Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, one of Telugu cinema’s most celebrated and versatile filmmakers, has passed away. The veteran director breathed his last in Chennai, according to reports. He was 95. 

Singeetham was known for constantly experimenting with storytelling and filmmaking across languages and genres. After beginning his career as an assistant to legendary filmmaker K. V. Reddy, he made his directorial debut with Neethi Nijayithi in 1972 and went on to establish a distinctive identity with films such as Mayuri, Pushpaka Vimana, Aditya 369, Bhairava Dweepam, Madam and several others. 

His collaboration with Kamal Haasan resulted in some of his most memorable films, including Pushpaka Vimana, Apoorva Sagodharargal and Michael Madana Kama Rajan. Pushpaka Vimana, made without conventional dialogue, remains one of the most unconventional films in Indian cinema, while Aditya 369 continues to be remembered as a landmark Telugu science-fiction film.

What made Singeetham's journey even more remarkable was his continued passion for cinema well into his 90s. Earlier this year, he returned to the director's chair with Sing Geetham, produced by Nag Ashwin under Vyjayanthi Movies. The film, released in June 2026, marked his 61st directorial venture and came at the age of 94. 

With a career spanning over five decades and multiple languages, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao leaves behind a body of work that stands out for its imagination, technical experimentation and willingness to explore subjects beyond conventional commercial cinema. His passing marks the loss of one of Indian cinema's true experimental filmmakers. 

 

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