Chilakalapudi Seeta Rama Anjaneyulu
| C. S. R. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Chilakalapudi Seeta Rama Anjaneyulu Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh |
| Occupation |
Actor Thespian |
| Years active | 1932-1962 |
Chilakalapudi Seeta Rama Anjaneyulu (11 July 1907 – 8 October 1963[1]), better known as C. S. R. Anjaneyulu or just CSR, was an Indian film method actor best known for his appearances in Telugu cinema. He acted in many stage dramas and portrayed heroes and mythological roles in over 175 movies.[2]
Early life
He was born on 11 July 1907 in a Telugu family at Chilakalapudi near Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh. His father was also actor. He later moved to Ponnur in Guntur district. After school final studies, he worked as a co-operative supervisor for some time. Instead of pursuing further studies, he choose to enter the field of drama. In a short time, he reached a position comparable to Sthanam Narasimha Rao, D. V. Subba Rao, Parupalli, Addanki and others.
He played Sri Krishna in Sri Krishna Tulabaram and Radhakrishna, Ramadas in Bhakta Ramadasu and Tukaram in Bhakta Tukaram, which got him wide recognition. He was also a natural singer, particularly in poems. He was a national activist. He directed and produced Patita Pavana, a drama on Untouchability. He contributed Rs.10,000 to the Indian National Army of Subhas Chandra Bose collected through donations by playing his Tukaram drama.
Film career
Anjaneyulu was an established hero by the late 1930s, preceding the entrance of other Telugu acting legends with whom he acted, NTR and Nageswara Rao (ANR). His performance in the movie Bhaktha Ramadas in 1937 won him many accolades. In the 1950s, starting with Pathala Bhairavi, he began acting in character roles. In Pathala Bhairavi, he plays a king worried about his daughter, a princess kidnapped by a wicked magician played by Ranga Rao.
He was famous for portraying mythological and historical roles such as Krishna, Ramadas, Sarangadhara, Bhavani Sankar, Tukaram and Satyavantha.[3] He also acted as Lord Venkateswara in Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam, one of director P. Pulliah's first successful films.[4]
In the 1953 film Devadasu, he portrayed an aged widower zamindar, alongside Savitri, who acts as his wife. His other acclaimed character roles include Sakuni (a character from Mahabharatha) in Mayabazar.
His other acclaimed acting credits include Rojulu Marayi, Gruhapravesam,[5] Illarikam, Kanyasulkam and Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu.
His directorial credits include the 1939 allegorical melodrama, Jayapradha.[6]
Personal life
He had two younger sisters and two younger brothers. One brother, C. S. Nageswara Rao, was the assistant director for movies including Suvarna Sundari, Gunasundari Katha and Mayabazar. Another brother, C. Venkata Rathnam (better known as C. V. Rathnam), was with Bharani Pictures & Studios and was the production manager for all the films produced by actress Bhanumathi Ramakrishna.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Rama Paduka Pattabhishekam | ||
| 1936 | Draupadi Vastrapaharanam | Krishna | |
| 1938 | Tukaram | Tukaram | |
| 1939 | Jayapradha | Actor and Director of the film | |
| Balaji | Venkateswara | ||
| 1941 | Talliprema | Krishna Rao | |
| Choodamani | Madhusudhan | ||
| 1942 | Sumati | ||
| 1945 | Mayalokam | ||
| Paduka Pattabhishekam | Sri Rama | ||
| 1947 | Ratnamala | ||
| 1949 | Jeevitham | ||
| 1950 | Paramanandayya Shishyula Katha | Paramanandayya | |
| 1951 | Pathala Bhairavi | Malathi's Father; King of Ujjaini | |
| 1952 | Pelli Chesi Choodu | ||
| Prema | |||
| 1953 | Chandirani | ||
| Devadasu | |||
| 1954 | Kanyadanam | ||
| Chakrapani | Chakrapani | ||
| 1955 | Kanyasulkam | Ramappa Pantulu | |
| Rojulu Marayi | Zamindar Sagarayya | ||
| 1956 | Bhale Ramudu | Gumasta at the Zamindar | |
| Chiranjeevulu | |||
| 1957 | Bhagya Rekha | ||
| Mayabazar | Sakuni | ||
| Suvarna Sundari | |||
| 1958 | Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu | Rao Bahadur Ramadasu | |
| 1959 | Illarikam | Govindayya | |
| 1960 | Annapoorna | ||
| Mahakavi Kalidasu | |||
| 1961 | Jagadeka Veeruni Katha | Badarayani Praggada | |
| Bhakta Kuchela | Kuchelan | Malayalam Cinema | |
| 1962 | Chitti Tammudu | Ansari | |
| 1964 | Bobbili Yudham | Lakshmanna |
Notes
- ↑ C.S.R. Anjaneyulu at Nataratnalu by Mikkilineni Radhakrishna Murthy, 2nd ed. 2002, pp:50-53.
- ↑ CSR centenary celebrations The Hindu
- ↑ CSR centenary celebrations The Hindu
- ↑ P Pulliah's Evergreen Magnum Opus (Venkateswara Mahathyam)
- ↑ Grihapravesham The New York Times
- ↑ Jayapradha (1939) The New York Times
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