Kamal Haasan, SS Rajamouli lead tributes to Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, who has died at 94

Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, the renowned filmmaker and composer, passed away at the age of 94 in Chennai on October 3, 2026. With a career spanning over six decades, Rao worked in multiple languages including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi. He directed more than 60 films across various genres, including comedy, science fiction, fantasy, and drama. Some of his notable works include Pushpaka Vimana, Aditya 369, and Mayuri.

Rao's legacy was mourned by several industry figures, including SS Rajamouli, Kamal Haasan, Mahesh Babu, and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Rajamouli praised Rao for shaping a generation of directors, while Haasan described Rao as someone who kept his youthful spirit to the end. Mahesh Babu called Rao a "legend in every sense of the word," and Jagan Mohan Reddy hailed him as a "true pioneer and pathbreaker."

Rao made his directorial debut in 1972 with Neethi Nijayithi and his 1985 film Mayuri won 14 Nandi Awards, including Best Feature Film. His 1986 black comedy Pushpaka Vimana, starring Kamal Haasan, won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The film, made without any dialogue, remains one of Rao's most acclaimed works.

Throughout his career, Rao mentored young talents, including director Nag Ashwin, who produced Rao's final film, Sing Geetham, in 2026. The music-led film, Rao's first project in a decade, was the culmination of a 45-year-long endeavor.