Bapu (Sattiraju Lakshminarayana, 1933 to 2014) was a celebrated Telugu film director, painter and cartoonist. His drawings of women, known as “Bapu bomma”, became iconic. Many of his films were written by his lifelong friend, Mullapudi Venkata Ramana.
Films to watch
- Sakshi (1967): his debut as director.
- Bangaru Pichika (1968).
- Sampoorna Ramayanam (1972): a mythological retelling.
- Andala Ramudu (1973).
- Muthyala Muggu (1975): one of his most admired films.
- Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddham (1975).
- Seeta Kalyanam (1976): known for its striking visuals.
- Mana Voori Pandavulu (1978): a village drama.
- Vamsa Vruksham (1980).
- Radha Kalyanam (1981).
- Tyagayya (1981): about the composer Tyagaraja.
- Pelli Pustakam (1991): a much-loved family comedy.
- Mister Pellam (1993).
- Sri Ramarajyam (2011): his final film.
He also directed Hindi films, including Hum Paanch (1980).
His style
His films are known for gentle humor, Telugu culture, mythology and carefully composed frames. He received the Padma Shri in 2013.
