Tadepalli Lakshmi Kantha Rao (16 November 1923 – 22 March 2009) was an Indian actor and producer known for his works predominantly inTelugu cinema.[1] Regarded as one of the finestmethod actors, Rao appeared in more than 400 feature films, starring in many, in a variety of genres including mythological, social and folklore. After a success string in folklore and swashbuckling films, he became popularly referred to asKattula Kantha Rao. He has also acted in a fewHindi,Kannada,Tamil, andMalayalam movies. He has produced about five films under the Hyma Films banner.[2]
Rao was born into a Telugu Brahmin family to Kesavarao and Seetaramamma atKodad ofSuryapet district in present-dayTelangana on 16 November 1923.[6] According to theHindu calendar, it corresponds to Rudhirodgari SamvatsaraKartika Sudha Ashtami day. He lost his father the next year. His primary education was done in Gudibanda andKhammam. He was exposed to puranas and Hindu epic stories from his grandmother.[citation needed]
Surabhi Drama troupe has visited their village. Impressed by their professional performances, he established "Balamitra Natya Mandali" and used to playGayopakhyanam andMadhuseva plays with his friends. He played the character Brahma inSri Krishna Leelalu in the group "Surabhi" and subsequently in the playsMadhuseva,Kanakatara andTelugu Talli.
Rao was sent toTenali to distract from the drama activities. Tenali used to be very active in drama activities with stalwarts like Pulipati Lakshminarayana. He used to stay in same street where Rentachintala Satyanarayana andBanda Kanakalingeswara Rao used to live.[citation needed]
He then shifted toMadras in 1950 and used to stay with T. Krishnamachari, who used to work as assistant director forH. M. Reddy's Rohini Pictures.[citation needed]
H. M. Reddy gave him a chance to play a small role inNirdoshi in 1951 and as his hero forPratigna in 1953. He has acted in 450 films and in about 100 films as hero, whereas in others as different character roles. They include some popular roles in films likeJayasimha (1955),Shri Krishna Pandaviyam (1966),Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu (1963),Lava Kusha (1963),Nartanasala (1963),Pandava Vanavasam (1965) andMuthyala Muggu (1975). His last movie wasPandurangadu, with Balakrishna, directed byK. Raghavendra Rao in 2008.[7]
He produced four films between 1969 and 1974,Saptaswaralu,Gandara Gandadu,Premajeevulu andGundelu Theesina Monagadu and lost all his previous earnings. The last film he made wasSwathi Chinukulu. Subsequently, he moved toHyderabad.[8]
Rao was married to Suseela and had a daughter in 1942. The daughter died of smallpox during infancy. They had a son in 1945 named after his father as Keshav. He married Hymavathi in 1950 and subsequently Suseela died of illness. His son also died of typhoid fever in his childhood. He has four sons and a daughter by Hymavathi, named Pratap, Keshav, Suseela, Raja and Satyam, in that order.[56]
His son Raja (Rajeswara Rao) has acted inSudigundalu,Prema Jeevulu,Gandara Gandadu,Gundelu Teesina Monagadu,Swati Chinukulu,Ukku Pidugu,Rajasimha,Evaru Monagadu,Maro Prapancham andManushulu Matti Bommalu.
His son Satyam also has acted inSaptaswaralu,Prema Jeevulu andGandara Gandadu.His grandson Sai Eshwar also worked as child artist in Television industry.
