Adurthi Subba Rao
Adurthi Subba Rao (16 December 1912 – 1 October 1975) was an Indian film director, cinematographer, screenwriter, editor and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. Rao is widely regarded as the intellectual fountain head of Indian drama films. He has garnered seven National Film Awards. Rao made his foray into cinema as Associate to Uday Shankar in the 1948 dance film Kalpana, which was showcased in the "Treasures from National Film Archive of India" at the 39th International Film Festival of India.
Adurthi Subba Rao | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 December 1912 Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Died | 1 October 1975 (aged 62) |
| Alma mater | St. Xavier's College, Mumbai |
| Occupation(s) | Editor Cinematographer Producer Director Screenwriter |
| Spouse | Kameswari Bala |
| Awards | Seven National Film Awards Nandi Awards Filmfare Awards South |
The 1960 film Nammina Bantu was a work of drama in the broader sense achieved by means of actors who represented mimesis throughout the narrative. The film was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Pattaliyin Vetri. Upon release both versions received critical acclaim. The Telugu work was screened at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. The film also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for that year.
The 1964 film Doctor Chakravarthy was adapted by Rao based on Koduri Kousalya Devi's Novel Chakrabhramanam. The box office success was awarded the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and the state Nandi Awards for that year. Rao's next work was Mooga Manasulu based on the concept of reincarnation, the first of its kind in Indian cinema in the genre of semi-fiction intended to be more serious in tone with elements that encourage a broader range of moods throughout the narrative. The film was remade in Hindi as Milan (1967) directed by Rao himself, while the Tamil Praptham (1971) was adapted from Rao's work. The Telugu version received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and the Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu) in 1964 and was screened at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
In 1968, Rao experimented with courtroom drama and detective fiction in his work Sudigundalu, the film received special mention at the Tashkent and Moscow Film Festivals for its inherent "film with a key" narrative. The film has garnered the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, The Nandi Award for Best Feature Film, and the Filmfare Award for Best Film - Telugu for that year and was featured at the International Film Festival of India.