Screenplay writer and actor of Telugu films, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao, passed away on 12th December at a private hospital in Madras. He was 80.
Gollapudi, as he was popularly called, was also attached to theatre and was a prolific literary writer too. He first penned the dialogues for Doctor Chakravarthy, starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao. He turned to acting with Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya. He went on to act in such films as Tharangini, Maro Charitra, Abhilasha, Alaya Sikharam, Challenge and Swathi Muthyam. He also won many awards. Among his best films is Sayankalamayindi.
Gollapudi instituted the Gollapudi National Award for the best first film of a director across all languages in India in memory of his son, Srinivas, who died very young in 1992 while directing Prema Pustakam. He has two more sons, Subba Rao and Ramakrishna.
Tamil films’ superstar Ajith was introduced in the film industry by Gollapudi, in Telugu film Prema Pustakam. Gollapudi lived in Visakhapatnam for many decades but had settled down in Madras with his wife and two sons a few years ago.