Singeetham Srinivasa Rao: Remembering Telugu Cinema Pioneer

Few filmmakers left behind a body of work as eclectic and experimental as Singeetham Srinivasa Rao. From the dialogue-free Pushpaka Vimanam to the time-travel adventure Aditya 369 and his most recent musical Sing Geetham, he constantly pushed Telugu cinema into uncharted territory.

Following the legendary filmmaker’s demise in Chennai on Sunday, tributes poured in from across the film industry, with Kamal Haasan, Chiranjeevi, SS Rajamouli, and others remembering his boundless imagination and pioneering spirit.

Producer Sivalenka Krishna Prasad, who backed Aditya 369 in 1991, recalled Singeetham’s lifelong passion for cinema. “Cinema was his passion throughout his life. He took Indian cinema to national and international levels,” he said.

Recalling their collaboration, Krishna Prasad said Singeetham was always eager to experiment and remained closely connected with the latest films even in his later years. “He would regularly call me, ask about the successes and failures of films released that week and keep himself updated. That came purely from his love for cinema,” he said. Krishna Prasad also praised Singeetham’s versatility, citing films such as Sommokadidi Sokokadidi, Panteulamma, Pushpaka Vimanam, Apoorva Sahodarulu and Amavasya Chandrudu. He said the filmmaker continued to suggest new ideas and discuss cinema until his final years.

Actor Kamal Haasan, who has worked with him on films such as Apoorva Sagodharargal, Michael Madana Kama Rajan, and Magalir Mattum, paid his tributes and wrote, “Dying young need not be a tragedy. It can be glorious. Singeetham Srinivasa Rao is a great example. I have admired him since I knew him. Now I aspire to live like he did.”

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli: “Long before we had the tools or the budgets, he dared to dream bigger than anyone around him. He made a film without a single line of dialogue, took us travelling through time, and moved from comedy to fantasy to deeply human drama as if no line existed between genres. He showed a whole generation of us that the only real limit in cinema is imagination. Every filmmaker who has tried something different in Telugu cinema owes him something, knowingly or not. I certainly do.”

Director Nag Ashwin shared a personal glimpse of their bond while remembering the filmmaker. he posted a WhatsApp exchange in which Singeetham had shared the title of a planned next project — A Fruit Cuts The Knife — a poignant reminder that his creative spirit remained undiminished until the end.

Calling him a “true visionary”, Chiranjeevi said, “His imagination and courage to explore new ideas gave Indian cinema some of its most unforgettable films. His contribution to cinema will always be remembered with immense respect and affection.”

Venkatesh described Singeetham as a filmmaker defined by “curiosity, originality and playfulness”, adding “He was a rare filmmaker who never stopped believing in the magic and possibilities of cinema. It is truly the end of an extraordinary chapter in Telugu cinema.”

Mahesh Babu called Singeetham “a giant of Indian cinema”, describing him as a filmmaker of “extraordinary imagination, courage and brilliance”. Jr NTR also paid tribute to the director, calling him a visionary who was always ahead of his time. Apart from film industry, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also remembered his lasting contribution to Indian cinema.