Gollapudi Maruti Rao
Gollapudi Maruti Rao was an Indian actor, writer and director known for his works in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre, and Telugu literature. Maruti Rao acted in over 250 Telugu films in a variety of roles. His noted literary works and plays, like Rendu Rellu Aaru, Patita, Karuninchani Devatalu, Mahanatudu, Kaalam Venakku Tirigindi, Aasayaalaku Sankellu, won numerous State Awards.
He was a member of the Script Scrutiny Committee of National Film Development Corporation and served as a Jury Member at International Film Festival of India for the Indian Panorama section in 1996. He was known for scripting landmark films like Doctor Chakravarthy, Tharangini, Samsaram Chadharangam, Kallu etc. He garnered six Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards. In 1997, he established the Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation, which presents the Gollapudi National Award, for the best first film of a director in Indian cinema.
Rao was also known for his works in All India Radio and Journalism, for over two decades. His play was included in the Master of Arts curriculum of Osmania University. This work was translated into all Indian languages by the National Book Trust, under the Aadaan Pradaan programme. The work was remade into a Telugu film in 1988 which won the Nandi Award for the Best Story in 1989. His 1975 play Kallu, was also remade into a Telugu film Kallu, which also garnered Nandi Award for Best Feature Film. His play Oka Chettu – Rende Puvvulu was purchased by the Song and Drama Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for popular exhibition.
A volume of essays on theatre, Telugu Nataka Rangam, was prescribed as a textbook for the Department of Theatre Arts, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. He published two research articles appearing in Andhra Vignana Sarvaswam 11th volume: "History of the development in 'Thought' and 'Technique' of Telugu Play-writing" and "Amateur Theatre – its origin and growth in relation to the World Amateur Theatre movement. His Telugu play Vandemaataram, the first one in Telugu about the Sino-Indian War, was published by Andhra Pradesh State Information & Public Relations Department,.
Early life
Maruti Rao was born in a Telugu-speaking Brahmin family on 14 April 1939, in Nandabalaga Village, Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh, India and graduated from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in 1959 specializing in B.Sc. Mathematical Physics.Literary activity
Maruti Rao has written and published several plays, playlets, novels, story volumes, essays, and children's stories.He wrote a weekly column, "Jeevana Kaalam", a kaleidoscopic study of contemporary social and political issues for over 24 years. It was a very popular feature in one of the largest circulated Telugu dailies of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Jyothy, and the feature continued to appear in Vaartha. His column with an audio reading is presented, in an internet magazine Koumudi.
His autobiography Amma Kadupu Challaga, a 550-page compendium of his memoirs was released in India, USA and Australia.
A travelogue Tanzania Teerthayatra was published by Koumudi in the US in 2008 in its collection. It is based on a 15-day safari with his friend Ganti Prasada Rao in the major national parks and historical places in Tanzania. The novel Pidikedu Aakaasham was released as an audio publication on 16 February 2009 while conferring the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Vanguri Foundation in Hyderabad.
Death
He died on 12 December 2019 in Chennai. The loss of Gollapudi Maruti Rao was mourned by several noted writers and members of the Telugu film fraternity.Awards
;Nandi Awards- Best Story Writer – Aatma Gowravam
- Best Story Writer – Kallu
- Best Male Comedian – Tarangini
- Best Character Actor – Ramayanamlo Bhagavatham
- Best Dialogue Writer – Master Kapuram
- Best Screenplay Writer – Prema Pusthakam
- Nandi Award for Best Actor
- Best Script in the Inter-University Radio play contest conducted by All India Radio, for Anantam
- Mahatma Gandhi Award for Creative Literature in an All India Contest, for ''Prasna''
Literary awards and honours
;Sangam Academy Awards- Sangam Academy Award for Best Play Kallu
- Sarvaraya Dharmanidhi Puraskaram for the Best Humorous Writing
- Gurazada Apparao Memorial Gold Medal by Vamsee Art Theatre
- Telugu Velugu Award
- Madras Telugu Academy Award for Best All-rounder
- Paidi Lakshmayya Dharmanidhi Puraskaram
- Pulikanti Krishna Reddy Puraskaram
- Sarvaraya Memorial Puraskaram
- Andhra Nataka Kala Parishad Award
- Narasaraopeta Rangasthali Pratibha Puraskaram # First award recipient
Selected filmography
Telugu films
Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya – SubbaraoIdi Pellantara- Trisulam Shivudu Shivudu Shivudu Triveni Sangamam Palletoori Monagadu Chandirani Abhilasha – PydithalliRaju Rani Jackie – JokerGudachari No.1 – VeerasawmyMukku Pudaka Aalaya Sikharam Jagan – Maruti RaoJames Bond 999 – MarutiMerupu Daadi
- Ee Charitra Inkennallu – Criminal Lawyer ChakravarthyDevanthakudu Danavudu – MastanPadmavyuham – JagannathamSrimathi Kaavali Challenge Manishiko Charitra Pralaya Simham – VarmaSwati Sri Katna Leelalu – SeethapathiMaa Inti Mahalakshmi – Lawyer P.K. MurthyPunnami Ratri – Sakalalingeswara RaoMaa Pallelo Gopaludu Dongallo Dora Donga Musugu Donga – GovindamKotha Pelli Koothuru Srivaru – Gangadhar RaoSravana Sandhya – Amrutha RaoSwathi Muthyam Captain Nagarjun Mannemlo Monagadu Punyasthree Desoddharakudu Iddaru Mithrulu – Koko aka Kodeekala Koteswara RaoKaliyuga Krishnudu – SambaiahNaa Pilupe Prabhanjanam – Salahala RaoKonte Kapuram Sakkanodu Maa Voori Magadu – Vande Mataram BabaiDongodochadu – BhajagovindamSthree Sahasam – Harischandra RaoDonga Mogudu Bhargava Ramudu Agni Putrudu Kaboye Alludu Srinivasa Kalyanam Kirai Dada Jebu Donga – Balaram Ummadi Mogudu Samsaram Oka Chadarangam – Appala NarasaiahBhale Mogudu Madana Gopaludu Yamudiki Mogudu – KailasamMurali Krishnudu Varasudochadu Inspector Pratap Donga Pelli Marana Mrudangam Rowdy No 1 Bharya Bhartalu – VeerabhadraiahPelli Chesi Choodu – Parameswara RaoChikkadu Dorakadu O Bharya Katha – Gopal RaoBharyabhartala Bandam Agni Keratalu – SeshendraJamadagni Kaliyuga Karnudu – Lawyer BhanumurthyPrema Goonda Rajyam – BangaraiahBhale Dampathulu Swathi Chinukulu Simha Swapnam Shiva Indrudu Chandrudu Sarvabhomudu Yama Pasam Soggadi Kaapuram – Venugopal's father-in-lawDorikithe Dongalu – PithambaramMuthyamantha Muddu Chettu Kinda Pleader – SarabhayyaVicky Daada – Amrutha RaoNeti Charitra – Vallabha RaoJayasimha – Kolla Simhadri NayuduKodama Simham Iddaru Iddare Sahasa Putrudu Police Bharya Raja Vikramarka – Kanaka RaoAssembly Rowdy Srivari Chindulu Jeevana Chadarangam Aditya 369 – CuratorPrema Entha Madhuram – Narayan RaoBalarama Krishnulu – VillainSundara Kanda Prema Drohi Jagannatham & Sons Sahasam Golmaal Govindam Prema Pusthakam Illu Pelli Chirunavvula Varamistava Gharana Alludu – BullabbaiAtha Kodalu Bangaru Mogudu Punya Bhoomi Naa Desam Muddula Priyudu Presidentgari Alludu – SomarajuSubha Sankalpam – Chennakesava RaoVajram Hello Neeku Naaku Pellanta Velugu Needalu Murari – ChantiAndamaina Manasulo Rainbow Leader Inkosari Broker – MasterDhoni Daruvu – Chief MinisterUu Kodathara? Ulikki Padathara? – Venkat RaoSukumarudu Rowdy Fellow Kanche – KondayyaSize Zero Brahmotsavam Manamantha Ism Prematho Mee Karthik Sapthagiri LLB
- ''Jodi''
Other language films
Abdulla- Onnum Theriyatha Pappa Hey Ram – GovardhanInji Iduppazhagi
;Writer
- Chelleli Kapuram
- Raitu Kutumbam
- Dorababu
- O Seeta Katha
- Annadammula Anubandham
- Nindu Manishi
- Maavari Manchitanam
- Garjanai
- Subhalekha
- Kallu
- Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya
- ''Prema Pustakam''