‘Babai’ Chalapathi Rao’s death marks the end of an era in Telugu cinema

Like numerous actors of that time in the 60s, veteran Telugu actor Chalapathi Rao, who handed absent on Saturday (December 24) night, as well experienced wanted to stick to in the footsteps of NT Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageshwara Rao and develop into a primary hero in Telugu movies. As an alternative, he went on to act in over 600 movies portraying villainous, comic and character roles.

Fondly known as ‘Babai’, the dying of the 78-calendar year-outdated veteran actor has plunged the Telugu movie marketplace in gloom. His son Ravi Babu is also an actor, director, and producer in Tollywood.

Born in 1944 in Andhra Pradesh, Chalapathi Rao arrived in Madras in the 60s with stars in his eyes. “I needed to come to be a star like NTR or ANR, if attainable to change possibly of them or both of those of them. That was my ambition at that time, so I finally landed in Madras with stars in eyes to develop into a major star,” he stated in an interview the moment.

But the film field was an “ocean” and there was a good deal of opposition. There ended up other actors aside from NTR and ANR like Shoban babu Garu, Krishnagaru, Chalam, Ramakrishna and many others., trying to make a mark in the flicks, so Chalapathi started off his occupation as a villain. His debut movie was ‘Goodchari 116’ in 1966 but he thought of his first large break as ‘Kathanayakudu’ with NTR which he did in 1968. He donned the villain persona and continued taking part in the fearsome terrible guy for numerous yrs.

In his film journey, he was supported and encouraged a whole lot by NTR. He went on to act in several films along with NTR like ‘Tatamma Kala’ (1974), ‘Adivi Ramudu’ (1977), ‘Yama Gola’ (1977), ‘Annadammula Anubandham’ (1975) and several additional.

Also examine: Kaikala Satyanarayana: Few could match his versatility on display

Soon after doing a lot of villainous roles in movies fronted by Krishna, Chiranjeevi and Venkatesh, he veered off the keep track of and did the part of Nagarjuna’s father in the movie ‘Ninne Pelladutha’. This was a huge achievements and considering that then he moved on to do father roles since he obtained a large amount of optimistic responses for this variety of a part. Before, people, particularly girls ended up wary of talking to him, he would say in his interviews. He played father to Nagarjuna, Srikanth, Suman, Rajendra Prasad, Balakrishna etcetera., and labored with 3 generations of actors. He also played Nithiin’s witty father in Dil (2003).

Chalapathi Rao is also remembered for playing five roles in 1 film ‘Daana Veera Soora Karana’ below the route of senior NTR in which Sr NTR himself performed 3 roles moreover, making, directing and modifying the movie.

He is effectively-recognized for his movies these types of as ‘Yamagola’, ‘Yugapurushudu’, ‘Justice Chaudhary’, ‘Bobbili Puli’, and ‘Allari’. Rao had starred in films this kind of as ‘Sakshi’ (1966), ‘Driver Ramudu’ (1979), ‘Vajram’ (1995), and even the Bollywood movie ‘Kick’ (2009). Chalapthi Rao was regarded as to be a incredibly energetic human being on the movie sets.

He also turned a producer and did movies in Tollywood with Nandamuri Balakrishna and other actors aside from generating a couple Telugu tele-serials. There were a handful of controversies bordering him which include a lewd remark he experienced built about gals in 2017 but he apologised before long right after.

Chalapthi Rao was really near to veteran Telugu actor Kaikala Satyanarayana who had passed away on December 23. Their deaths mark the closing of a chapter in Telugu cinema.

Also examine: Veteran Telugu actor Kaikala Satyanarayana passes away

Condolences pour in

“It is pretty unhappy that so numerous of our folks are heading absent,” producer D Suresh who frequented the bereaved household explained. Actor and Jana Sena bash main Pawan Kalyan in statement condoled Chalapathi Rao’s dying.

“Chalapathi Rao’s death is a huge reduction. I will pray that his soul finds peace. Chalapathi garu was a exclusive actor who pulled off roles as both a villain and a character artist. He bankrolled good movies as a producer as very well,” mentioned Pawan.

“It is regrettable that senior actors who have been reps of an overall era in the Telugu movie field are leaving us,” he extra.