C. S. Rao


Chittajallu Srinivasa Rao was an Indian actor, writer and director. He was the son of film director Chittajallu Pullayya. He directed around 65 films in the Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Oriya languages. He garnered two National Film Awards for directing the films Lava Kusa and Desamante Manushuloyi. Directors including Muktha V. Srinivasan and K. S. Sethu Madhavan worked as his assistants.

Early life and career

He was born in 1924 in Kakinada, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. He started his career in films as a child actor, appearing in two movies directed by his father Chittajallu Pullayya and released in 1936, Anasuya and Dhruva. He later worked as an assistant to cinematographer K. Ramnoth, art director V. A. K. Sekhar, and Uday Shankar. He assisted his father in the 1953 film Pakkinti Ammayi as both actor and screenplay writer.
He made his directorial debut in Tamil film with Ponni and then in Telugu with the feature Sri Krishna Tulabaram. He directed around 65 movies in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Oriya languages. His popular Telugu movies included Lava Kusa, Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu, Santinivasam, Abhimanam, Tiger Ramudu, Valmeeki, Kanchu Kota, Govula Gopanna, Ekaveera, Jeevitha Chakram, Sri Krishnanjaneya Yuddham, Dhanamaa? Daivamaa?, Yashoda Krishna, and Mahakavi Kshetrayya. He also acted in a number of movies, which included Pelli Sandadi, Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya, Jebudonga, and Kokila.

Personal life

He married the daughter of Kannamba and Kadaru Nagabhushanam. After her death, he fell in love with dancer and actress Rajasulochana. They married and had twin daughters. He died on 8 December 2004 in Chennai.

Filmography

  1. Anasuya
  2. Dhruva
  3. Pakka Inti Ammayi
  4. Ponni
  5. Pona Machan Thirumbi Vandhan
  6. Sri Krishna Tulabharam
  7. Anna Thamudu
  8. Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu
  9. Sri Krishna Maya
  10. Pelli Sandadi
  11. Naradhar Kalyanam
  12. Sabash Ramu
  13. Sabhash Ramudu
  14. Abhimanam
  15. Santhi Nivasam
  16. Pellikani Pillalu
  17. Tiger Ramudu
  18. Santhi Nivas
  19. Lava Kusa
  20. Valmiki
  21. Lava Kusa
  22. Valmiki
  23. Keelu Bommalu
  24. Prachanda Bhairavi
  25. Pratignapalana
  26. Kanchukota
  27. Pallava Sevengal
  28. Bangaru Gaajulu
  29. Govula Gopanna
  30. Gramadevathulu
  31. Mana Samsaram
  32. Niluvu Dopidi
  33. Nindu Samsaram
  34. Ekaveera
  35. Mamaku Tagga Kodalu
  36. Pettandarulu
  37. Desamante Manushuloy
  38. Malli Pelli
  39. Marina Manishi
  40. Rendu Kutumbala Katha
  41. Bhagyavanthudu
  42. Jeevitha Chakram
  43. Rangeli Raja
  44. Sri Krishnanjaneya Yuddham
  45. Desoddharakulu
  46. Dhanama? Daivama?
  47. Adambaralu Anubhandalu
  48. Anaganaga Oka Thandri
  49. Bandhalu Anubhandhalu
  50. Devudulanti Manishi
  51. Swandam Kariyum Zindabad
  52. Yashoda Krishna
  53. Mahakavi Kshetrayya
  54. Manchiki Maro Peru
  55. Punardatta
  56. Sri Renukadevi Mahatme
  57. Allari Pillalu
  58. Parasuraman
  59. Intlo Ramayya Veedilo Krishnayya
  60. Radhamma Mogudu
  61. Bhayankara Bhasmasura
  62. Triveni Sangamam
  63. Abhilasha
  64. Maro Maya Bazaar
  65. Raja Harishchandra
  66. Satya Harishchandra
  67. Gruhalakshmi
  68. Palnati Simham as Judge
  69. Jebu Donga as Peter Samuel
  70. Yogi Vemana
  71. Rocky
  72. Chennapatnam Chinnollu as Himself
  73. Gudachari 117
  74. Kokila
  75. Niyantha
  76. ''I Love India''