Adurthi Subba Rao

Adurthi Subba Rao
Born(1912-12-16)16 December 1912
Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India
Died1 October 1975(1975-10-01) (aged 62)
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Alma materSt. Xavier's College, Mumbai
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
  • editor
SpouseKameswari Bala
AwardsSeven National Film Awards
Nandi Awards
Filmfare Awards South

Adurthi Subba Rao (16 December 1912 – 1 October 1975) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, and editor, primarily recognized for his contributions to Telugu cinema, with a few works in Hindi and Tamil cinema. In an era dominated by mythological and fantasy genres, Subba Rao was a trailblazer in introducing social dramas and contemporary narratives to Telugu cinema. Over his career, he won seven National Film Awards and three Nandi Awards.[1]

Subba Rao began his cinematic career as an associate to Uday Shankar in the 1948 Hindi film Kalpana.[2] He made his directorial debut with Amara Sandesam (1954), a film that, although critically acclaimed, did not achieve commercial success.[3] His next film Thodi Kodallu (1957), which starred Akkineni Nageswara Rao, was a major hit. It led to a long and successful collaboration between the two, resulting in 16 more films together.[4] Following this success, Subba Rao directed several acclaimed films, including Mangalya Balam (1959), and Nammina Bantu (1960), the latter of which was screened at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.[5]

Other notable films, such as Velugu Needalu (1961), Manchi Manasulu (1962), and Doctor Chakravarthy (1964) further solidified his reputation as a leading filmmaker.[4] In 1964, he directed Mooga Mansulu, one of the earliest Telugu films to explore the theme of reincarnation. The film was a significant success and was screened at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.[6] His 1965 film Thene Manasulu, made with a cast of newcomers, became a runaway success, marking Krishna's first lead role and introducing Ram Mohan to Telugu cinema.[3] In 1968, he ventured into courtroom drama with Sudigundalu, a film noted for its "film with a key" narrative, which received special mentions at the Tashkent and Moscow Film Festivals.[7][8]

Several of Subba Rao's films, including Thodi Kodallu (1957), Mangalya Balam (1959), Nammina Bantu (1960), Mooga Manasulu (1964), Doctor Chakravarthy (1964), and Sudigundalu (1968), won the National Film Award for Best Telugu Feature Film. Additionally, his Tamil film Kumudham (1961) won the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film. K. Viswanath, who would later become a celebrated filmmaker, worked as an associate director under Subba Rao before making his own directorial debut. In recognition of Subba Rao's contributions to cinema, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce instituted the Adurthi Subba Rao Award in his honour.[9]

Early life

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Adurthi Subba Rao was born to Sathanna Panthulu and Rajalakshmamma on 16 December 1912 in Rajahmundry.[1] His father was a Revenue Department official. He completed school final (Matriculation) at the age of 14.[3] He joined Kakinada PR College to do his Pre-University Course. As a college student, he developed a passion for photography and films. Defying his father, he went to Bombay with the little money he had given him.[3] He joined the St. Xavier's College there in a three-year course of photography, and completed two years.[1]

Career

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Early career

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Subba Rao then worked in the processing and printing department of Bombay Film Lab.[3] Then he joined film editor Dina Narvekar as his assistant. He started his film career as a cinematographer, editor and screenwriter. His started as an assistant director and later became the editor for Uday Shankar on his Hindi film Kalpana (1948).[5] His debut film as an editor was Tamil film Parijatapaharanam.[1] He also worked as a writer penning stories, dialogues, and lyrics. Some of the films he wrote were Vanarani (1946), Mangalasootram, Oka Roju Raju (1944), Circus Raju, etc.[3]

Later, he moved to Prakash Studios as an editor but also worked in other departments. K. S. Prakash Rao let him direct some parts in his films such as Deeksha (1951), Kanna Talli (1953) and Baalanandam (1954) for Prakash Studios.[3][4] He also worked for C. Pullayya's Sankranthi (1952) as editor at the same time.[3]

Directorial debut and breakthrough

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Subba Rao debuted as a director with Amara Sandesam (1954) which was critically acclaimed but not commercially successful.[3] After watching the film, Akkineni Nageswara Rao recommended him to his friend and business partner in Annapurna Pictures, Dukkipati Madhusudhana Rao, who gave Subba Rao the chance to direct the film Thodi Kodallu (1957), adapted from Sarat Chandra Chatterjee's Bengali novel Nishkruti. It became a super hit.[1] The film won the Certificate of merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu.

In 1959, he directed romantic drama Mangalya Balam. Subba Rao adapted Mangalya Balam to the Telugu screen from the Bengali film Agni Pariksha (1954), The Telugu version was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Manjal Mahimai; both versions became box office successes. The former winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu,[10] and the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu in 1960.

The 1960 film Nammina Bantu was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Pattaliyin Vetri. Upon release both versions received critical acclaim. The Telugu work was screened at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.[5] The film also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for that year.[11][5][1]

In 1961, he directed Kumudham written by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. Kumudham was released on 29 July 1961 with final reel length of 4,501 metres (14,767 ft) and became a commercial success at box office. The film received Certificate of Merit for Third Best Feature Film at 9th National Film Awards. It was remade by Subba Rao himself in Telugu as Manchi Manasulu (1962).

Subba Rao's next work was Mooga Mansulu (1964) based on the concept of reincarnation. The film was remade in Hindi as Milan (1967) directed by Subba Rao himself, while the Tamil Praptham (1971) was remade from Subba Rao's work. The Telugu version received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and the Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu) in 1964 and was screened at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.[6][12]

The 1964 film Doctor Chakravarthy, an adaptation of the novel Chakrabhramanam, was awarded the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and the state Nandi Award for that year.[13]

In 1968, Subba Rao experimented with courtroom drama and detective fiction in his work Sudigundalu. The film received special mention at the Tashkent and Moscow Film Festivals for its inherent "film with a key" narrative.[14][15][8] The film has garnered the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, Nandi Award for Best Feature Film, and the Filmfare Award for Best Film - Telugu for that year and was featured at the International Film Festival of India.[14][15]

Subba Rao scripted and directed the 1976 biographical film Mahakavi Kshetrayya based on the life of Kshetrayya,[16][17] Rao had expired in the middle of the making of the film and director C. S. Rao completed the rest of the shoot.[18]

Mentor to K. Viswanath and Krishna

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Rao's Biography has been published by veteran actor Krishna, who made his Telugu film debut under the direction of Subba Rao.[19] K. Viswanath has worked as an associate director of Subba Rao for many years. The Telugu film chamber of commerce has instituted the Adurthi Subba Rao Award in his honor.[20]

Filmography

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Year Film Language Role
1948 Kalpana Hindi Assistant Director
1954 Balanandam Telugu Assistant Director
1954 Amara Sandesham Telugu Director
1957 Todi Kodallu Telugu Editor, Screenplay and Director
1957 Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi Tamil Editor, Screenplay and Director
1958 Aada Pettanam Telugu Director
1959 Mangalya Balam Telugu Writer and Director
1959 Manjal Mahimai Tamil Writer and Director
1959 Engal Kuladevi Tamil Director
1960 Nammina Bantu Telugu Director
1960 Pattaliyin Vetri Tamil Director
1960 Kumudham Tamil Director
1961 Velugu Needalu Telugu Director
1961 Iddaru Mitrulu Telugu Director
1961 Krishna Prema Telugu Director
1962 Manchi Manasulu Telugu Director
1963 Chaduvukunna Ammayilu Telugu Screenplay and Director
1964 Mooga Manasulu Telugu Director
1964 Dagudu Moothalu Telugu Director
1964 Doctor Chakravarty Telugu Director
1965 Sumangali Telugu Director
1965 Tene Manasulu Telugu Writer and Director
1965 Thodu Needa Telugu Director
1966 Kanne manasulu Telugu Director
1967 Milan Hindi Screenplay and Director
1967 Poola Rangadu Telugu Director
1967 Sudigundalu Telugu Screenplay and Director
1968 Man Ka Meet Hindi Director
1969 Doli Hindi Screenplay and Director
1970 Darpan Hindi Producer and Director
1970 Maro Prapancham Telugu Director
1970 Mastana Hindi Director
1971 Rakhwala Hindi Director
1972 Jeet Hindi Producer and Director
1972 Vichitra Bandham Telugu Director
1973 Insaaf Hindi Director
1973 Jwar Bhata Hindi Director
1973 Mayadari Malligaadu Telugu Producer and Director
1974 Bangaaru Kalalu Telugu Director
1975 Gajula Kishtaiah Telugu Producer and Director
1975 Gunavanthudu Telugu Director
1975 Sunehra Sansar Hindi Director
1976 Mahakavi Kshetrayya Telugu Director

Awards

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National Film Awards

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National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
Nandi Awards
Filmfare Awards South

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Guy, Randor (30 November 2013). "Master movie maker". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  2. ^ "NFAI brings its treasures to IFFI-Goa". Ministry of Information and Broadcasting PIB. 25 November 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Star Profiles : Adurti Subbarao: A Tribute". Telugucinema.com. 16 December 2005. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Nadadhur, Srivathsan (16 December 2021). "Remembering Adurthi Subba Rao: A storyteller who brought class and dignity to mainstream Telugu cinema". OTTPlay. HT Media. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Profile of Gummadi — Telugu film actor". Idlebrain.com. 9 July 2006. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b "11th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 2 May 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Film producer passes away". The Hindu. 27 March 2006.
  8. ^ a b c Collections. Update Video Publication. 1991. p. 387.
  9. ^ "Adurthi Subbarao Awards Presented". IndiaGlitz.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  10. ^ "6th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  11. ^ a b "7th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  12. ^ "Stars : Star Interviews : Chit Chat with Jamuna". Telugucinema.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Ramadasu (1964) Awards - Award Winners Of Ramadasu Telugu Movie". Gomolo. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  14. ^ a b "15th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  15. ^ a b "Film producer passes away". The Hindu.
  16. ^ "Mahakavi Kshetrayya (Banner)". Filmiclub.
  17. ^ "Mahakavi Kshetrayya (Direction)". Know Your films.
  18. ^ "Mahakavi Kshetrayya (Review)". The Cine Bay.
  19. ^ "Adurthi Subba Rao Book launch by Krishna, Mahesh Babu & Kasinadhuni Viswanath - Telugu cinema news". www.idlebrain.com.
  20. ^ Events – Adurthi Subbarao Awards Presented gallery clips actors actress stills images
  21. ^ "6th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  22. ^ "5th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  23. ^ "9th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
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