Kasturi Siva Rao

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.[1][2][3]

Kasturi Siva Rao
Screenshot of Rao
Born(1913-03-06)March 6, 1913
Kakinada, British India
(now in Andhra Pradesh, India)
DiedFebruary 24, 1966(1966-02-24) (aged 52)
Tenali, Andhra Pradesh
NationalityIndian
SpouseShakuntala Kasturi
ChildrenThree Sons and Four Daughters
Parents
  • Kasturi Krishnanandam (father)
  • Kasturi Ramamma (mother)

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".[2][3] 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.[4]

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.[4]

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 శిష్యుల కథ) 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
  1. "Siva Rao Kasturi". IMDb.
  2. 26lettersto24frames.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/kasturi-siva-rao-the-first-star-comedian/
  3. tollywood.info/actor/k/kasturi_siva_rao.htm
  4. M. L., Narasimham (30 September 2012). "Gunasundari Katha (1949)". The Hindu.
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