Padmanabham (actor)

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 Telugu 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 at his residence at Rangarajapuram, Kodambakkam, in Chennai at 8 am on 20 February 2010 due to a heart attack. He was survived by his wife, five daughters, and son. One of his sons died in September 2009.

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	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	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   Neram Nadi Kadu Akalidi as Head Constable Meesala Venkata Swamy
 * 1976   Maa Daivam
 * 1976	Ramarajyamlo Rakthapasam
 * 1976	Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club
 * 1976   Soggadu
 * 1976   Bhale Dongalu
 * 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
 * 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   Punnami Ratri as K.D. Rayalu
 * 1986   Karu Diddina Kapuram
 * 1987   Rowdy Babai
 * 1987   Viswanatha Nayakudu
 * 1987   Dabbevariki Chedu
 * 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   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