telangana
Vijay Deverakonda honors late filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, hailing his enduring legacy
Actor Vijay Deverakonda took to social media to mourn veteran director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, recalling personal phone calls and a cameo appearance in the filmmaker’s 2026 project. Tributes poured in from industry stalwarts, underscoring Rao’s multi‑decade impact on Indian cinema.
By Chandrupatla chanakya ·
What happened
Actor Vijay Deverakonda took to social media to mourn veteran director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, recalling personal phone calls and a cameo appearance in the filmmaker’s 2026 project. Tributes poured in from industry stalwarts, underscoring Rao’s multi‑decade impact on Indian cinema. Vijay Deverakonda and industry peers paid tribute to veteran director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, celebrating his lasting influence on Indian cinema.
TL;DR
Vijay Deverakonda and industry peers paid tribute to veteran director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, celebrating his lasting influence on Indian cinema.
Key points
- Vijay Deverakonda posted a heartfelt tribute recalling personal calls from Rao and a cameo in Rao’s 2026 film ‘Sing Geetham’
- Rao, who died at 95, was known for experimental storytelling across genres, directing classics such as ‘Raja Paarvai’ and ‘Michael Madana Kama Rajan’
- Prominent actors and directors—including Jr NTR, Kamal Haasan, S.S. Rajamouli and Vishnu Manchu—also honored Rao’s legacy
Mumbai – Veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, who died at the age of 95, was remembered today by actor Vijay Deverakonda and several leading figures from the Indian film industry. In a heartfelt social‑media post, the ‘Dear Comrade’ star recalled the warmth Rao had shown him over the years, noting that the director would often call him to “shower love and affection.”
“Sing eetham sir, your beliefs, your thoughts and your stories will live on with us forever. For every time you called me since Pelli Choopulu to shower love and affection, I hope it made you happy and brought a smile seeing me in one of your films,” Vijay wrote. He added, “Sing eetham, I feel happy to have been a part of one of your vision. My forever respect.”
Deverakonda’s connection to Rao dates back to the 2026 musical fantasy‑comedy ‘Sing Geetham’, in which he made a special cameo under Rao’s direction. Earlier, he had starred in the 2016 breakout hit ‘Pelli Choopulu’, written and directed by Tharun Bhascker and produced by Raj Kandukuri and Yash Rangineni, a film that Rao had praised publicly.
Singeetham Srinivasa Rao’s career spanned several decades and a wide range of genres. He was celebrated for his distinctive style, creative vision and willingness to experiment, helming acclaimed films such as ‘Raja Paarvai’, ‘Apoorva Sagodharargal’, ‘Michael Madana Kama Rajan’, ‘Kadhala Kadhala’ and ‘Little John’. His contributions have left an indelible mark on Indian cinema, a sentiment echoed by peers.
Jr NTR expressed his grief, writing, “The news that Singeetam Srinivasa Rao garu is no more is deeply heartbreaking. Aditya 369, Pushpaka Vimanam, Mayuri… a visionary who thought ahead of his time, delivering films that feel fresh even across generations. My deepest condolences to his family members. Om Shanti.” Other notable figures, including actor Kamal Haasan, director S. S. Rajamouli and actor Vishnu Manchu, also posted tributes, lauding Rao’s “immense contribution to Indian cinema and his distinctive creative vision.”
The outpouring of respect highlights Rao’s status as a pioneering storyteller whose work continues to inspire new generations of filmmakers and audiences alike.