Telugu Cinema Needs ‘Apoorva Singeetham’ & Many More

Senior director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao is synonymous with innovation and creativity in Indian cinema. From transforming Kamal Haasan into a short-statured man in Apoorva Sagodharargal to portraying Balakrishna as Sri Krishna Devaraya in Aditya 369 and revitalizing folk music with Bhairava Dweepam, Singeetham’s groundbreaking contributions have left an indelible mark on the industry.

At one point, Singeetham broke linguistic barriers with the masterpiece Pushpaka Vimana, often regarded as the first true pan-Indian film. Last month, Kamal Haasan hosted a four-day Apoorva Singeetham to honor this cinematic genius and preserve his invaluable experiences for future generations.

The celebration began with a screening of Raja Paarvai (Amavasya Chandrudu) and showcased several classics, creating a platform for learning and inspiration.

Esteemed filmmakers and artists, including Naga Ashwin, Lokesh Kanagaraj, Mani Ratnam, Rajiv Menon, Santana Bharathi, Vairamuthu, Suhasini, Akkineni Amala, PC Sriram, Siddharth, Siva Karthikeyan, Nasser, Ilaiyaraaja, and Devi Sri Prasad, attended the event to pay tribute and exchange ideas.

Despite his age, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao engaged with the guests in thoughtful discussions, sharing his insights and demonstrating a remarkable grasp of contemporary pan-India cinema. Attendees were in awe of his depth of understanding and timeless relevance.

Similar events must be organized in the Telugu film industry to honor senior directors like Raghavendra Rao and Kodandarami Reddy, whose contributions deserve to be celebrated and archived. While the late K. Viswanath’s and Bapu’s experiences could not be preserved similarly, efforts like Kamal Haasan’s provide invaluable lessons for current and future filmmakers.

It’s time that someone from Telugu cinema also takes the initiative like the one Kamal did to honor our legendary filmmakers and preserve their experiences.