Biography: Singeetham Srinivasa Rao (born 21 September 1931 – 3 October 2026) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, composer, and actor. Regarded as one of the most versatile directors in India cinema, he is credited with revolutionizing South Indian cinema with experimental films, primarily in the comedy and drama genres. He has directed about sixty films in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, and English languages across multiple genres, and has garnered two National Film Awards, five Nandi Awards, three Karnataka State Film Awards, and three Filmfare Awards South. In 2011, Rao was honored with Life Achievement Award from the Film Federation of India.