Gummadi Venkateswara Rao


Gummadi Venkateswara Rao, widely known as Gummadi, was an Indian film actor and producer, known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema and a few Tamil films. Known as one of the finest method actors, Gummadi starred in around five hundred feature films. He received critical recognition for his work in Thodu Dongalu and Mahamantri Timmarusu, for which he has received the erstwhile Rashtrapati Award. Gummadi was an official member of the Indian delegation from South India to the Tashkent Film Festival in 1978 and 1982.
Gummadi served as a jury member thrice for the 28th, 33rd and 39th National Film Awards. He served twice on the state Nandi Awards Committee. In 1977, he was awarded India's fourth-highest civilian honor Padma Shri for his contributions to Indian cinema. He is widely known for his roles in films such as Maya Bazar, Maa Inti Mahalakshmi, Kula Daivam, Kula Gothralu, Jyothi, Nelavanka, Maro Malupu, Ekalavya, Ee Charitra Ye Siraatho?, Gaaju Bommalu and Pelli Pustakam. In 2008 he starred in Jagadguru Sree Kasi Nayana Charitra which is his last film.

Early life

He was born in Ravikampadu near Kollur mandal, in the erstwhile Madras Presidency, India. According to one of his interviews, he studied in ZP High School, Kollur and Hindu College, Guntur.

Early career

Gummadi's acting career extended from 1950 onwards for almost six decades and he worked with three generations of people in the film industry. Though young, he played dignified older people at the beginning. He was a versatile character actor in sociopolitical and mythological movies. He acted in nearly 500 movies. He played the role of father to many lead actors in old Telugu films.
Gummadi Venkateswara Rao first appeared as an actor in 1942, where he played the role of an old man on the stage. He began his cinema career with Adrushtadeepudu and continued on for about 500 more films portraying roles ranging from the hero, the villain and the character artiste, to roles with a slight comedic bent, such as his guest appearance in Missamma.

Characters played by him

Gummadi was married and had five daughters and two sons. He died of multiple organ failure at Care hospital, Hyderabad on 26 January 2010. His last public appearance was at the screening of Maya Bazar, which had been colourised. Here he expressed his happiness and said that "Watching this great movie in colour probably could have been the only reason for me to have stayed alive for so long."

Written works

;Civilian honors
;Rashtrapati Awards
;Nandi Awards
;Other Honors
YearFilmCharacterRemarks-
1950Adrushta DeepuduDebut film-
1953Pitchi PullaiahBhopala Rao-
1954Thodu DongaluLokanatham-
1955KanyasulkamSowjanya Rao Pantulu-
1955ArdhangiZameendaar-
1955JayasimhaRanadhir-
1955MissammaEmployer -
1955Rani Ratnaprabha-
1956ChiranjeevuluDr. Krishna-
1956Edi NijamMunusabu-
1956IlavelpuSekhar's father-
1956Pennin Perumai-
1957Suvarna SundariTata-
1957Maya BazaarBalarama-
1957Dampatyam-
1957Dongallo DoraInspector Ram Murthy-
1957MLADamodaram-
1957Premada Putri-
1957Preme Daivam-
1957Sarangadhara-
1957Sati Anasuya-
1957Veera Kankanam-
1957Vinayaka ChavitiSatrajit-
1958Aadapettanam-
1958Chenchu LakshmiDurvasa-
1958Dongalunnaru Jagratha-
1958Ettuku Pai EttuGovindaiah-
1958Intiguttu-
1959IllarikamZamindar-
1959JayabheriViswanatha Sastri-
1959Krishna Leelalu-
1959Maa Inti Mahalakshmi-
1959Nammina BantuZamindar Bhujanga Rao-
1959Pelli Sandadi-
1959Raja MakutamPrachandudu-
1959Sabhash Ramudu-
1959Sati Tulasi-
1959Sipayi Kooturu-
1960DeepavaliNagadattudu-
1960HarishchandraVishwamitra Maharshi-
1960Pelli Kaanuka-
1960Renukadevi Mahatyam-
1960Sahasra Siracheda Apoorva Chinthamani-
1960Shantinivasam-
1960Sri Venkateswara MahatyamBhrigu Maharshi-
1961Bharya BharthaluAnand's father-
1961Iddaru MitruluBhanoji Rao-
1961Pandava VanavasamDharmaraaju-
1961Rishyashringar-
1961Rushyashrunga-
1961Santa-
1961Sri Seetha Rama KalyanamViswamitra Maharshi-
1961Tandrulu Kodukulu-
1961VagdanamRanganatham-
1962AradhanaPrincipal-
1962BhishmaKarna-
1962Constable Koothuru-
1962Kalimilemulu-
1962Khaidi Kannayya-
1962Kula GothraluBhushaiah-
1962Mahamantri TimmarusuMahamantri Timmarusu-
1962Siri Sampadalu-
1963Chaduvukunna AmmayiluVenkat Rangayya-
1963Irugu – Porugu-
1963LakshadhikariSeetayya-
1963Mooga ManasuluZamindar-
1963Paruvu Prathishta-
1963PunarjanmaZamindar-
1963Savati Koduku-
1963Sri Krishnarjuna YudhamYudhishthira-
1963Tirupathamma Katha-
1964Aatma BalamPsychiatrist-
1964Dr. ChakravarthyInspector Sridhar-
1964Manchi Manishi-
1964Murali Krishna-
1964Pooja PhalamDiwan Ramakrishnaiah-
1964RamadasuKabir-
1964Varasatwam-
1964Velugu Needalu-
1965Aatma GowravamRamaiah-
1965AntastuluZamindar-
1965Chandrahasa-
1965CIDChalapathi-
1965Keelu Bommalu-
1965Naadi Aada Janme-
1965Preminchi ChooduSubbarayudu-
1965Satya Harishchandra-
1966AastiparuluZamindar-
1966Bhakta PotanaPothana-
1966Kanne Manasulu-
1966NavarathriRadha's father-
1966Palnati Yuddham-
1966Shri Krishna Pandaviyam-
1967Kambojaraju Katha-
1967Prana MithruluDiwan-
1967Private MasterSundari's father-
1967RahasyamSriganda Prabhu-
1967SudigundaluDefence Lawyer-
1968Bandhipotu DongaluDoctor-
1968Bangaru GaajuluChandra Shekaram-
1968Bangaru Sankellu-
1968Govula GopannaChairman Nagaraju-
1968Mana Samsaram-
1968Pala Manasulu-
1969Adrushtavanthalu-
1969Aadarsa Kutumbam-
1969AatmiyuluJagannadham-
1969Bhale Rangadu-
1969BuddhimanthuduD.E.O-
1969Manushulu Marali-
1969Shri Rama Katha-
1969Tara Sasankam-
1970Agni Pareeksha-
1970Akka ChelleluDharmayya-
1970Jai JawanMadhava Rao-
1970Maro Prapancham-
1970Poola RangaduChalapathi-
1970Sridevi-
1971Amayakuralu-
1971Bhagyavanthudu-
1971Bharya Biddalu-
1971Dasara BulloduVasu-
1971Mosagallaku MosagaduDaanala Dharmayya-
1971Nenu Manishine-
1971Prem NagarLata's father-
1971Sampoorna RamayanamDasharadha-
1971Shri Krishna Satya-
1971Shrimanthudu-
1971Sisindri Chittibabu-
1971Suputhrudu-
1971Vichithra Dampathyam-
1972Bangaru BabuRanganatham-
1972Bala Mitrula KathaKotaiah-
1972Iddaru AmmayiluRamanujam-
1972Kalam Marindi-
1972Koduku KodaluSrihari Rao-
1972Neethi Nijayathi-
1972Pandanti Kapuram-
1972Tata ManavaduParamatma Rao-
1972Vichitra BandhamAhobila Rao-
1973Jeevana TarangaluVenugopal Rao-
1973Kannavari Kala-
1973Mallamma Katha-
1973Marapurani ManishiAnanda Rao-
1973Minaru Babu-
1973Samsaram Sagaram-
1973Vichitra Vivaham-
1973Vintha Katha-
1974Alluri Seetharama Raju-
1974Ammayi Pelli-
1974Anaganaga Oka Thandri-
1974Bhoomikosam-
1974Devadasu-
1974Dora Babu-
1974Gali Patalu-
1974Intinti Katha-
1974Khaidi Babai-
1974Manushullo DevuduFather-
1975Babu-
1975Samsaram-
1975Saubhagyavati-
1975SoggaduSimhadri-
1975Yashoda KrishnaNanda-
1975Zamindarugari Ammayi--
1975Lakshmana RekhaLawyer-
1976Ramarajyamlo Rakthapasam-
1976Neram Nadi Kadu Akalidi-
1976Manchiki Maro Peru-
1976Oka Deepam Veligindhi-
1976Padavoyi Bharatheeyuda-
1976Secretary-
1976Sita KalyanamDasaradh-
1976Sita SwayamvarDasarath-
1976Yavanam Katesindi-
1977Aalu MagaluRanga Rao-
1977Chakradhari-
1977Daana Veera Soora KarnaParasu Ramudu-
1977Indradhanusu-
1977Kalpana-
1977KurukshetramBhishma-
1977Seeta Rama Vanavasam-
1978Chal Mohana Ranga-
1978Sati Savitri-
1978Akbar Saleem Anarkali-
1978Devadasu Malli PuttaduSripathi Raja-
1978Sahasavanthudu-
1979Captain Krishna-
1979Ganga Bhavani-
1979Intinti Ramayanam-
1979Karthika Deepam-
1979Khiladi Krishnudu-
1979Mande Gundelu-
1979Muddula KodukuRaobahadoor Ranga Rao-
1979Naa Illu Naa Vaalu-
1979Shri Tirupati Venkateswara KalyanamHathiram Bhavaji-
1980Mosagadu-
1980Chandipriya-
1980Buchi BabuBuchi Babu's grandfather-
1980Dharma Chakram-
1980Gajadonga-
1980Gharana Donga-
1980Gopala Krishnudu-
1980Heema Hemeelu-
1980Kaksha-
1980Kotha Jeevithalu-
1980Sardar Papa Rayudu-
1980Shri Vasavi Kannika Parameshwari Mahatyam-
1980Sreevari Muchatlu-
1981Agni PooluRajeshwari's father-
1981Alludugaru Zindabad-
1981Asha Jyoti-
1981Bhoga Bhagyalu-
1981PremabhishekamDr. Venkateswarulu-
1981Prema MandiramBhupati Raja-
1981Sandhya Ragam-
1982Mondighatam-
1982Gruha Pravesam
1982Anuraga DevathaPriest-
1982Bangaru Kanuka-
1982Ee Charitra Ae Siratho-
1982Ekalavya-
1982Jagannatha Rathachakralu-
1982Kaliyuga Ramudu-
1982Maro MalupuNandi Award for Best Actor-
1982Raga Deepam-
1982Swayamvaram-
1983Sangharshana-
1983Prema Pichollu-
1983Adavallu Aligithe-
1983Ee Pillaku Pellavuthundha-
1983MLA Yedukondalu-
1983MundaduguLawyer-
1983NelavankaSitarama Raju-
1983Pelli Choopulu-
1983Police Venkataswamy-
1983Rudrakali-
1984RustumBrahmaiah Naidu-
1984Rojulu Marayi-
1985Raktha SindhuramJagannatham-
1985Shri Datta DarshanamJamadagni-
1986VikramCommissioner-
1986KiraathakuduDharmateja-
1987Pasivadi Pranam-
1987Thene Manasulu-
1987MajnuAlekhya's grandfather-
1987Muddu Bidda-
1988Kanoon Ki Hathkadee-
1990Bobbili RajaSundaraiyah-
1991Pelli PustakamCompany BossNandi Award for Best Feature Film-
1991Talli TandruluVenkataramaiah-
1992BrundavanamJagannadham-
1993Muta MesthriChief Minister-
1993Gaayam-
1993Rajendrudu GajendruduElephant's Master-
1993Rajeshwari Kalyanam-
1993VarasuduPrincipal-
1994Govinda GovindaDoorvasa Maharshi-
1995Maya BazaarBalarama-
1995Aayanaki IddaruKrishna Mohan's father-
1996Dharma Chakram-
2008Jagadguru Sri Kasinayana CharitraKasinayana-