In Brief:
- Singeetham Srinivasa Rao passed away on October 3, 2026, at the age of 94.
- The veteran filmmaker had a career spanning more than five decades across multiple Indian languages.
- He was acclaimed for films such as Pushpaka Vimanam, Aditya 369, Mayuri and Bhairava Dweepam.
- Rao leaves behind a remarkable cinematic legacy, remembered for his innovative storytelling and versatility.
Veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao passed away on October 3, 2026, at the age of 94 in Chennai. He died at Kauvery Hospital after being treated for age-related health complications. His death marked the loss of one of Indian cinema’s most inventive and versatile filmmakers.
Born on September 21, 1931, in Gudur, Andhra Pradesh, Rao began his career as an assistant to legendary filmmaker L.V. Prasad before making his directorial debut with Neeti Nijayiti in 1972. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he worked across five languages and explored diverse genres with remarkable originality.
Rao’s celebrated films include Pushpaka Vimanam, Aditya 369, Mayuri and Bhairava Dweepam, among many others. His final project, Sing Geetham, released in 2026 and reflected his enduring passion for filmmaking even at 94. Tributes poured in from leading film personalities, who remembered him as a visionary whose experimental storytelling left a lasting mark on Indian cinema.
