Veteran Filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao Breathes His Last at 94, Industry Mourns

On Oct. 3, Veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao breathed his last at 94, sparking a wave of grief across the entertainment industry. After his health deteriorated, he was admitted to Kauvery Hospital in Chennai. With over 50 features in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi, spanning farce, fantasy, mythology, and science fiction, the director’s contribution to the film fraternity has been extensive. Moreover, he also composed music for some of his films and accepted acting roles occasionally.

The news of his sad demise has left the industry mourning. Though he has left for his heavenly abode, his absence is deeply missed by actors and the global audience. 

Singeetham Srinivasa Rao Passes Away at 94

Following news of Rao’s sad demise, tributes began pouring in from actors, filmmakers, and other members of the South Indian film industry on social media. Here’s what they have to share. 

Long before we had the tools or the budgets, he dared to dream bigger than anyone around him. He made a film without a single line of dialogue, took us travelling through time, and moved from comedy to fantasy to deeply human drama as if no line existed between genres. He showed a whole generation of us that the only real limit in cinema is imagination. Every filmmaker who has tried something different in Telugu cinema owes him something, knowingly or not. I certainly do. My deepest condolences to Singeetham Srinivasa Rao garu’s family. Om Shanti 🙏 — rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) October 4, 2026

Actor Jr NTR remembered Singeetham as a filmmaker whose ideas were timeless. He called him “a visionary who thought ahead of his time, delivering films that feel fresh even across generations.” On the other hand, Composer Devi Sri Prasad took to X to pay tribute to the veteran filmmaker. He wrote, “Dearest SINGEETAM SIR..We wil MISS YOU Sir.. You will always live in our Hearts. You are an Unparalleled LEGEND..An Everest of Positivity filled with Evergreen Youth..The Movies You made with such Fururistic Ideas and Techniques are lessons to all of us and the Future Generations of Film Makers too. Thankyou & Love You for Everything Sir..Iam blessed to have known You & worked with You Sir..” Other renowned celebrities, including Mahesh Babu and Kamal Haasan, too expressed their grief online while offering tributes. 

Pushpaka Vimanam, Aditya 369, Mayur, and Sing Geetham were some of his finest creations. Even at 94, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao continued his passion for filmmaking, hailing as one of the oldest active filmmakers in the world.