Telugu actors who passed away in 2019: Venu Madhav, Vijaya Nirmala, Gollapudi Maruti Rao and others

A legendary director with 130+ films in his three-decade-old career. A Guinness Book of Records holder for being the female director with the most number of film credits. A mimicry artist-tuned-comedian who tickled the funny bone in 400+ Telugu films and a multifaceted actor who was also a theatre performer, screenwriter, dramatist, playwright and dialogue writer known for his works in Telugu cinema and Telugu Literature.

In 2019, the Tollywood film fraternity bid a teary goodbye to some of its finest gems who have entertained the audience for several years. Check out the list of celebs who passed away.

Veteran actor, writer, director and screenwriter Gollapudi Maruthi Rao passed away in Chennai on December 12. The 80-year-old thespian has been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in T Nagar and according to reports; he breathed his last at around 12 noon due to age-related ailments. In a film career spanning for close to four decades, Maruthi Rao featured in over 250 films and played a multitude of roles. Besides his on-screen performances, the talented personality was best known for penning down films like Doctor Chakravarthy, Tharangini, Samsaram Chadharangam and Kallu among more. With six Nandi Awards including one for the Best Writer, he was known for his works in Telugu cinema and Telugu Literature.

Senior actress Geetanjali passed away in the wee hours of October 30 due to cardiac arrest. In an illustrious career spanning for close to six decades, the veteran heroine featured in over 500 films across multiple languages like Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi. Senior NTR (Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao) introduced her to the silver screen with his self-directorial Seetharama Kalyanam in 1961. Some of Geetanjali’s noted films include Seetharama Kalyanam, Dr Chakravarthy, Letha Manasulu, Bobbili Yuddham, Devatha, Letha Manasulu, Gudachari 116 and Sambarala Rambabu. During the peak of her film career, she got married to fellow actor Ramakrishna after sharing the screen with him in a few films.

In a major shock to Telugu film lovers, comedy actor Venu Madhav succumbed to liver illness and breathed his last on September 25 at a private hospital in Secunderabad. The 51-year-old actor is survived by wife and two sons. In an illustrious career spanning for close to two decades, Venu Madhav featured in over 500 films as a comedian and even turned into a hero with SV Krishna Reddy's Hungama in 2005. He followed it up with a couple of successful films like Bhookailas and Premabhishekam. The former mimicry artist also proved his mettle as a host for several TV programs.

Popular Telugu actor Devadas Kanakala passed away on August 2 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Hyderabad. Born at Yanam near Puducherry, Devadas began his career as a theatre director and went on to act in films and TV serials. But it was as a talent-spotter and trainer of actors that he created a niche for himself. Chiranjeevi, Rajinikanth, Raghuvaran, Bhanuchander and Rajendra Prasad are some of the actors who learnt acting under Devadas Kanakala at the Adyar Film Institute in Chennai. Noted actor Rajeev Kanakala is his son and serial artist Sri Lakshmi is his daughter.

Popular poet, writer and litterateur Indraganti Srikanth Sharma has breathed his last on July 25 due to age-related illness. The 75-year-old prolific personality is survived by his wife Janakibala, daughter, and son, who happen to be famous director Indraganti Mohan Krishna. Besides his popular works in literature, the talented personality has penned the lyrics for quite a few Telugu films which include Krishnavatharam, Nelavanka, Rendu Jella Seetha, Puthadibomma, Anthaka Mundu Aa Tarvatha and Nelavanka. His last song was ‘Manasainadedo’ from Sammohanam starring Sudheer Babu and Aditi Rao Hydari in lead roles.

Renowned South Indian actress-cum-director Vijaya Nirmala has breathed her last in Hyderabad while undergoing treatment at a private hospital on the wee hours of June 27. The 75-year-old veteran is survived by her husband Krishna Ghattamaneni and son Naresh. After kicking-off her celluloid journey as a child artist in 1950, Vijaya Nirmala went on to become a lead actress in South cinema with 200+ films across multiple languages like Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam. While enjoying a fruitful tenure as a heroine, she shifted her focus towards direction and helmed 44 films in Tollywood. In 2002, she entered the Guinness Book of Records as the female director with the most number of film credits.

Popular Telugu actor Rallapalli Venkata Narasimha Rao died on May 17 of lung-related ailments. Hailing from the East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, Rallapalli unfolded his acting journey in the theater at a young age and subsequently entered movies. In an illustrious film career spanning for over four decades, the talented artist starred in a total of 850 films and portrayed a wide range of comedy and character roles on the celluloid. His last film was Nani’s ‘Bala Bala Magadivoy’ in 2015. The three-time-winner of the prestigious Nandi award had also worked as a staff artiste in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Successful filmmaker Kodi Ramakrishna who directed over 130 films across multiple languages breathed his last on February 22 due to a lung infection. In an illustrious career spanning for over three decades, the 70-year-old personality made a dream directorial debut with ‘Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya’ (1982) and went on to deliver a series of successful films in a variety of genres such as social dramas, family entertainers, supernatural thrillers and devotional stuff. Scoring blockbusters with almost all top Tollywood stars like Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh and Balakrishna; the veteran director’s record with the Nandamuri scion is unbeatable. After bagging a surprise hit with the sentimental-drama ‘Puttintiki Ra Chelli’ in 2004, Kodi bounced back into prime form with the phenomenal box-office success of ‘Arundhati’ starring Anushka Shetty in the titular role.

Senior thespian, director and renowned acting guru Deekshithulu who is known for his priest role in Mahesh Babu’s ‘Murari’ passed away in Hyderabad on February 19. The 63-year-old veteran suffered a cardiac arrest on the sets of a TV serial at Nacharam and was declared ‘brought dead’ upon rushing to a nearby hospital. Having earned numerous accolades during his tenure as a theatre artist, Deekshitulu’s famous plays included Sakuntalam, Keelu Bomma and Maa Nanna Kavali. He roused to fame as a character artist with the much-acclaimed daily soap ‘Agamanam’ and even worked at the All India Radio for a brief period.

Acclaimed director, producer and script-writer of Telugu cinema, Guttha Bapineedu Chowdhary fondly known as Vijaya Bapineedu breathed his last on February 12 due to age-related ailments. The 82-year-old filmmaker was popularly known for helming several blockbusters like Khaidi No 786, Gang Leader, Big Boss and Magadheerudu with Megastar Chiranjeevi in the 80s and 90s. In a career spanning for nearly two decades, Vijaya Bapineedu worked with top movie stars like Sobhan Babu and Rajendra Prasad. He was the one who gave Chiranjeevi the title ‘Megastar’.