B. Padmanabham

Basavaraju Venkata Padmanabha Rao (20 August 1931 – 20 February 2010), known mononymously as Padmanabham, was an Indian actor, comedian, producer, and director who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema and theatre. He is known for his comic expressions and dialogues. In a career spanning over six decades, he acted in more than 400 films.

Padmanabham made his film debut as a child actor in 1945 with '' Mayalokam''. ''Shavukaru'' (1949) was his first major hit and gave him a footing as a comedian. ''Pathala Bhairavi'' (1951) helped him find a permanent place in Telugu cinema. He acted in small roles alongside Relangi and Ramana Reddy in the golden era of Telugu cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. Later, he became a prominent comedian and remained so till the mid-1970s when Rajababu burst on the scene and replaced him.

He also directed eight films including ''Kathanayika Molla (''1969), a biographical film which won him the state Nandi Award. Padmanabham introduced S. P. Balasubrahmanyam to the film industry through '' Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna'' (1967)''.''

Early life

Padmanabham was born to Basavaraju Venkata Seshayya and Santhamma in Simhadripuram near Pulivendula in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, on 20 August 1931. He was a regular yoga practitioner and enjoyed good health till his death.

Career

He started acting in his teenage when the director Gudavalli Ramabrahmam gave him a chance in '' Maayalokam'' (1945). Throughout his acting career he worked with almost 80 directors and acted in more than 400 movies. Padmanabham cherished his association with Gudavalli Ramabrahmam, Ghantasala Balaramayya, L. V. Prasad, and K. V. Reddy the most.

Padmanabham found it hard to mention any particular comic role as his most memorable one, but made a special mention of the role of a rickshaw puller that he played in ''Desoddhaarakudu'' (1975). "It had ample measure of 'karuna rasa' in it and I could display the other shade of my talent," he said. The role became famous for the song "Aakalayyi Annamadigithe Pichchodannaru Naayaallu".

Death

Padmanabham died of a heart attack at his residence at Rangarajapuram, Kodambakkam, in Chennai on 20 February 2010.

Selected filmography

As actor

* 1945 '' Mayalokam''
* 1946 ''Narada Naradi''
* 1946 ''Tyagayya''
* 1947 ''Yogi Vemana''
* 1948 ''Vindhyarani''
* 1948 '' Bhakta Siriyala''
* 1950 ''Shavukaru''
* 1951 ''Pathala Bhairavi'' as Dingiri
* 1954 ''Sri Kalahastiswara Mahatyam'' as Kaasi
* 1954 ''Chandraharam''
* 1955 '' Jayasimha'' as Subuddhi
* 1955 '' Donga Ramudu''
* 1955 '' Santanam'' as Sekhar
* 1957 ''Bhagya Rekha''
* 1957 ''Kutumba Gowravam'' as Prathap
* 1957 ''Panduranga Mahatyam'' as Pundarika's brother
* 1958 ''Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu'' as Panakala Rao
* 1959 '' Krishna Leelalu'' as Narada
* 1959 ''Rechukka Pagatichukka''
* 1960 '' Raja Makutam''
* 1961 '' Bharya Bharthalu'' as Anjaneyulu
* 1961 '' Iddaru Mitrulu''
* 1961 '' Velugu Needalu''
* 1961 ''Vagdanam'' as Padmanabham
* 1962 ''Aatma Bandhuvu ''
* 1962 ''Gulebakavali Katha''
* 1962 '' Swarna Manjari'' as Srimukhudu
* 1962 '' Dakshayagnam'' as Daksha's Younger son
* 1962 '' Kula Gothralu'' as J. J. Rao / Jasthi Joga Rao
* 1963 '' Punarjanma''
* 1963 '' Chaduvukunna Ammayilu'' as Anand
* 1963 ''Valmiki''
* 1963 ''Thobuttuvulu''
* 1964 ''Mooga Manasulu'' as Radha's Husband
* 1964 ''Vivaha Bandham''
* 1964 '' Bobbili Yudham''
* 1964 ''Devatha''
* 1964 '' Dr. Chakravarthy''
* 1964 ''Kalavari Kodalu'' as Bheema Rao
* 1965 ''Veerabhimanyu''
* 1965 ''Pandava Vanavasam'' as Lakshmana Kumarudu
* 1965 ''Tene Manasulu''
* 1965 '' Prameelarjuneeyam'' as Narada
* 1965 ''Pratigna Palana''
* 1966 '' Sri Krishna Tulabharam''
* 1966 '' Loguttu Perumallukeruka'' as 'The Great Detective' Dam
* 1966 '' Leta Manasulu'' as Sundaram
* 1966 ''Shakuntala'' as Madhavya
* 1966 ''Pidugu Ramudu''
* 1966 ''Chilaka Gorinka''
* 1966 '' Paramanandayya Shishyula Katha'' as Nandhi
* 1966 '' Potti Pleader''
* 1966 ''Mohini Bhasmasura'' as Chakram
* 1966 '' Mangalasutram''
* 1967 '' Aada Paduchu''
* 1967 '' Gruhalakshmi''
* 1967 '' Kanchu Kota''
* 1967 '' Ave Kallu''
* 1967 '' Bhakta Prahlada'' as Markudu
* 1967 ''Goodachari 116''
* 1967 '' Grihalakshmi''
* 1967 '' Poola Rangadu'' as Bujji
* 1967 '' Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna'' as Maryada Ramanna
* 1967 '' Gopaludu Bhoopaludu''
* 1968 '' Uma Chandi Gowri Shankarula Katha''
* 1968 ''Tikka Sankarayya'' as Devayya
* 1968 ''Bhagya Chakramu''
* 1968 ''Lakshmi Nivasam''
* 1968 ''Ramu''
* 1968 ''Niluvu Dopidi''
* 1968 ''Nindu Samsaram''
* 1968 '' Vintha Kapuram'' as Anjaneyulu
* 1968 ''Baghdad Gaja Donga'' as Hero's friend
* 1969 '' Sri Rama Katha'' as Narada
* 1969 '' Adrushtavanthalu'' as Jackie
* 1969 ''Aatmiyulu''
* 1969 ''Jatakaratna Midathambotlu'' as Midathambotlu
* 1969 ''Asthulu Anthasthulu''
* 1969 '' Bhale Rangadu''
* 1969 ''Natakala Rayudu'' as Rajasekhar
* 1969 '' Buddhimanthudu''
* 1969 ''Kathanayakudu''
* 1969 ''Mooga Nomu''
* 1969 '' Karpura Harathi'' as Lawyer Venkat
* 1969 ''Aadarsa Kutumbam''
* 1970 ''Kathanayika Molla'' as Tenali Ramakrishna
* 1970 '' Dharma Daata''
* 1970 '' Nirdoshi''
* 1970 ''Akka Chellelu''
* 1971 ''Manasu Mangalyam''
* 1971 ''Pavitra Bandham''
* 1971 '' Adrusta Jathakudu''
* 1971 ''Mattilo Manikyam'' as Namam, Manikyam's friend
* 1971 ''Jeevitha Chakram''
* 1971 '' Bhale Papa''
* 1971 '' Dasara Bullodu''
* 1971 '' Sri Krishna Vijayamu''
* 1972 '' Vichitra Bandham'' as Chittibabu
* 1972 '' Datta Putrudu''
* 1972 '' Sri Krishna Satya''
* 1972 ''Antha Mana Manchike''
* 1973 '' Bangaru Babu''
* 1973 ''Vaade Veedu ''
* 1973 '' Srivaru Maavaru'' as Paramanand aka Anand
* 1973 ''Desoddharakulu''
* 1973 ''Dabbuki Lokam Dasoham''
* 1973 ''Jeevana Tarangalu'' as Anji
* 1973 '' Manchivadu''
* 1973 '' Ganga Manga ''
* 1973 '' Mayadari Malligadu'' as Balabrahmananda Swamy
* 1974 '' Chakravakam'' as Sriram
* 1974 '' Gundelu Teesina Monagadu''
* 1974 '' Galipatalu'' as Pandu
* 1974 ''Tulabharam'' as Brahmanandam
* 1976 '' Andharu Bagundali'' as Chandram
* 1976 '' Bu'' as Chillara Donga
* 1976 '' Iddaru Iddare'' as Narayya
* 1976 '' Neram Nadi Kadu Akalidi'' as Head Constable Meesala Venkata Swamy
* 1976 ''Maa Daivam''
* 1976 '' Ramarajyamlo Rakthapasam''
* 1976 ''Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club''
* 1976 ''Bhale Dongalu''
* 1976 '' Soggadu''
* 1977 '' Edureeta''
* 1977 '' Eetharam Manishi'' as Asthana
* 1977 '' Indradhanusu''
* 1977 ''Dongalaku Donga'' as Suri
* 1978 ''Indradhanussu'' as 'Kapusaara' Kannayya
* 1978 '' Agent Gopi'' as Chitti
* 1979 ''Dongala Veta''
* 1979 ''Dongalaku Saval'' as Prasad
* 1979 '' Maavari Manchitanam''
* 1979 ''Sri Vinayaka Vijayamu'' as Sandehasura
* 1980 '' Punnami Naagu''
* 1980 '' Alludu Pattina Bharatam''
* 1980 '' Pelli Gola'' as Defence Lawyer
* 1981 '' Premabhishekam''
* 1981 ''Rahasya Goodachari''
* 1982 '' Kalahala Kapuram'' as Bhayankara Murthy
* 1982 ''Nijam Chepithe Nerama'' as Raghavulu
* 1982 ''Bangaru Koduku'' as Raju
* 1982 ''Naa Desam''
* 1983 ''Police Venkataswamy''
* 1984 '' Allulu Vasthunnaru'' as Basava Raju
* 1984 '' Danavudu'' as Hotel Manager
* 1985 ''Lanchavatharam''
* 1985 ''Kongumudi''
* 1985 ''Siksha''
* 1985 '' Mayaladi'' as Constable Avatharam
* 1985 ''Kongumudi'' as Padma's Maths Teacher
* 1985 ''Ooriki Soggadu'' as Principal
* 1985 '' Intiko Rudramma'' as Lawyer Krishnamachari
* 1985 '' Punnami Ratri'' as K.D. Rayalu
* 1986 ''Karu Diddina Kapuram''
* 1987 ''Rowdy Babai''
* 1987 ''Viswanatha Nayakudu''
* 1987 ''Dabbevariki Chedu''
* 1987 ''Hanthakudi Veta''
* 1987 ''Samrat'' as Rangayya
* 1988 ''Khaidi No. 786''
* 1988 ''Kaliyuga Karnudu'' as Gumastha of Sarath Chandra Prasad
* 1988 ''Ugranethrudu'' as Lawyer Ram Jethmalani
* 1988 '' Dorakani Donga'' as Chandasasana Rao
* 1989 '' Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata''
* 1989 ''Gandipeta Rahasyam''
* 1989 ''Palnati Rudrayya'' as Simhachalam
* 1991 '' Mugguru Attala Muddula Alludu''
* 1993 ''Mayalodu'' as Padmanabham
* 1994 ''Bhairava Dweepam''
* 1995 ''Subhamasthu ''
* 1996 ''Sri Krishnarjuna Vijayam''
* 1996 '' Topi Raja Sweety Roja''
* 1997 ''Aashadam Pellikoduku''
* 1998 ''Ganesh''
* 1998 ''Pandaga''
* 2004 ''Mee Intikosthe Emistaaru Maa Intikoste Emi Testaaru''
* 2005 ''Bhadra''
* 2005 ''Chakram''
* 2006 ''Veerabhadra''
* 2006 ''Tata Birla Madhyalo Laila'' as Padmanabham

As producer

* 1965 ''Devata''
* 1966 '' Potti Pleader''
* 1967 '' Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna''
* 1969 ''Sri Rama Katha''
* 1970 ''Kathanayika Molla''

As director

* 1969 ''Sri Rama Katha''
* 1969 ''Midatam Bottulu''
* 1970 ''Kathanayika Molla''
* 1974 ''Pellikaani Thandri''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Padmanabham Rao, Basavaraju Venkata
1931 births
2010 deaths
Indian male comedians
Indian male film actors
Film producers from Andhra Pradesh
Indian male stage actors
Telugu comedians
Telugu film producers
20th-century Indian male actors
Nandi Award winners
People from Kadapa district
Male actors from Andhra Pradesh
Film directors from Andhra Pradesh
Telugu film directors
Male actors in Telugu cinema
Telugu male actors