Adurthi Subba Rao

{{Infobox person

| name = Adurthi Subba Rao

| image = AdurthiSubbaRaoImg.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption =

| birthname =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1912|12|16|df=y}}

| birth_place = Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India

| death_date = {{death date and age|1975|10|01|1912|12|16|df=y}}

| death_place = Madras, Tamil Nadu, India

| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|screenwriter|producer|editor}}

| spouse = Kameswari Bala

| alma mater = St. Xavier's College, Mumbai

| awards = Seven National Film Awards
Nandi Awards
Filmfare Awards South

}}

Adurthi Subba Rao (16 December 1912 – 1 October 1975) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, and editor, primarily recognized for his contributions to Telugu cinema, with a few works in Hindi and Tamil cinema. In an era dominated by mythological and fantasy genres, Subba Rao was a trailblazer in introducing social dramas and contemporary narratives to Telugu cinema. Over his career, he won seven National Film Awards and three Nandi Awards.{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |date=2013-11-30 |title=Master movie maker |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/master-movie-maker/article5408372.ece |access-date=2022-10-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

Subba Rao began his cinematic career as an associate to Uday Shankar in the 1948 Hindi film Kalpana.{{cite web |date=25 November 2008 |title=NFAI brings its treasures to IFFI-Goa |url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45038 |publisher=Ministry of Information and Broadcasting PIB}} He made his directorial debut with Amara Sandesam (1954), a film that, although critically acclaimed, did not achieve commercial success.{{cite web |date=16 December 2005 |title=Star Profiles : Adurti Subbarao: A Tribute |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/starsprofile/adurtisubbarao.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102072636/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/starsprofile/adurtisubbarao.php |archive-date=2 November 2013 |work=Telugucinema.com}} His next film Thodi Kodallu (1957), which starred Akkineni Nageswara Rao, was a major hit. It led to a long and successful collaboration between the two, resulting in 16 more films together.{{Cite web |last=Nadadhur |first=Srivathsan |date=16 December 2021 |title=Remembering Adurthi Subba Rao: A storyteller who brought class and dignity to mainstream Telugu cinema |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/remembering-adurthi-subba-rao-a-storyteller-who-brought-class-and-dignity-to-mainstream-telugu-cinema/e18990a481645 |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=OTTPlay |publisher=HT Media |language=en}} Following this success, Subba Rao directed several acclaimed films, including Mangalya Balam (1959), and Nammina Bantu (1960), the latter of which was screened at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.{{cite web |date=9 July 2006 |title=Profile of Gummadi — Telugu film actor |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/profile-gummadi.html |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=Idlebrain.com}}

Other notable films, such as Velugu Needalu (1961), Manchi Manasulu (1962), and Doctor Chakravarthy (1964) further solidified his reputation as a leading filmmaker. In 1964, he directed Mooga Mansulu, one of the earliest Telugu films to explore the theme of reincarnation. The film was a significant success and was screened at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.{{cite web |title=11th National Film Awards |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm11thNFAAward.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170502124428/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm11thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=2 May 2017 |access-date=13 September 2011 |publisher=International Film Festival of India}} His 1965 film Thene Manasulu, made with a cast of newcomers, became a runaway success, marking Krishna's first lead role and introducing Ram Mohan to Telugu cinema. In 1968, he ventured into courtroom drama with Sudigundalu, a film noted for its "film with a key" narrative, which received special mentions at the Tashkent and Moscow Film Festivals.{{cite web |date=27 March 2006 |title=Film producer passes away |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/film-producer-passes-away/article3169975.ece |website=The Hindu}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q5UqAAAAYAAJ |title=Collections |publisher=Update Video Publication |year=1991 |page=387}}

Several of Subba Rao's films, including Thodi Kodallu (1957), Mangalya Balam (1959), Nammina Bantu (1960), Mooga Manasulu (1964), Doctor Chakravarthy (1964), and Sudigundalu (1968), won the National Film Award for Best Telugu Feature Film. Additionally, his Tamil film Kumudham (1961) won the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film. K. Viswanath, who would later become a celebrated filmmaker, worked as an associate director under Subba Rao before making his own directorial debut. In recognition of Subba Rao's contributions to cinema, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce instituted the Adurthi Subba Rao Award in his honour.{{Cite web |title=Adurthi Subbarao Awards Presented |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/telugu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924165217/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/gallery/3/263659.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=IndiaGlitz.com}}

Early life

Adurthi Subba Rao was born to Sathanna Panthulu and Rajalakshmamma on 16 December 1912 in Rajahmundry. His father was a Revenue Department official. He completed school final (Matriculation) at the age of 14. He joined Kakinada PR College to do his Pre-University Course. As a college student, he developed a passion for photography and films. Defying his father, he went to Bombay with the little money he had given him. He joined the St. Xavier's College there in a three-year course of photography, and completed two years.

Career

= Early career =

Subba Rao then worked in the processing and printing department of Bombay Film Lab. Then he joined film editor Dina Narvekar as his assistant. He started his film career as a cinematographer, editor and screenwriter. His started as an assistant director and later became the editor for Uday Shankar on his Hindi film Kalpana (1948). His debut film as an editor was Tamil film Parijatapaharanam. He also worked as a writer penning stories, dialogues, and lyrics. Some of the films he wrote were Vanarani (1946), Mangalasootram, Oka Roju Raju (1944), Circus Raju, etc.

Later, he moved to Prakash Studios as an editor but also worked in other departments. K. S. Prakash Rao let him direct some parts in his films such as Deeksha (1951), Kanna Talli (1953) and Baalanandam (1954) for Prakash Studios. He also worked for C. Pullayya's Sankranthi (1952) as editor at the same time.

= Directorial debut and breakthrough =

Subba Rao debuted as a director with Amara Sandesam (1954) which was critically acclaimed but not commercially successful. After watching the film, Akkineni Nageswara Rao recommended him to his friend and business partner in Annapurna Pictures, Dukkipati Madhusudhana Rao, who gave Subba Rao the chance to direct the film Thodi Kodallu (1957), adapted from Sarat Chandra Chatterjee's Bengali novel Nishkruti. It became a super hit. The film won the Certificate of merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu.

In 1959, he directed romantic drama Mangalya Balam. Subba Rao adapted Mangalya Balam to the Telugu screen from the Bengali film Agni Pariksha (1954), The Telugu version was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Manjal Mahimai; both versions became box office successes. The former winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu,{{cite web |title=6th National Film Awards |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6thNFAAward.aspx |access-date=3 September 2011 |publisher=International Film Festival of India}} and the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu in 1960.

The 1960 film Nammina Bantu was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Pattaliyin Vetri. Upon release both versions received critical acclaim. The Telugu work was screened at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. The film also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for that year.{{cite web |title=7th National Film Awards |url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/7th_nff.pdf |access-date=4 September 2011 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals}}

In 1961, he directed Kumudham written by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. Kumudham was released on 29 July 1961 with final reel length of {{Convert|4501|metres|feet}} and became a commercial success at box office. The film received Certificate of Merit for Third Best Feature Film at 9th National Film Awards. It was remade by Subba Rao himself in Telugu as Manchi Manasulu (1962).

Subba Rao's next work was Mooga Mansulu (1964) based on the concept of reincarnation. The film was remade in Hindi as Milan (1967) directed by Subba Rao himself, while the Tamil Praptham (1971) was remade from Subba Rao's work. The Telugu version received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and the Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu) in 1964 and was screened at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.{{cite web |title=Stars : Star Interviews : Chit Chat with Jamuna |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/stars/interview_jamuna_2009_2.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501055610/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/stars/interview_jamuna_2009_2.php |archive-date=1 May 2009 |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=Telugucinema.com}}

The 1964 film Doctor Chakravarthy, an adaptation of the novel Chakrabhramanam, was awarded the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and the state Nandi Award for that year.{{cite web |title=Ramadasu (1964) Awards - Award Winners Of Ramadasu Telugu Movie |url=http://www.gomolo.com/ramadasu-movie-awards/15991 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825212638/http://www.gomolo.com/ramadasu-movie-awards/15991 |archive-date=25 August 2018 |access-date=10 January 2019 |work=Gomolo}}

In 1968, Subba Rao experimented with courtroom drama and detective fiction in his work Sudigundalu. The film received special mention at the Tashkent and Moscow Film Festivals for its inherent "film with a key" narrative.{{cite web |title=15th National Film Awards |url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/15th_nff_1967.pdf |access-date=21 September 2011 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals}}{{cite web |title=Film producer passes away |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/film-producer-passes-away/article3169975.ece |website=The Hindu}} The film has garnered the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, Nandi Award for Best Feature Film, and the Filmfare Award for Best Film - Telugu for that year and was featured at the International Film Festival of India.

Subba Rao scripted and directed the 1976 biographical film Mahakavi Kshetrayya based on the life of Kshetrayya,{{cite web |title=Mahakavi Kshetrayya (Banner) |url=http://www.filmiclub.com/movie/mahakavi-kshetrayya-1976-telugu-movie |work=Filmiclub}}{{cite web |title=Mahakavi Kshetrayya (Direction) |url=http://www.knowyourfilms.com/film/Mahakavi-Kshetrayya/15072 |work=Know Your films}} Subba Rao had expired in the middle of the making of the film and director C. S. Rao completed the rest of the shoot.{{cite web |title=Mahakavi Kshetrayya (Review) |url=http://www.thecinebay.com/movie/index/id/7537?ed=Tolly |work=The Cine Bay}}

Mentorship

Subba Rao's Biography has been published by veteran actor Krishna, who made his Telugu film debut under the direction of Subba Rao.{{Cite web|url=https://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions1/booklaunch-adurthisubbarao.html|title=Adurthi Subba Rao Book launch by Krishna, Mahesh Babu & Kasinadhuni Viswanath - Telugu cinema news|website=www.idlebrain.com}} K. Viswanath has worked as an associate director of Subba Rao for many years. The Telugu film chamber of commerce has instituted the Adurthi Subba Rao Award in his honour.[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924165217/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/gallery/3/263659.html Events – Adurthi Subbarao Awards Presented gallery clips actors actress stills images]

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Film ! Language ! Role
1948 \| Kalpana \| Hindi \| Assistant Director
1954 \| Balanandam \| Telugu \| Assistant Director
1954 \| Amara Sandesam \| Telugu \| Director
1957 \| Todi Kodallu \| Telugu \| Editor, Screenplay and Director
1957 \| Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi \| Tamil \| Editor, Screenplay and Director
1958 \| Aada Pettanam \| Telugu \| Director
1959 \| Mangalya Balam \| Telugu \| Writer and Director
1959 \| Manjal Mahimai \| Tamil \| Writer and Director
1959 \| Engal Kuladevi \| Tamil \| Director
1960 \| Nammina Bantu \| Telugu \| Director
1960 \| Pattaliyin Vetri \| Tamil \| Director
1960 \| Kumudham \| Tamil \| Director
1961 \| Velugu Needalu \| Telugu \| Director
1961 \| Iddaru Mitrulu \| Telugu \| Director
1961 \| Krishna Prema \| Telugu \| Director
1962 \| Manchi Manasulu \| Telugu \| Director
1963 \| Chaduvukunna Ammayilu \| Telugu \| Screenplay and Director
1964 \| Mooga Manasulu \| Telugu \| Director
1964 \| Dagudu Moothalu \| Telugu \| Director
1964 \| Doctor Chakravarty \| Telugu \| Director
1965 \| Sumangali \| Telugu \| Director
1965 \| Tene Manasulu \| Telugu \| Writer and Director
1965 \| Thodu Needa \| Telugu \| Director
1966 \| Kanne manasulu \| Telugu \| Director
1967 \| Milan \| Hindi \| Screenplay and Director
1967 \| Poola Rangadu \| Telugu \| Director
1967 \| Sudigundalu \| Telugu \| Screenplay and Director
1968 \| Man Ka Meet \| Hindi \| Director
1969 \| Doli \| Hindi \| Screenplay and Director
1970 \| Darpan \| Hindi \| Producer and Director
1970 \| Maro Prapancham \| Telugu \| Director
1970 \| Mastana \| Hindi \| Director
1971 \| Rakhwala \| Hindi \| Director
1972 \| Jeet \| Hindi \| Producer and Director
1972 \| Vichitra Bandham \| Telugu \| Director
1973 \| Insaaf \| Hindi \| Director
1973 \| Jwar Bhata \| Hindi \| Director
1973 \| Mayadari Malligadu \| Telugu \| Producer and Director
1974 \| Bangaaru Kalalu \| Telugu \| Director
1975 \| Gajula Kishtayya \| Telugu \| Producer and Director
1975 \| Gunavanthudu \| Telugu \| Director
1975 \| Sunehra Sansar \| Hindi \| Director
1976 \| Mahakavi Kshetrayya \| Telugu \| Director

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Film

! Language

! Role

1948

| Kalpana

| Hindi

| Assistant Director

1954

| Balanandam

| Telugu

| Assistant Director

1954

| Amara Sandesam

| Telugu

| Director

1957

| Todi Kodallu

| Telugu

| Editor, Screenplay and Director

1957

| Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi

| Tamil

| Editor, Screenplay and Director

1958

| Aada Pettanam

| Telugu

| Director

1959

| Mangalya Balam

| Telugu

| Writer and Director

1959

| Manjal Mahimai

| Tamil

| Writer and Director

1959

| Engal Kuladevi

| Tamil

| Director

1960

| Nammina Bantu

| Telugu

| Director

1960

| Pattaliyin Vetri

| Tamil

| Director

1960

| Kumudham

| Tamil

| Director

1961

| Velugu Needalu

| Telugu

| Director

1961

| Iddaru Mitrulu

| Telugu

| Director

1961

| Krishna Prema

| Telugu

| Director

1962

| Manchi Manasulu

| Telugu

| Director

1963

| Chaduvukunna Ammayilu

| Telugu

| Screenplay and Director

1964

| Mooga Manasulu

| Telugu

| Director

1964

| Dagudu Moothalu

| Telugu

| Director

1964

| Doctor Chakravarty

| Telugu

| Director

1965

| Sumangali

| Telugu

| Director

1965

| Tene Manasulu

| Telugu

| Writer and Director

1965

| Thodu Needa

| Telugu

| Director

1966

| Kanne manasulu

| Telugu

| Director

1967

| Milan

| Hindi

| Screenplay and Director

1967

| Poola Rangadu

| Telugu

| Director

1967

| Sudigundalu

| Telugu

| Screenplay and Director

1968

| Man Ka Meet

| Hindi

| Director

1969

| Doli

| Hindi

| Screenplay and Director

1970

| Darpan

| Hindi

| Producer and Director

1970

| Maro Prapancham

| Telugu

| Director

1970

| Mastana

| Hindi

| Director

1971

| Rakhwala

| Hindi

| Director

1972

| Jeet

| Hindi

| Producer and Director

1972

| Vichitra Bandham

| Telugu

| Director

1973

| Insaaf

| Hindi

| Director

1973

| Jwar Bhata

| Hindi

| Director

1973

| Mayadari Malligadu

| Telugu

| Producer and Director

1974

| Bangaaru Kalalu

| Telugu

| Director

1975

| Gajula Kishtayya

| Telugu

| Producer and Director

1975

| Gunavanthudu

| Telugu

| Director

1975

| Sunehra Sansar

| Hindi

| Director

1976

| Mahakavi Kshetrayya

| Telugu

| Director

Awards

=[[National Film Awards]]=

;National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu

Sudigundalu - 1967
Doctor Chakravarthy - 1964
Mooga Manasulu - 1963
Nammina Bantu - 1960
Mangalya Balam - 1959 {{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6thNFAAward.aspx|title=6th National Film Awards|publisher=International Film Festival of India|access-date=3 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020054317/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=20 October 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
Thodi Kodallu - 1957 {{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/5th_nff.pdf|title=5th National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=2 September 2011}}

;National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil

Kumudham - 1961 {{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|title=9th National Film Awards|publisher=International Film Festival of India|access-date=8 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202115652/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

;Nandi Awards

1964 - Nandi Award for Best Feature Film - Doctor Chakravarthy
1967 - Nandi Award for Best Feature Film - Sudigundalu
1976 - Nandi Award for Best Feature Film - Mahakavi Kshetrayya

;Filmfare Awards South

Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu - Sudigundalu

References

External links

{{IMDb name|0836899}}
[https://www.csfd.cz/tvurce/188237-adurthi-subba-rao/ Adurthi Subba Rao] at {{ill|ČSFD|cs}}
[https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/603367/ Adurthi Subba Rao] at Kinopoisk

Category:Telugu film directors

Category:Film producers from Andhra Pradesh

Category:Cinematographers from Andhra Pradesh

Category:Telugu film cinematographers

Category:St. Xavier's College, Mumbai alumni

Category:Telugu film producers

Category:Filmfare Awards South winners

Category:Nandi Award winners

Category:1912 births

Category:1975 deaths

Category:Writers from Rajahmundry

Category:Film directors from Andhra Pradesh