freely between comedy, drama, science fiction, fantasy and experimental storytelling. His celebrated filmography includes Pushpaka Vimana, Aditya 369, Mayuri, Apoorva Sagodharargal and Michael Madana Kama Rajan. Beyond direction, he worked as a screenwriter, producer and music director, and was a National Award-winning filmmaker.
Tributes pour in
Actor Jr NTR paid tribute on X, writing that the news was "deeply heartbreaking," and describing Singeetham as "a visionary who thought ahead of his time, delivering films that feel fresh even across generations." He added: "My deepest condolences to his family members. Om Shanti."
Actor Vishnu Manchu also remembered the director in an emotional note, saying he had watched Singeetham's films "with wonder" long before understanding the craft behind them, and that his admiration only grew as he entered the industry himself. "He was a true lover of cinema. Fearless in his imagination, constantly experimenting, never allowing himself to be confined by a genre or a formula," Manchu wrote. "Every film he made has something to teach us. Every film is a textbook."
The news of the filmmaker's death drew emotional reactions from fans and members of the film fraternity across the country, many recalling how his work shaped their love for cinema.
Sources: The Times of India — Legendary filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao passes away at 94, Times Now — Singeetam Srinivasa Rao dies at 94; Jr NTR remembers veteran filmmaker's legacy, India TV News — Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, legendary filmmaker, dies at 94
Born on September 21, 1931, Singeetham built a reputation as one of Indian cinema's most fearless experimenters, moving freely between comedy, drama, science fiction, fantasy and experimental storytelling. His celebrated filmography includes Pushpaka Vimana, Aditya 369, Mayuri, Apoorva Sagodharargal and Michael Madana Kama Rajan. Beyond direction, he worked as a screenwriter, producer and music director, and was a National Award-winning filmmaker.
Tributes pour in
Actor Jr NTR paid tribute on X, writing that the news was "deeply heartbreaking," and describing Singeetham as "a visionary who thought ahead of his time, delivering films that feel fresh even across generations." He added: "My deepest condolences to his family members. Om Shanti."
Actor Vishnu Manchu also remembered the director in an emotional note, saying he had watched Singeetham's films "with wonder" long before understanding the craft behind them, and that his admiration only grew as he entered the industry himself. "He was a true lover of cinema. Fearless in his imagination, constantly experimenting, never allowing himself to be confined by a genre or a formula," Manchu wrote. "Every film he made has something to teach us. Every film is a textbook."
The news of the filmmaker's death drew emotional reactions from fans and members of the film fraternity across the country, many recalling how his work shaped their love for cinema.
Sources: The Times of India — Legendary filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao passes away at 94, Times Now — Singeetam Srinivasa Rao dies at 94; Jr NTR remembers veteran filmmaker's legacy, India TV News — Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, legendary filmmaker, dies at 94
