Padmanabham
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| Born | Basavaraju Venkata Padmanabha Rao (1931-08-20)20 August 1931
Simhadripuram, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India
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| Died | 20 February 2010(2010-02-20) (aged 78)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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| Awards | Nandi Awards |
Basavaraju Venkata Padmanabha Rao (20 August 1931 – 20 February 2010), known mononymouslyasPadmanabham, was an Indian actor, comedian, producer, and director who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre.[1][2] He is known for his comic expressions and dialogues.[3][4] In a career spanning over six decades, he acted in more than 400 films.[2]
Padmanabham made his film debut as a child actor in 1945 with Mayalokam. Shavukaru (1949) was his first major hit and gave him a footing as a comedian.[2] Pathala Bhairavi (1951) helped him find a permanent place in Telugu cinema.[3] He acted in small roles alongside Relangi and Ramana Reddy in the golden era of Telugu cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. Later, he became a prominent comedian and remained so till the mid-1970s when Rajababu burst on the scene and replaced him.[3]
He also directed eight films including Kathanayika Molla (1969), a biographical film which won him the state Nandi Award.[5][3] Padmanabham introduced S. P. Balasubrahmanyam to the film industry through Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna (1967).[3][6][7]
Padmanabham was born to Basavaraju Venkata Seshayya and Santhamma in Simhadripuram near PulivendulainKadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, on 20 August 1931.[2][3] He was a regular yoga practitioner and enjoyed good health till his death.[2]
He started acting in his teenage when the director Gudavalli Ramabrahmam gave him a chance in Maayalokam (1945). Throughout his acting career he worked with almost 80 directors and acted in more than 400 movies.[1][2] Padmanabham cherished his association with Gudavalli Ramabrahmam, Ghantasala Balaramayya, L. V. Prasad, and K. V. Reddy the most.[2]
Padmanabham found it hard to mention any particular comic role as his most memorable one, but made a special mention of the role of a rickshaw puller that he played in Desoddhaarakudu (1975). "It had ample measure of 'karuna rasa' in it and I could display the other shade of my talent," he said.[1][2] The role became famous for the song "Aakalayyi Annamadigithe Pichchodannaru Naayaallu".
Padmanabham died at his residence at Rangarajapuram, Kodambakkam, in Chennai at 8 am on 20 February 2010 due to a heart attack.[3] He was survived by his wife, five daughters, and son. One of his sons died in September 2009.[2]
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