Kantha Rao

Tadepalli Lakshmi Kantha Rao (16 November 1923 – 22 March 2009) was an Indian actor and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema.^[1] Regarded as one of the finest method actors, Rao starred in more than four hundred feature films in a variety of genres including mythological, social and folklore. He has also acted in a few Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam movies. He has produced about five films under the Hyma Films banner.^[2] In the 1960s, he was one of the primary actors in Telugu cinema, along with N. T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Kantha Rao was known for portraying the roles of Narada, Lord Krishna and Arjuna. He played Lakshmana in the blockbuster film Lava Kusa, for which he received Vishehsa Puraskaram in 1963.^[3][4][5]

Kantha Rao
Born	Tadepalli Lakshmi Kantha Rao (1923-11-16)16 November 1923 Kodada, Hyderabad State, British India (present-day Telangana, India)
Died	22 March 2009(2009-03-22) (aged 85) Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana), India
Other names	Nata Prapoorna Kattula Kanta Rao
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1950s–1990s
Spouses	Suseela Hymavathi ​ (m. 1950)​

Early life

Rao was born to Kesavarao and Seetaramamma at Kodad of Nalgonda district in present-day Telangana on 16 November 1923.^[6] According to the Hindu calendar, it corresponds to Rudhirodgari Samvatsara Kartika Sudha Ashtami day. He lost his father the next year. His primary education was done in Gudibanda and Khammam. He was exposed to puranas and Hindu epic stories from his grandmother.^{[citation needed]}

Career

 

Kantha Rao in a combat scene with Rajanala

Surabhi Drama troupe has visited their village. Impressed by their professional performances, he established "Balamitra Natya Mandali" and used to play Gayopakhyanam and Madhuseva plays with his friends. He played the character Brahma in Sri Krishna Leelalu in the group "Surabhi" and subsequently in the plays Madhuseva, Kanakatara and Telugu Talli.

Rao was sent to Tenali to deviate 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 and Banda Kanakalingeswara Rao used to live.^{[citation needed]}

He then shifted to Madras in 1950 and used stay with T. Krishnamachari, who used to work as assistant director for H. M. Reddy's Rohini Pictures.^{[citation needed]}

H. M. Reddy gave him chance to play a small role in Nirdoshi in 1951 and as his hero for Pratigna 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 like Jayasimha (1955), Shri Krishna Pandaviyam (1966), Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu (1963), Lava Kusha (1963), Nartanasala (1963), Pandava Vanavasam (1965) and Muthyala Muggu (1975). His last movie was Pandurangadu, with Balakrishna, directed by K. Raghavendra Rao in 2008.^[7]

He made four films in between 1969 and 1974, Saptaswaralu, Gandara Gandadu, Premajeevulu and Gundelu Theesina Monagadu and lost all his previous earnings. The last film he made was Swathi Chinukulu. Subsequently, he shifted to Hyderabad.^[8]

Awards

National honours

• Visesha Puraskaram in Ramineni Foundation Awards in 2004.
• Mahanati Savitri Award
• C.H. Narayana Rao Award

Nandi Awards

• Raghupathi Venkaiah Award by the government of Andhra Pradesh in 2000, for lifetime achievement.
• Nandi Award for Best Book, for Anaganaga Oka Raakumaarudu won for the year 2007.

Filmography

Actor

Year	Film	Role	Language	Director
1951	Nirdoshi		Telugu	Rohith Reddy
1953	Pratigna	Pratap	Telugu	H. M. Reddy
1955	Jayasimha	Vijayasimha	Telugu	D. Yoganand
	Kanyadhanam		Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
1956	Bhakta Markandeya		Telugu	B. S. Ranga
	Ilavelpu		Telugu	D. Yoganand
	Sri Gowri Mahatyam		Telugu
1957	Sati Anasuya		Telugu	K. B. Nagabhushanam
1958	Ganga Gowri Samvadamu	Narada Muni	Telugu	V.N. Reddy
	Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddham		Telugu	Sattiraju Lakshmi Narayana
1959	Bhakta Ambarisha			Bolla Subba Rao
	Jaya Vijaya		Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
	Sabash Ramudu		Telugu	C. S. Rao
	Sati Sukanya	Ashwini Devatalu	Telugu
1960	Bhakta Ragunatha		Telugu	Samudrala Sr.
	Bhatti Vikramarka	Bhatti	Telugu	Jampana Chandrasekhara Rao
	Chivaraku Migiledi	Prakasam	Telugu	Gutha Ramineedu
	Deepavali	Narada Muni	Telugu	Rajanikanth Sabnavis
	Devantakudu	Sri Mahavishnu	Telugu	C. Pullaiah
	Kanaka Durga Pooja Mahima	Madhava	Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
	Mangalyam		Telugu	B.S.Narayana
	Rama Sundari		Telugu	Hunsur Krishnamurthy
	Sahasra Siracheda Apoorva Chinthamani		Telugu	S. D. Lal
	Sanchari		Telugu
	Santhi Nivasam	Raju	Telugu	C. S. Rao
	Sri Krishna Rayabaram		Telugu
1961	Bikari Ramudu		Telugu	Palagummi Padmaraju
	Pellikani Pillalu		Telugu	C. S. Rao
	Sabash Raja		Telugu	P. S. Ramakrishna Rao
	Sati Sulochana	Narada Muni	Telugu	Rajanikanth Sabnavis
	Sri Seetha Rama Kalyanam	Narada Muni	Telugu	N. T. Rama Rao
	Tandrulu Kodukulu		Telugu	K. Hemabharadara Rao
	Usha Parinayam	Anirudha	Telugu	K. B. Nagabhushanam
	Bhakta Kuchela	Krishnan	Malayalam	P. Subramaniam
	Varalakshmi Vratham		Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
1962	Bhishma	Salwa	Telugu	B. A. Subba Rao
	Chitti Tammudu	Srihari	Telugu	K. B. Tilak
	Khaidi Kannayya		Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
	Madanakaamaraaju Katha		Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
	Mohini Rukmangada		Telugu	K. S. Prakash Rao
	Nagarjuna		Telugu	Y. V. Rao
	Nuvva Nena		Telugu
	Padandi Munduku		Telugu	V. Madhusudhana Rao
	Raktha Sambandham	Anand	Telugu	V. Madhusudhana Rao
	Swarna Gowri		Telugu
	Madana Kamaraju Katha		Telugu
1963	Aapta Mitrulu		Telugu	Kadaru Nagabhushanam
	Manthiri Kumaran		Tamil	B. Vittalacharya
	Constable Kuturu		Telugu	Tapi Chanakya
	Deva Sundari		Telugu	Hanumappa Vishwanath Babu
	Edureeta	Village Doctor	Telugu	B. S. Narayana Rao
	Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu	Vijayudu	Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
	Lava Kusa	Lakshmana	Telugu	C. Pullaiah and C. S. Rao
	Manchirojulu Vastayi		Telugu
	Nartanasala	Lord Krishna	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
	Somavara Vrata Mahatyam		Telugu
	Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham	Narada Muni	Telugu	K. V. Reddy
	Tobuttuvulu		Telugu	Ranganath Das
	Vishnumaya		Telugu	Nammalvar
	Valmiki		Telugu	C. S. Rao
1964	Babruvahana	Lord Krishna	Telugu	Samudrala Sr.
	Bangaru Timmaraju		Telugu
	Desa Drohulu		Telugu
	Mairavana		Telugu	B. A. Subba Rao
	Marmayogi		Telugu	B. A. Subba Rao
	Navagraha Pooja Mahima		Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
	Sri Satyanarayana Mahatyam		Telugu	Rajanikanth Sabnavis
	Thotalo Pilla Kotalo Rani		Telugu	G.Viswanath
1965	Aada Bratuku		Telugu	Vedantam Raghavayya
	Aakaasha Ramanna		Telugu	G. Viswanath
	Chaduvukunna Bharya		Telugu	K. B. Nagabhushanam
	Devata	Cameo	Telugu
	Dorikithe Dongalu		Telugu
	Jwaladweepa Rahasyam		Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
	Pakkalo Ballem		Telugu	S.R. Puttana Kanagal
	Pandava Vanavasam	Lord Krishna	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao
	Prachanda Bhairavi		Telugu	C. S. Rao
	Prameelaarjuneeyam	Lord Krishna	Telugu
	Pratignya Palana		Telugu	C. S. Rao
	Sati Sakkubai		Telugu	Vedantam Raghavayya
	Sri Simhachala Kshetra Mahima	Pururava Chakravarthi	Telugu	B. V. Prasad
	Veerabhimanyu	Arjuna	Telugu	V. Madhusudan Rao
	Vijaya Simha	Vijaya Simha	Telugu	B Vittalacharya, S D Lal
1966	Ata Bommalu		Telugu	G. Vishwanathan
	Bhimanjaneya Yuddham	Nala Kuber	Telugu	S. D. Lal
	Bhoolokamlo Yamolokam		Telugu	G. Viswanath
	Mohini Bhasmasura			B. A. Subba Rao
	Paduka Pattabhishekam		Telugu	Kadaru Nagabhushanam
	Palnati Yuddham	Nalagamaraju	Telugu	Gutha Ramineedu
	Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam	Narada Muni	Telugu	N. T. Rama Rao
	Sri Krishna Tulabharam	Narada Muni	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao
	Srimati
1967	Aggi Dora		Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
	Chikkadu Dorakadu	Dorakadu	Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
	Devuni Gelichina Maanavudu		Telugu	Hunsur Krishnamurthy
	Iddaru Monagallu		Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
	Kanchu Kota	Narendra	Telugu	C. S. R. Rao
	Maa Vadina		Telugu	Kotayya Pratyagatma
	Pinni		Telugu
	Rahasyam		Telugu	Vedantam Raghavayya
	Sati Sumati		Telugu	Vedantam Raghavayya
	Sri Krishna Mahima
	Stri Janma		Telugu	K.S. Prakash Rao
1968	Veera Pooja		Telugu	A.V. Seshagiri Rao
	Aggimeeda Guggilam	Veerendra	Telugu
	Bhale Monagaadu		Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
	Deva Kanya		Telugu	K. Hemambharadhara Rao
	Devudichchina Bharta		Telugu
	Evaru Monagaadu?		Telugu
	Jeevita Bhandam		Telugu	M.S. Gopinath
	Kumkuma Bharina		Telugu	Vedantam Raghavayya
	Pedaraasi Peddamma Katha	Vikrama	Telugu	G. Suryam
	Rajayogam		Telugu	K. S. R. Das
	Ranabheri		Telugu	Giduthuri Satyam
	Sati Arundhati		Telugu	K.V. Nandana Rao
	Veeranjaneya		Telugu	Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao
	Bangaru Gaajulu		Telugu	C.S.R. Rao
	Niluvu Dopidi	Guest	Telugu	C.S.R. Rao
1969	Bommalu Cheppina Katha		Telugu	G. Viswanath
	Pancha Kalyani Dongala Rani		Telugu
	Raja Simha		Telugu	K. S. R. Das
	Saptaswaralu	Saranga	Telugu	Vedantam Raghavayya
	Vukku Pidugu		Telugu	K. S. R. Das
	Gandara Gandadu	Manoharudu	Telugu	K. S. R. Das
	Tarasasankam		Telugu	M. Appa Rao
	Ekaveera	Veerbhupati	Telugu	C.S.R. Rao
1970	Merupu Veerudu		Telugu
	Maa Manchi Akkayya		Telugu	V Ramachandra Rao
	Janmabhoomi		Telugu
	Suguna Sundari Katha	Prasoona	Telugu	H.S. Venu
	Bhale Ettu Chivaraku Chittu		Telugu	Vedantam Raghavayya
	Raite Raju		Telugu	B.S. Srinivas
	Oke Kutumbham		Telugu	A. Bhimsingh
	Khadga Veera		Telugu	T. Vishwanathan
1971	Prema Jeevulu		Telugu	K. S. R. Das
	Sri Krishna Vijayamu		Telugu
	Kattiki Kankanamu		Telugu	K. S. R. Das
	Ananda Nilayam		Telugu
	Sati Anasooya		Telugu	Subba Rao B.A.
	Jataka Ratna Midatambhotlu		Telugu	Padmanabham
	Andam Kosam Pandem	Madhavudu	Telugu
	Adavi Veerulu		Telugu	P Subramanyam
	Sri Krishna Satya	Narada Muni	Telugu	K. V. Reddy
	Chelleli Kapuram		Telugu	K. Viswanath
	Varalakshmi Vratam		Telugu	B. Vittalacharya
1972	Adrushta Devata		Telugu
	Sri Krishnanjaneya Yuddham	Narada Muni	Telugu	C. S. R. Rao
	Sree Guruvayoorappan		Malayalam	P. Subramaniam
	Bala Bharatam	Pandu Raju	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao
	Illu Illalu		Telugu	P. Chandrashekar Reddy
	Praja Nayakudu		Telugu	V. Madhusudan Rao
1973	Devudu Chesina Manushulu	Suresh	Telugu	V. Ramachandra Rao
	Neramu Siksha	Rajasekharam	Telugu	K. Viswanath
	Mayadari Malligadu		Telugu	Adurthi Subba Rao
1974	Gundelu Teesina Monagaadu		Telugu	N. B. Chakravarthi
	Alluri Seetharama Raju	Padalu	Telugu	V. Ramachandra Rao
	Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddham	Narada Muni	Telugu	Bapu
	Vijaya Ramudu		Telugu
	Devi Kanyakumari		Malayalam	P. Subramaniam
	Devadasu		Telugu	Vijaya Nirmala
	Bangaru Kalalu		Telugu	Adurthi Subba Rao
	O Seeta Katha	Madhava Rao	Telugu	K. Vishwanath
	Nippulanti Manishi		Telugu	S. D. Lal
	Tulabharam	Gopi Lal	Telugu	Pendyala Naganjaneyulu
	Pooja Pushpaalu		Telugu
	Nirnayam		Telugu
	Adambaralu - Anubhandhalu		Telugu	C. S. Rao
	Hare Krishna		Hindi
1975	Gajula Kishtayya		Telugu	Adurthi Subba Rao
	Padi Pantalu		Telugu
	Muthyala Muggu	Raja Rao Bahadur	Telugu	Bapu
	Maayaa Maschindra		Telugu	Babubhai Mistri
	Pellade Bomma		Telugu
	Illu Vakili		Telugu
	Gunavantudu		Telugu	Adurthi Subba Rao
	Pooja		Telugu	Murugan Kumaran
	Eduruleni Manishi		Telugu	K. Bapayya
	Soubhagyavati		Telugu	P Chandrashekar Reddy
	Challani Talli		Telugu	K. S. Rami Reddy
	Rakta Sambhandhaalu		Telugu	M. Mallikarjuna Rao
	Ammayila Sapadham		Telugu	G. V. R. Seshagiri Rao
	Annadammula Anubhandham		Telugu	S. D. Lal
	Bharatamulo oka Ammayi		Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao
	Alakh Niranjan		Hindi	Babubhai Mistri
1976	Tu Hi Ram Tu Hi Krishna	Narada Muni	Hindi	K. V. Reddy
	Mahatmudu		Telugu	M.S. Gopinath
	Raajaa		Telugu	K. Raghavendra Rao
	Vemulavada Bhimakavi		Telugu
	America Ammayi		Telugu	Singeetham Srinivasa Rao
	E Kalapu Pillalu		Telugu
	Magaadu		Telugu	S. D. Lal
	Neram Naadi Kaadu Akalidi		Telugu
	Monagaadu		Telugu	T. Krishna
	Mahakavi Kshetrayya		Telugu	C. S. Rao, Adurthi Subba Rao
	Padavoyi Bharateeyudaa		Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao
	Seeta Kalyanam		Telugu	Bapu
	Sita Swayamvar		Hindi	Bapu
	Shri Rajeshwari Vilas Coffee Club		Telugu	Bapu, Chakrapani
1977	Kurukshetram	Drupada	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao
	Panchayiti		Telugu	Vijaya Nirmala
	Jeevanateeralu		Telugu	G. C. Shekhar
	Yamagola	Indrudu	Telugu	T. Rama Rao
	Andame Anandam		Telugu	Singeetham Srinivasa Rao
	Edureeta		Telugu	V. Madhusudan Rao
	Manavadi Kosam		Telugu	Bhanumathi Ramakrishna
	Manchini Penchali		Telugu
	Manassakshi		Telugu	P. Sambasiva Rao
	JanmaJanmala Bhandham		Telugu	P. Chandrashekar Reddy
	Geeta Sangeeta		Telugu	M.S. Koti Reddy
1978	Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi		Telugu	Singeetham Srinivasa Rao
	Vayasu Pilichindi		Telugu	C. V. Sridhar
	Manavoori Pandavulu	Dharmayya	Telugu	Bapu
	Gorantha Deepam		Telugu	Bapu
	Lawyer Viswanath		Telugu
1979	Yugandhar		Telugu	K. S. R. Das
	Maavuri Devatha		Telugu	G. Giridhara Rao
	Dongalaku Saval	Dharma Rao	Telugu
	Mande Gundelu	Sathyam	Telugu
1980	Chandipriya		Telugu	V. Madhusudan Rao
	Vamsa Vruksham		Telugu	Bapu
	Kaali		Telugu	I. V. Sasi
	Superman		Telugu	V. Madhusudan Rao
	Chukkallo Chandrudu		Telugu
	Adrushtavanthudu		Telugu
	Sarada Ramudu	Raja Rao	Telugu	Vasu
	Ram Robert Rahim	Catholic priest	Telugu	Vijaya Nirmala
	Prema Tarangalu	Ranga Rao	Telugu	S. P. Chitti Babu
1981	Satyabhama		Telugu	K. Raghavendra Rao
	Radha Kalyanam		Telugu	Bapu
	Oorukichina Maata		Telugu	Mannava Balayya
	Sati Savitri		Telugu	P. Subba Rao
1982	Kaliyuga Ramudu	Peter the Trumpet Player	Telugu
	Ekalavya		Telugu	Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao
	Siripuram Simham		Telugu
	Swami Vaibhavam		Telugu
	Golconda Abbulu		Telugu
1983	Dharma Poratam	Ranga's father	Telugu
1985	Vijetha	Venkayya (guest)	Telugu	A. Kodandarami Reddy
	Musugu Donga		Telugu	Boina Subba Rao
	Mantra Dandam		Telugu
	America Alludu		Telugu	K. Vasu
	Nerasthudu		Telugu	K.S.R. Das
	Pachani Kapuram		Telugu
1986	Pyaar Ka Sindoor		Hindi	Bapu
	Simhasanam		Telugu	Krishna
	Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam	Shyama	Telugu	K. Vasu
	Vikram		Telugu	V. Madhusudan Rao
	Desoddharakudu		Telugu
	Aakrandana	Public Prosecutor	Telugu
	Police Officer	Lawyer Ramabrahmam	Telugu
1988	Jhansi Rani		Telugu
1989	Mutyamantha Muddu		Telugu	Ravi Raja Pinisetty
1992	Soorigaadu		Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao
1994	Mugguru Monagallu		Telugu	K. Raghavendra Rao
	Bangaru Kutumbam		Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao
1998	Kante Kuthurnekanu		Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao
1999	Postman		Telugu
2003	Kabirdas		Telugu	V. V. Raju
	Nijam	Narayana Rao	Telugu	Teja
	Satyam		Telugu	R. Surya Kiran
	Seetayya		Telugu
2005	Dhana 51		Telugu	R. Surya Kiran
2007	Shankar Dada Zindabad		Telugu	Prabhu Deva
2008	Pandurangadu		Telugu	K. Raghavendra Rao

Producer

• Saptaswaralu (1969)
• Gandara Gandadu (1969)
• Premajeevulu (1971)
• Gundelu Teesina Monagaadu (1974)
• Swaati Chinukulu (1989)

Personal

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. ^[9]

His son Raja (Rajeswara Rao) has acted in Sudigundalu, Prema Jeevulu, Gandara Gandadu, Gundelu Teesina Monagadu, Swati Chinukulu, Ukku Pidugu, Rajasimha, Evaru Monagadu, Maro Prapancham and Manushulu Matti Bommalu.

His son Satyam also has acted in Saptaswaralu, Prema Jeevulu and Gandara Gandadu. His grandson Sai Eshwar also worked as child artist in Television industry.

Death

He died at 9:50 PM IST at Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad on 22 March 2009 due to cancer complications.

See also

• Raghupathi Venkaiah Award

References

1. "Exposure in films decried". The Hindu. 25 February 2007. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
2. Murali Krishna. "T L KANTHA RAO ~ Early Tollywood".
3. Social Post (25 March 2009). . Entertainment.oneindia.in. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
4. Ramachandran, T.M. (1973). Film world. Vol. 9.
5. The Times of India directory and year book including who's who. Times of India Press. 1984.
6. Tanmayi, Bhawana. "Kantha Rao biopic to go on floors soon". Telangana Today. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
7. Kanta Rao passes away in The Hindu. 7 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
8. A deprived legend: T L Kantha Rao; An exclusive interview at Tripod.com 5 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
9. ".:: Deccan Radio – 24/7 South India's Internet Radio – View topic – Actor Kanta Rao passed away at 85 Years ::".

External links

• Kantha Rao at IMDb