Hyderabad ∙ Actor Sarath Babu (71), who played lead roles in more than 200 South Indian language films including Malayalam, passed away. He was undergoing treatment in Hyderabad for a few weeks. Burial in Chennai.
Satyam Babu Dikshithalu, a native of Amadalavalasa, Andhra, hit the silver screen in 1973 with the Telugu film ‘Ramarajyam’. She made her Tamil debut in 1977 with the film ‘Pattina Pravesam’ directed by K. Balachander. Balachander’s own film ‘Nijalkal Nijamakirat’ (1978) entered the public mind. The first Kannada film was ‘Tulseedala’ released in 1984. ‘Sarapanjara’ is the first film in Malayalam.
He starred in more than 220 films in leading roles in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films alongside Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, NT Rama Rao, Chiranjeevi, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Nagarjuna and others. Andhra Government Nandi Award for Best Actor 3 times and Supporting Actor Award 9 times.
Films like Mullum Malarum, Velaikaran, Annamalai, Muthu (with Rajinikanth), Sagarasangam (with Kamal Haasan) and Criminal (with Nagarjuna) gained much attention. He also acted in films like Dhanya and Daisy in Malayalam, Thanka Suryodayam in Sabarimala, Oru Kavita in Kanyakumari and Poonilamazha. The last film she acted in was ‘Vasanthamullai’ which was released in Tamil this year.
His relationship with his first wife, Telugu actress Rama Prabha, ended in 1988. In 1990, he married Snehalatha, daughter of actor MN Nambiar, but separated in 2011. Andhra Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and others condoled.
English Summary: Veteran actor Sarath Babu passes away at 71
