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Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao (3 July 1918 – 18 July 1974), popularly known as S.V.R., was an Indian film actor, director and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema and Tamil cinema. Regarded as one of the finest Indian method actors, Rao was popularly known as “Viswa Nata Chakravarthi”. Throughout his film career, which spanned a total of thirty years, Rao garnered various National Honors, International honors, state Nandi Awards, and the Filmfare Special Award – South. In 1951 Rao appeared in the fantasy film, Pathala Bhairavi, screened at the first India International Film Festival, held in Mumbai on 24 January 1952. Rao received wide reception for his portrayal of Nepala Manthrikudu the tantric in the super-hit film.
Rao was known for his natural acting style, portraying complex social, biographical, and mythological characters such as Ghatotkacha in Maya Bazaar (1958) which is regarded as the “greatest Indian film of all time” by CNN-India Poll, and was screened at the 1957 International Film Festival of India and the Indonesian Film Festival; Mayasura in Bhookailas (1958); Bhoja in Mahakavi Kalidasu (1960) which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu. In 1964, Rao received the Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Kichaka in Nartanasala (1963) at the Third Afro-Asian Film Festival held in Jakarta, becoming the only Indian actor to have garnered the honor. He then essayed Duryodhana in the blockbuster Pandava Vanavasamu (1965); Hiranyakashipu in Bhakta Prahlada (1967), which won the Nandi Award for Second Best Feature Film; and Ravana in Sampoorna Ramayanamu (1971) to name a few.
Rao has made his foray as a character actor in super-hits such as Mana Desam (1949), Palletoori Pilla (1950), Devadasu (1953), Bangaru Papa (1954), Raju Peda (1954), Thodi Kodallu (1957), Chenchu Lakshmi (1958), Pelli Naati Pramanalu (1958), Nammina Bantu (1959), Gundamma Katha (1962), Karpagam (1963), Naanum Oru Penn (1963), Bobbili Yudham (1964), Bandhavyalu (1968), Lakshmi Nivasam (1968), Prem Nagar (1971), and Dussehra Bullodu (1971).
