Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao
Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao, better known as Kanta Rao a.k.a Katthi Kanta Rao (Telugu: తాడేపల్లి లక్ష్మీ కాంతారావు) (16 November 1923 – March 22, 2009), was an Indian film actor and film producer from Andhra Pradesh, India. He acted in more than 400 Telugu mythological, social and folklore movies. He also acted in a few Hindi, Kannada and Tamil movies. He produced about five films under the banner Hema/Hyma Films. In the 1960s he was one of the primary actors in Telugu cinema, along with N. T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageshwara Rao.
Kanta Rao was very famous for portraying the role of Narada in mythological Telugu cinema. He played other roles, notably those of Lord Krishna, Arjuna, Panduraj and Lakshmana.
Kanta Rao acted in many folklore movies and was famous for his fencing and sword fighting. Therefore he was also famous as Kattula Kanta Rao. Most of these movies were directed by "Janapada Brahma" B. Vittalacharya.
| Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 16, 1923 Kodad, Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Died | March 22, 2009 (aged 85) Hyderabad, India |
| Other names | Nata Prapoorna, Kattula Kanta Rao, Andhra MGR |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1950s - 1990s |
| Spouse | Susheela, Hymavati |
Early life
Kanta Rao was born to Keshavarao and Seetaramamma at Gudibanda village on November 16, 1923. According to Hindu calendar, it corresponds to Rudhirodgari Samvatsara Kartika Sudha Ashtami day. Their ancestors belongs to Tadepallivillage, hence it became their family name. He lost his father next year. His primary education was done in Gudibanda and Khammam. He was exposed to puranas and Hindu epic stories from his grandmother.
Surabhi Drama troup has visited their village. Impressed by their professional performances, he established "Balamitra Natya Mandali" and used to play Gayopakhyanam and Madhuseva plays with his friends. He played the character Brahma in Sri Krishna Leelalu in Surabhi group and subsequently in Madhuseva, Kanakatara, Telugu Talli plays.
He was sent to Tenali to deviate from the drama activities. Tenali used to be very active in drama activities with stalwarts like Pulipati Lakshminarayana. He used to stay in same street wherein Rentachintala Satyanarayana, Banda Kanakalingeswara Rao used to live in.
He then shifted to Madras in 1950 and used stay with T. Krishnamachari, who used to work as assistant director for H. M. Reddy's Rohini Pictures.
H. M. Reddy gave him chance to play a small role in Nirdoshi in 1951 and as his hero for Pratigna in 1953. He has acted in 450 films and in about 100 films as hero, whereas in others as different character roles. They include some popular roles in films like Jayasimha (1955), Shri Krishna Pandaviyam (1966), Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu (1963), Lava Kusha (1963), Nartanasala (1963), Pandava Vanavasam (1965) and Muthyala Muggu (1975). His last movie was ‘Pandurangadu’ with Balakrishna and directed by K. Raghavendra Rao in 2008.
Though he was never as rich as his contemporaries, he was comfortable. He made four films in between 1969 and 1974, Saptaswaralu, Gandara Gandadu, Premajeevulu and Gundelu Theesina Monagadu and lost all his previous earnings. The last film he made was Swathi Chinukulu. Subsequently he shifted to Hyderabad.
Filmography
Actor
This is the complete list of his films according to his autobiographical work, Anaganaga Oka Rakumarudu.
Other movies as actor.
| Year | Film | Character | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Dhana 51 | R. Surya Kiran | ||
| 2003 | Satyam | R. Surya Kiran | ||
| 1999 | Postman | Muppalaneni Siva | ||
| 1994 | Bangaru Kutumbam | Dasari Narayana Rao | ||
| 1986 | Vikram | V. Madhusudan Rao | ||
| 1981 | Sati Savitri | P. Subba Rao | ||
| 1980 | Ram Robert Rahim | Catholic priest | Vijaya Nirmala | |
| Prema Tarangalu | Ranga Rao | S. P. Chitti Babu | ||
| 1979 | Yugandhar | K. S. R. Das | ||
| Maavuri Devatha | G. Giridhara Rao | |||
| 1978 | Gorantha Deepam | Bapu | ||
| 1976 | Tu Hi Ram Tu Hi Krishna | Narada Muni | Kadri Venkata Reddy | Hindi film |
| 1975 | Alakh Niranjan | Babubhai Mistri | Hindi film | |
| 1974 | Hare Krishna | Hindi film | ||
| 1963 | Valmiki | C. S. Rao |
Personal
He was married to Susheela and had a daughter in 1942. The daughter died of smallpox during infancy. They had a son in 1945 named after his father as Keshav. Susheela became sick. He married Hymavathi in 1950 and subsequently Susheela died of illness. His son also died of typhoid fever in childhood. He has four sons and a daughter by Hymavathi, named Pratap, Keshav, Susheela, Raja and Satyam, in that order.
His son Raja (Rajeswara Rao) has acted in Sudigundalu, Prema Jeevulu, Gandara Gandadu, Gundelu Teesina Monagadu, Swati Chinukulu, Ukku Pidugu, Rajasimha, Evaru Monagadu, Maro Prapancham and Manushulu Matti Bommalu.
His son Satyam also has acted in Saptaswaralu, Prema Jeevulu and Gandara Gandadu.
Death
He died at 9:50 PM IST at Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad on March 22, 2009 due to cancer complications.
Awards
- He won the National Rashtrapati Award for the role of Lakshmana in Lava Kusha.
- He has been awarded the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award by the government of Andhra Pradesh for his acting achievements in the year 2000.
- He was awarded the Visesha Puraskaram in Ramineni Foundation Awards in 2004.
- His book Anaganaga Oka Raakumaarudu (Autobiography of Kanta Rao) won the Nandi Award for Best Book for the year 2007.
- Mahanati Savitri Award
- C.H. Narayana Rao Award
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