Remembering Singeetham Srinivasa Rao: Cinema’s eternal experimenter at 94
The article pays tribute to legendary Indian filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, who passed away at 94. It highlights his experimental approach to cinema, spanning seven decades and multiple genres.
Why it matters
Rao was a pioneering figure in Indian cinema, known for his technical innovation and refusal to adhere to conventional filmmaking formulas.
‘A fruit cuts the knife’, the title of my new film.
Director-producer Nag Ashwin shared a screenshot of this single-line message he had received from veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao on September 5, 2026, on social media soon after the news of the legendary filmmaker’s passing.
At 94, Rao lived and breathed cinema well into his final days, writing stories meant for the large screen.
In June 2026, with the Telugu musical fantasy drama Sing Geetham , Rao showed yet again why it matters to break free from the mould. He did it all through his career, spanning more than 70 years, giving us iconic and memorable films across languages — Raaja Paarvai , Bhairava Dweepam, Aditya 369, Apoorva Sagotharargal, Mayuri, Michael Madana Kama Rajan , and Pushpak — to name just a few.
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