HYDERABAD: Film director and producer
Vijaya Bapineedu, who delivered several hits with megastar
Chiranjeevi in the lead role, passed away in the city on Tuesday. He was 86.
Recalling his long association with the veteran director, Chiranjeevi said since their first film Patnam Vachina Pativratalu, Bapineedu had treated him like a son, brother and a close family member. “His death is a great loss to my family and me,” he said speaking to the media after paying respects to Bapineedu at his Banjara Hills house. Some of the mega hits which Bapineedu helmed include Khaidi No 786and Gang Leader.
Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed grief at the passing away of Bapineedu, and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.
Actor Mohan Babu described Bapineedu as not only a talented director but also a hard-working person. Mohan Babu had featured in Patnam Vachina Patrivratalu along with Chiranjeevi.
Born in
Chataparru
village in Eluru mandal, Gutta Bapineedu Chowdhary was editor of a Telugu magazine Vijaya, which stuck to his name and later he became famous as Vijaya Bapineedu. He forayed into films in 1981, and went on to direct 24 films. His first film was Dabbu Dabbu Dabbu.
His other big films include Mahanagaramlo Mayagadu, Naku Pellam Kavali, Big Boss, among others.
The last rites are expected to be held in Mahaprasthanam in the city after his eldest daughter arrives from the US.
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Read MoreSushil Rao is Editor-Special Reports, at The Times of India, Hyderabad. He began his journalism career at the age of 20 in 1988. He is a gold medalist in journalism from the Department of Communication and Journalism, Arts College, Osmania University, Hyderabad from where he did his post-graduation from. He has been with The Times of India’s Hyderabad edition since its launch in 2000. He has also done an introductory course in film studies from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, and also from the Central University of Kerala equipping himself with the knowledge of filmmaking for film criticism. He has authored four books. In his career spanning 34 years, he has worked for five newspapers and has also done television reporting. He was also a web journalist during internet’s infancy in the mid 1990s in India. He covers defence, politics, diaspora, innovation, administration, the film industry, Hyderabad city and Telangana state, and human interest stories. He is also a podcaster, blogger, does video reporting and makes documentaries.
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