Gollapudi Maruti Rao Passed Away

Veteran actor and writer Gollapudi Maruti Rao passed away today at Lifeline Hospitals in Chennai due to age related ailments. He was 80.

Maruti Rao was born in a Telugu-speaking Brahmin family on 14 April 1939, in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India and graduated from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in 1959 specializing in Mathematical Physics.

Gollapudi Maruti Rao has acted in over 250 Telugu films. His noted literary works and plays, like Rendu Rellu Aaru, Patita, Karuninchani Devatalu, Mahanatudu, Kaalam Venakku Tirigindi, Aasayaalaku Sankellu, have won numerous State Awards.

He was a member of the Script Scrutiny Committee of National Film Development Corporation and served as a Jury Member at International Film Festival of India for Indian Panorama section in 1996.

He has garnered six Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards. In 1997, he established the Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation, which presents the Gollapudi National Award, for the best first film of a director in Indian cinema.

Rao was also known for his works in All India Radio and Journalism, for over two decades. His play was included in the Master of Arts (Telugu literature) curriculum of Osmania University.

The loss of Gollapudi Maruthi Rao is being mourned by several noted writers, directors, actors and members of the Telugu film fraternity.