Ahuti Prasad


Ahuti Prasad was an Indian actor who worked in Telugu film industry. He was renowned for the wide variety of roles he played, including father-figure, comedian, and antagonist. Prasad appeared in over 150 films in his career spanning nearly three decades. He got his moniker "Ahuti" after playing the antagonist in the film Aahuthi. He is a recipient of two Nandi Awards.

Early life and family

Ahuti Prasad was born on 2 January 1958 as Adusumilli Janardhan Vara Prasad to A. Ranga Rao and Hymavathi. Originally from Koduru of Krishna District near Mudinepally, his family migrated to Raichur in Karnataka when he was a child. He became interested in acting during his college days and sought a career as an actor. However, his parents were firmly against him pursuing a career in acting - he therefore completed his bachelor's degree before taking their permission to join a film institute. After completing his education, Prasad moved to Hyderabad and joined the Film Institute of veteran director V. Madhusudhana Rao. Devadas Kanakala was the principal of the institute during this time, while Ramjagan and the late Achyuth were his classmates there.
Prasad married Vijaya Nirmala with whom he had two sons - Karthik and Bharani.

Career

"I’ve worked over 20 years in the industry, seen many ups and downs but this phase is something beautiful, I’m enjoying every bit of it." - Ahuti Prasad, in a 2009 interview, reflecting on Telugu cinema's transition to more modern, contemporary films and characters.
Prasad's career started with the film Vikram directed by V. Madhusudhana Rao which was Nagarjuna's debut film. Prasad also worked as an assistant director for V. Madhusudana Rao for the film Malle Moggalu.
Producer Shyam Prasad saw him on the sets of the film Ee Prasnaku Baduledi? where he was working and offered him a role as the antagonist in his film Aahuthi. Because of the big break the film gave him, he came to be known popularly as Ahuti Prasad. Prasad expressed that Krishna Vamsi's Ninne Pelladata was key in pushing his career as a character artist, and that his success in the film ended up flooding him with offers.
In 2003, he won the Nandi Award for Best Villain for the film Nenu Ninnu Premistunnanu. In 2008 he won a Nandi Award for Best Character Actor for the film Chandamama, in which he played an alcoholic landlord. Prasad was praised for his mastery of the Telugu accent specific to the East and West Godavari districts, a trait he demonstrated in many roles throughout his career. He began his career with antagonist roles, but gradually transitioned to other shades throughout his career. Prasad was renowned for playing the role of a character's father-figure in many films like Malliswari, ''Bendu Apparao RMP, Kotha Bangaru Lokam, and Seethamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu.''
Prasad believed that "character artistes do get to do more experimental and challenging roles," citing that "character artistes survive on such characters." Actor Allari Naresh, who worked with Prasad in numerous films, remarked that Prasad "used to do a lot of homework on the background of his character in a movie" and that he "always thinks of others' welfare along with his welfare."

Other works

Ahuti Prasad served as the general secretary of Movie Artistes Association. Murali Mohan, then President of the MAA, commented on Prasad, expressing that Prasad's "main concern used to be the welfare of the small artists in Telugu Film Industry."

Death

Prasad died 4 January 2015 while undergoing treatment for colon cancer at KIMS hospital. His condition was widely unknown until his final days. Murali Mohan mentioned that Prasad "didn’t like to meet anyone during his last days because cancer made his condition very pitiable."
His body was taken to his home in Film Nagar, where numerous film personalities paid their respects. His last rites were performed at the Erragadda cremation ground. Prasad passed before seeing the release of his last three films.

Filmography

Telugu

Films

  1. Vikram
  2. Ee Prashnaku Baduledi
  3. Yugakartalu
  4. Prana Snehitulu
  5. Aahuthi
  6. Simha Swapnam
  7. Gudachari 117 as Vinod
  8. Two Town Rowdy
  9. Muddula Mavayya
  10. Aarthanadham as Inspector
  11. Palnati Rudraiah as S.I. Raghavendra Rao
  12. Kondaveeti Rowdy
  13. Justice Rudramadevi
  14. Balachandrudu
  15. Police Bharya
  16. Shanti Kranti
  17. Assembly Rowdy
  18. Maha Yagnam
  19. Nayakuralu
  20. Killer
  21. Gharana Mogudu
  22. Nani
  23. Repati Rowdy
  24. Kalachakram
  25. Teerpu
  26. Raithu Bharatam
  27. Super Police
  28. Maatho Pettukoku
  29. Ninne Pelladata
  30. Preminchukundam Raa
  31. Anaganaga Oka Roju
  32. Sri Sita Ramula Kalyanam Chootamu Raarandi
  33. Ganesh
  34. Snehithulu
  35. Choodalani Vundi
  36. Shrimati Vellosta
  37. Swayamvaram as Police Official
  38. Samarasimha Reddy
  39. Seetharama Raju
  40. Seetayya
  41. Sooryavansham
  42. Kalisundam Raa
  43. Jayam Manade Raa
  44. Devi Putrudu as Elchuri
  45. Budget Padmanabham
  46. Ramma Chilakamma
  47. Chiranjeevulu
  48. Apparaoki Oka Nela Thappindi
  49. Nuvvu Nenu
  50. Cheppalani Vundhi
  51. Ammaye Navvithe
  52. Muthyam
  53. Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu
  54. Aadi
  55. Allari Ramudu
  56. Santosham
  57. Seema Simham
  58. Lagna Patrika
  59. Indra
  60. Gemeni
  61. Chennakesava Reddy
  62. Dhanalakshmi, I Love You
  63. Nenu Pelliki Ready
  64. Vasantham
  65. Tagore
  66. Palnati Bramhanaidu
  67. Okariki Okaru
  68. Janaki Weds Sriram
  69. Chantigadu
  70. Lakshmi Narasimha
  71. Malliswari
  72. Venky
  73. Samba
  74. Shiva Shankar
  75. Gowri
  76. Shankar Dada M.B.B.S.
  77. Manasu Maata Vinadhu
  78. Pandem
  79. Bunny
  80. Chakram
  81. Sri
  82. Gowtam SSC
  83. Mr. Errababu
  84. Athanokkade
  85. Premikulu
  86. Nayakudu
  87. Allari Pidugu
  88. Danger
  89. Oka V Chitram
  90. Lakshmi
  91. Asadhyudu
  92. Chukkallo Chandrudu
  93. Pellaina Kothalo
  94. Seetaramudu
  95. Samanyudu
  96. Manasu Palike Mouna Raagam
  97. Desamuduru
  98. Chandamama
  99. Lakshyam
  100. Viyyalavari Kayyalu
  101. Veduka
  102. Aata
  103. Yamagola Malli Modalayindi
  104. Madhumasam
  105. Nava Vasantham
  106. Baladoor
  107. Homam
  108. Gunde Jhallumandi
  109. Gajibiji
  110. Siddu From Sikakulam
  111. Bujjigadu
  112. Pourudu
  113. Naa Style Veru
  114. Kotha Bangaru Lokam
  115. Ekaloveyudu
  116. Sasirekha Parinayam
  117. Adhineta
  118. Mitrudu
  119. Naa Girlfriend Baga Rich
  120. Arundhathi
  121. Ride
  122. Boni
  123. Aa Intlo
  124. Mahatma
  125. Anjaneyulu
  126. Bendu Apparao R.M.P
  127. Rechipo
  128. Saradaga Kasepu
  129. Brindaavanam
  130. Okka Kshanam
  131. Shambo Shiva Shambo
  132. Baava
  133. Kalyanram Kathi
  134. Kathi Kantha Rao
  135. Chalaki
  136. Varudu
  137. Bindaas
  138. Leader
  139. Darling
  140. Jhummandi Naadam
  141. Em Pillo Em Pillado
  142. Police Police
  143. Wanted
  144. Aha Naa Pellanta
  145. Nenu Naa Rakshasi
  146. Nagaram Nidrapotunna Vela
  147. Daggaraga Dooramga
  148. Madatha Kaja
  149. Oosaravelli
  150. Bejawada
  151. Mr. Nookayya
  152. Naa Ishtam
  153. Lovely
  154. Dammu
  155. Dhamarukam
  156. Srimannarayana
  157. Sevakudu
  158. NRI
  159. Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu
  160. Priyathama Neevachata Kushalama
  161. Ongole Githa
  162. Mr. Pellikoduku
  163. Jaffa
  164. Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde
  165. Greeku Veerudu
  166. Om 3D
  167. Abbai Class Ammai Mass
  168. Atharintiki Daaredi
  169. Doosukeltha
  170. Bhimavaram Bullodu
  171. Hrudayam Ekkadunnadi
  172. Legend
  173. Amrutham Chandamamalo
  174. Autonagar Surya
  175. Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitam
  176. Kotha Janta
  177. Rowdy Fellow
  178. Rudramadevi
  179. Janda Pai Kapiraju
  180. Shankara
  181. ''Deyyam''

Television

Tamil

Varapogum Sooriyane Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu

Hindi

Assistant director

  • ''Malle Moggalu''