Kasturi Siva Rao
{{Short description|Indian actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kasturi Siva Rao
| image = KASTURI SIVARAO.jpg
| caption = Screenshot of Rao
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1913|03|06}}
| birth_place = Kakinada, British India
(now in Andhra Pradesh, India)
| nationality = Indian
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1966|02|24|1913|03|06}}
| death_place = Tenali, Andhra Pradesh
| years_active =
| spouse = Shakuntala Kasturi
| children = Three Sons and Four Daughters
| father = Kasturi Krishnanandam
| mother = Kasturi Ramamma
}}
Kasturi Siva Rao (6 March 1913 – 24 February 1966) was an Indian actor, comedian, playback singer, producer and director known for his works in Telugu cinema. He was one of the first star comedians of Telugu cinema.{{Cite book |last1=Gokulsing |first1=K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QwGgF-rDucEC&q=kasturi+rao |title=Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas |last2=Dissanayake |first2=Wimal |author-link2=Wimal Dissanayake |date=2013-04-17 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-77291-7 |language=en}}
Career
Kasturi Siva Rao started his career in the film industry as a movie narrator for the silent films produced at that time. Besides providing commentary, he was also a projector operator and had a unique humor to his fame. Theaters would advertise films as having "commentary by Siva Rao".26lettersto24frames.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/kasturi-siva-rao-the-first-star-comedian/tollywood.info/actor/k/kasturi_siva_rao.htm He became an actor with the film Vara Vikrayam in 1939 and shot into the limelight with Chudamani in 1941. B N Reddy's Swarga Seema in 1945 and Balaraju in 1948 catapulted him to stardom.{{cite web |author=M. L. |first=Narasimham |date=30 September 2012 |title=Gunasundari Katha (1949) |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/gunasundari-katha-1949/article3949759.ece |work=The Hindu}}
He became a lead actor with the film Gunasundari Katha in 1949, in which he played the role of a cursed prince. The film became a huge hit and his mannerisms and dialogue were so popular that people started conversing in the same tone. He owned a Buick, which was a rare possession, and whenever people saw the car on roads they used to swarm the car and run along with it. Kasturi Siva Rao later on became a producer and director with the film Paramanandayya Sishyulu in the year 1950.
Selected filmography
- Swarga Seema (స్వర్గసీమ)
- Balaraju (బాలరాజు) 28 February 1948 Supporting Actor & playback singer
- Laila Majnu (లైలా మజ్ను) 1 October 1949 Supporting Actor
- Raksha Rekha (రక్షరేఖ) 1949 Supporting Actor
- Gunasundari Katha (గుణసుందరి కథ) 1 October 1949 Hero and playback singer
- Paramanandayya Sishyulu (పరమానందయ్య శిష్యులు) 1950 Supporting Actor, Producer, Director
- Swapna Sundari (స్వప్న సుందరి) 1950 Supporting Actor
- Sri Lakshmamma Katha (శ్రీ లక్ష్మమ్మ కథ) 1950 Supporting Actor & playback singer
- Mantra Dandam 1951
- Stree Sahasam (స్త్రీ సాహసం) 1951 Supporting Actor
- Prema (ప్రేమ) 1952 Supporting Actor
- Iddaru Pellalu 1954
- Panduranga Mahatyam (పాండురంగ మహత్యం) 28 November 1957 Supporting Actor
- Dongalunnaru Jagratha 1958
- Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (అప్పు చేసి పప్పు కూడు) 14 January 1959 Supporting Actor ( Takku )
- Raja Makutam (రాజమకుటం) 24 February 1960 Supporting Actor
- Seetharama Kalyanam (సీతారామ కళ్యాణం) 6 January 1961 Supporting Actor
- Mugguru Maratilu
- Mayalamaari
References
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Category:Male actors from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Year of death unknown
Category:Date of death unknown
Category:Indian male comedians
Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema