Filmmaker Singeetham Srinivas Rao, known for pushing the boundaries of Indian cinema with films like Pushpaka Vimanam and Aditya 369, has passed away at the age of 94.

Details

He died at Cauvery Hospital in Chennai on Saturday night.

Singitham was undergoing treatment at the hospital after his health deteriorated in recent days. He was being treated for age-related health problems.

Celebs paid tribute

After the news of his death, tributes poured in from actors, filmmakers and other members of the South Indian film industry.

Actor Jr. NTR remembered Singeetham as a filmmaker whose ideas were ahead of his time. He called him “a visionary who thought ahead of his time, delivering films that feel fresh even across generations.”

Musician Devi Sri Prasad also paid tribute to the well-known filmmaker and worked with you sir..”

background

Born on September 21, 1931 in Gudur, Andhra Pradesh, Singeetham began his career as an assistant to renowned filmmaker LV Prasad. He started as a director with Neeti Nijayiti in 1972 and went on to build a career spanning six decades, working in five languages.

His filmography was marked by a willingness to experiment with themes and storytelling formats. Pushpaka Vimanam, the dialogue-free black comedy starring Kamal Haasan, is one of his most famous works. The film won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Outstanding Entertainment.

Singeetham also ventured into science fiction with Aditya 369. Starring Nandamuri Balakrishna and featuring music by Ilayaraja, the film is considered to be the first Telugu science fiction film to explore time travel.

Another major title in her career was Mayur, a biographical drama based on amputee classical dancer Sudha Chandran. The film received several awards. He later directed Bhairav ​​Deepam, a fantasy adventure starring Balakrishna, which completed a 100-day theatrical run in 28 centres.

Beyond Telugu cinema, Singeetham worked extensively in Kannada and Hindi films, establishing himself as a filmmaker who was equally comfortable exploring different genres and cinematic languages.

Despite his age, Singitham remained creatively active. His final film, Sing Geetham, a musical fantasy produced by Nag Ashwin, was completed earlier this year. His continued involvement in filmmaking at the age of 94 makes him one of the oldest active filmmakers in the world.