Gummadi Venkateswara Rao popularly known as Gummadi (9 July 1925 – 26 January 2010) was a popular Telugu film character actor. Though he began to act in films much later than famous artistes like N.T.Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao he had through the course of his career acquired a niche for himself vis a vis the character roles of brother, father etc. which he often undertook.
Early life:
He was born in Ravikampadu in Tenali, Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, India. According to one of his interviews, he studied in Hindu College (Guntur).
Career: Gummadi's acting career extended from 1950 onwards for almost six decades and he worked with three generations of people in the film industry. Though young, he used to play the dignified roles of relatively elderly people at the beginning. He was a versatile character actor in sociopolitical and mythological movies. He acted in nearly 500 movies. He played the role of father to many lead actors in old Telugu films.
Born at Ravikampadu of Guntur district on 9 July 1927, Gummadi Venkateswara Rao, or more popularly Gummadi, first appeared as an actor in 1942, wherein he played the role of an old man on the stage. He began his career in cinemas with Adrushtadeepudu (1950) and continued on for about 500 more films portraying roles ranging from the hero, the villain, and the character artiste, to roles with a slight comedic bent, such as his guest appearance in Missamma (1955). Gummadi's excellent portrayal of middle-aged roles, playing even father to artistes who are older than he, such as NTR and ANR, made his name synonymous with that of a typical middle-aged man.
His roles in Thodu Dongalu (1954) and Mahamantri Timmarusu (1962) alongside of NTR brought him appreciable critical acclaim, with the former film winning the President's Award and the latter conferring him the National Award for Best Supporting Actor. His roles in several films were appreciated a lot, but roles in Maya Bazar (1957), Maa Inti Mahalakshmi (1959), Kula Daivam (1960), Kula Gothralu (1962), Jyothy (1977), Nelavanka (1981), Maro Malupu (1982), Ekalavya (1982), Ee Charitra Ye Siraatho? (1982), Gaaju Bommalu (1983), Pelli Pusthakam (1991) stand out from the rest and some of them even won him awards. Gummadi won several awards as Best Supporting Actor in his career, the President's Silver Medal and Telugu University's honorary doctorate (in 1963) for essaying the title role in Mahamantri Timmarusu and the Best Actor Award for his role in Maro Malupu.
Sree Gummadi Venkateswara Rao served as jury member thrice on the National Film Awards, twice on the Nandi Awards Committee (and twice more as Chairperson of the Committee), and was on the Selection Committee for NTR Award and Raghupati Venkayya Award. He wrote his memoirs in filmdom and brought them out as an autobiographical titled " teepi gurtulu-chEdu j~naapakaalu". When his role needed to be dubbed for Aayanakiddaru (1995) due to his ill health, the veteran artiste who was very popular for his voice decided to quit acting but he acted again in the title role of Jagadguru Sree Kasi Nayana Charitra (2008) as the role would match his real age and voice.
Personal life :
Gummadi was married and had five daughters and two sons. He died of multiple organ failure at Care hospital, Hyderabad on 26 January 2010. His last public appearance was at the screening of Maya Bazar which had since been colorized. Here he expressed his happiness and said that "Watching this great movie in colour probably could have been the only reason for me to have stayed alive for so long."
Filmography :
1961 Bharya Bharthalu Father of Anand
Iddaru Mitrulu Bhanoji Rao
Pandava Vanavasam Dharmaraaju
Rishyashringar
Rushyashrunga
Santa
Sri Seetha Rama Kalyanam Viswamitra Maharshi
Tandrulu Kodukulu
Vagdanam Ranganatham
1962 Aradhana Principal
Bhishma Karna
Constable Koothuru
Kalimilemulu
Khaidi Kannayya
Kula Gothralu Bhushaiah
Mahamantri Timmarusu Mahamantri Timmarusu
Siri Sampadalu
1963 Chaduvukunna Ammayilu
Irugu - Porugu
Lakshadhikari Seetayya
Mooga Manasulu Zamindar
Paruvu Prathishta
Punarjanma
Savati Koduku
Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham Yudhishtira
Tirupathamma Katha
1964 Aatma Balam Psychiatrist
Dr. Chakravarthy
Manchi Manishi
Murali Krishna
Poojaphalam Diwan Ramakrishnaiah
Ramadasu Kabir
Varasatwam
Velugu Needalu
1965 Aatma Gowravam
Antastulu Zamindar
Chandrahasa
C.I.D Chalapathi
Keelu Bommalu
Naadi Aada Janme
Preminchi Choodu
Satya Harishchandra
1966 Bhakta Potana Pothana
Kanne Manasulu
Navarathri
Palnati Yudham
Shri Krishna Pandaviyam
1967 Kambojaraju Katha
Prana Mithrulu Diwan
Rahasyam
Sudigundalu Defence Lawyer
1968 Bandhipotu Dongalu
Bangaru Sankellu
Govula Gopanna
Mana Samsaram
Pala Manasulu
1969 Adrushtavanthalu
Aadarsa Kutumbam
Aatmiyulu Jagannadham
Bhale Rangadu
Buddhimanthudu
Manushulu Marali
Shri Rama Katha
1970 Agni Pareeksha
Jai Jawan
Maro Prapancham
Poola Rangadu Chalapathi
Sridevi
1971 Amayakuralu
Bhagyavanthudu
Bharya Biddalu
Dasara Bullodu
Mosagallaku Mosagadu Daanala Dharmayya
Nenu Manishine
Prem Nagar
Sampoorna Ramayanam Dasharadha
Shri Krishna Satya
Shrimanthudu
Sisindri Chittibabu
Suputhrudu
Vichithra Dampathyam
1972 Bangaru Babu
Iddaru Ammayilu Ramanujam
Kalam Marindi
Koduku Kodalu
Neethi Nijayathi
Pandanti Kapuram
Tata Manavadu Paramatma Rao
Vichitra Bandham
1973 Jeevana Tarangalu Venugopal Rao
Kannavari Kala
Mallamma Katha
Marapurani Manishi
Minaru Babu
Samsaram Sagaram
Vichitra Vivaham
Vintha Katha
1974 Alluri Seetharama Raju
Ammayi Pelli
Anaganaga Oka Thandri
Bhoomikosam
Devadasu
Dora Babu
Gali Patalu
Intinti Katha
Manushullo Devudu Father
1975 Babu
Samsaram
Saubhagyavati
Soggadu Simhadri
Yashoda Krishna Nanda
Zamindarugari Ammayi
1976 Ramarajyamlo Rakthapasam
Manchiki Maro Peru
Oka Deepam Veligindhi
Padavoyi Bharatheeyuda
Secretary
Sita Kalyanam Dasaradh
Sita Swayamvar Dasarath
Yavanam Katesindi
1977 Aalu Magalu
Chakradhari
Indradhanusu
Kalpana
Kurukshetramu Bheeshma
Seeta Rama Vanavasam
1978 Chal Mohana Ranga
Akbar Saleem Anarkali
Devadasu Malli Puttadu
Sahasavantudu
1979 Captain Krishna
Ganga Bhavani
Intinti Ramayanam
Karthika Deepam
Khiladi Krishnudu
Mande Gundelu
Muddula Koduku
Naa Illu Naa Vaalu
Shri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam
1980 Mosagadu
Chandipriya
Buchi Babu
Dharma Chakram
Gajadonga
Gharana Donga
Gopala Krishnudu
Heema Hemeelu
Kaksha
Kotha Jeevithalu
Sardar Papa Rayudu
Shri Vasavi Kannika Parameshwari Mahatyam
Sreevari Muchatlu
1981 Agni Poolu
Alludugaru Zindabad
Asha Jyoti
Bhoga Bhagyalu
Premabhishekam
Prema Mandiram
Sandhya Ragam
1982 Mondighatam
Anuraga Devatha
Bangaru Kanuka
Ee Charitra Ae Siratho
Ekalavya
Jagannatha Rathachakralu
Kaliyuga Ramudu
Maro Malupu Nandi Award for Best Actor
Raga Deepam
Swayamvaram
1983 Sangharshana
Prema Pichollu
Adavallu Aligithe
Ee Pillaku Pellavuthundha
MLA Yedukondalu
Mundadugu
Pelli Choopulu
Police Venkataswamy
Rudrakali
1984 Rustum Brahmaiah Naidu
Rojulu Marayi
1985 Raktha Sindhuram Jagannatham
Shri Datta Darshanam Jamadagni
1986 Vikram Commissioner
Kiraathakudu Dharmateja
1987 Pasivadi Pranam
Thene Manasulu
1988 Kanoon Ki Hathkadee
1990 Bobbili Raja
1991 Pelli Pustakam Company Boss Nandi Award for Best Feature Film
Talli Tandrulu
1992 Brundavanam
1993 Govindha Govindha Doorvasa Maharshi
Muta Mesthri Chief Minister
Gaayam
Rajendrudu Gajendrudu Elephant's Master
Rajeshwari Kalyanam
Varasudu
1995 Dharma Chakram
Maya Bazaar Balarama
Aayanaki Iddaru
Writing :
Gummadi has written his memoirs of Telugu cinema in Teepi Gurthulu and Chedu Jnapakalu.
Awards :
* He was awarded the prestigious Raghupathi Venkaiah Award by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
* He won Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Maro Malupu in 1982.
References :
1. Telugu Cinema Tribute Star Profiles Gummadi
2. Gummadi Venkateswara Rao died Breaking News Views. Retrieved on 26 January 2010.
3. Gummadi on Mayabazar
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gummadi_Venkateswara_Rao
