There are many character artistes who act, but few are those who live in those roles. S.V.Ranga Rao was one gifted personality of such a class, who played any kind of role with lot of ease and perfection.

Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao was born on 3 July 1918, in Nuzvid. He entered the film industry with a small role in Varudhini. Later he acted in Shavukaaru, Palletooripilla, Manadesam and Thirugubatu in trivial roles, but he got fine recognition eventually in Patala Bhairavi as 'Nepali Mantrikudu'. 'Sahasam sayara dimbhaka, raja kumari labhinchunu le!' - even today this dialogue is commonly used in most of our telugu domestic lives.

Consider any role, Nepali Mantrikudu in Patala Bhairavi, Ghatotkachudu in Mayabazar, Duryodhanudu in Pandava Vanavasam, Hiranyakasipudu in Bhaktha Prahalada, Keechakudu in Narthanasala, Tandra Paparayudu in Bobbili Yudham or Kamsa in Yasodha Krishna; he engraved a unique niche in the hearts of telugu movie lovers. He immensely lived in those roles.

SVR's roles in Pelli chesi choodu,Missamma,Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu,Thodi Kodallu and other social movies too received good applause. His major asset was his command over the character. He just swayed the role that he played. The punch in his dialogue was outstanding. Even in several scenes, he contributed to the perfect yield of the scene with out a single dialogue. For instance, in ACPK, he will be holding a letter written by NTR in his hand and napping in the chair. NTR and Savithri try their level best to prevent him from reading the letter. And so, his servant tries to snatch the letter from him, but in vain. This particular scene was so hilarious that with out a lone dialogue he amused the audience. Hats off to SVR's subtle comedy.

His soft roles in Atma Bandhuvu, Pandanti Kapuram, Tata Manavadu etc. made any rigid heart, dribble tears. Such was the depth of his acting. Reminisce the scene in Pandanti Kapuram in which he tries to speak English with Vijaya Nirmala and his little nephew/niece. We don't see SVR there; we only find the enthusiasm of a gullible person to learn English. His expression in the songs 'Anubandham Atmeeyatha antha oka bootakam'[Tata Manavadu] or 'Babu vinara, anna tammula katha okati'[Pandanti Kapuram] or any other song, was immaculate. His dialogue modulation rendered his co-actors speechless in many a movie. 'Eh, banisalu! banisalakintha ahambhavama!!' in Pandava Vanavasam was just a sample. The rage of 'Tandra Paparayudu' was well portrayed by SVR in Bobbili Yudham.

SVR produced Naadi Ada Janme (Sri Vani Films), Baandhavyalu (SVR Films) & Chadarangam (SVR Films), and also directed the latter two movies. His performance as Keechaka in Narthanasala brought him worldwide ovation when the movie won the prestigious Afro-Asian Film award and was screened in Tashkent International Film Festival.

He passed away on 18 July 1974 due to cardiac arrest, when his last movie 'Chakra Vaakam' was still in shooting phase. He was one of the great actors who immortalized the roles that he played and remained immortal in the hearts of telugu movie lovers. Mahanatudu SVR!!!

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