Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao Dies; Film Industry Pays Tribute
Singeetham Srinivasa Rao was a filmmaker who made movies in several Indian languages.
He died in Chennai on Saturday night after health problems linked to old age.
Reports disagree about whether he was 94 or 95.
He directed more than 60 films during his career.
Some of his well-known movies were Pushpaka Vimana and Aditya 369.
Pushpaka Vimana told its story without spoken dialogue.
Rao also directed Dr Rajkumar in several films and introduced Shivarajkumar in Anand.
Actors and political leaders shared messages remembering him.
They praised his imagination and the films he made.
Singeetham Srinivasa Rao died in Chennai on Saturday night after age-related health complications; reports give his age as either 94 or 95.
He directed more than 60 films in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi over several decades.
His films included Pushpaka Vimana, Aditya 369, Bhairava Dweepam, Mayuri and Anand; Pushpaka Vimana was made without spoken dialogue.
He directed Dr Rajkumar in several Kannada films and gave Shivarajkumar his debut in Anand.
Film figures and political leaders, including Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan, D K Shivakumar and G Parameshwara, praised his creativity and contribution to cinema.
- Who
- Filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao; reports give his age as 94 or 95.
- What
- He died following age-related health complications.
- When
- Saturday night; reports place tributes on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
- Where
- Chennai, India; reports say he died at Kauvery Hospital.
- Why
- The reports attribute his death to age-related health complications.
- Career
- Directed more than 60 films across Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi.
- Directorial debut
- Neeti Nijayiti (1972).
- Notable films
- Pushpaka Vimana, Aditya 369, Bhairava Dweepam, Mayuri and Anand.
- Pushpaka Vimana
- A film made without spoken dialogue; reports give its release year as 1987 or 1988.
- Kannada cinema
- Directed Dr Rajkumar in several films and gave Shivarajkumar his debut in Anand.
- Awards
- Reported honors include two National Film Awards, three Karnataka State Film Awards, the Nandi Award and a Filmfare Award.
- Age at death
- Reports differ, giving his age as 94 or 95.
Sources
Legendary Filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao Dies At 95: Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Pawan Kalyan Pay Tribute
Singeetham Srinivasa Rao (1931-2026): Celebrities pay tribute to legendary filmmaker
DK Shivakumar, G Parameshwara Condole Death of Singeetham Srinivasa Rao
