Puvvula Suri Babu
Encyclopedia
P. Suri Babu or Puvvula Suri Babu (Telugu
: పువ్వుల సూరిబాబు) (February 22, 1915 - February 12, 1968) was an Indian actor and singer on stage and cinema. He had a peculiar bold voice and was called Kanchu Kantham Suri Babu.
taluq, Andhra Pradesh
. He learned music from his uncle Hanumanlu. With enthusiasm in drama, he ran away from home and reached Gadwal
and played few characters in Samsthanam drama company.
He returned to Guntur
and joined the Balamithra Sabha owned by Dantu Venkata Krishnaiah. During those days Kopparapu Subbarao was training children in music and acting. He played many roles and soon became one of the finest actors.
. They played Bhakta Vijayam, Maya Madhusudhana with huge sets. However they met with heavy losses. He subsequently shifted to Tenali and joined Satyanarayana Natya Mandali in 1936.
He married Rajeswari in 1944 and established on her name Raja Rajeswari Natya Mndali.Rajeswari was also a singer and drama artist of repute and many grampphone companies like HMV, Columbia released her records. He got Tara Sasankam
drama written by Kopparapu Subbarao and played more than 1500 times under his own direction.Suribabu's wife Rajeswari played the role of Tara in Tarasasankam and won many accolades.They toured not only Andhra Pradesh but also cities like Bombay, Calcutta etc. They played Bhukailas, Kurukshetram, Vipranarayana, Tulabaram like puranic plays and earn reputation.
He played variety of roles like Narada, Dharmaraju,Ashwadhama,Vipranarayana, Bilwamangal, Subudhi, Ramadasu, Dharmarayudu and many more. His voice is metallic and used to be heard long distances clearly. His singing poems used to be simplified and used to be understood by the lay persons and draw huge crowds. Many shows used to last the entire night. He acted in some Telugu films and used to sing his own songs.Many movie music directors used to take his help while tuning for padyalu (poems).The famous “manikyaveena” slokam sung by Ghantasala in the movie Mahakavi Kalidasu was composed by Suribabu
He played before Mysore Maharajah Durbar in 1946 and got facilitated. He was ceremoniously honoured with titles "Kala Visharada", "Gana Gandharva" in Tenali in 1957.
This great actor left earthy world on February 12, 1968.
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
: పువ్వుల సూరిబాబు) (February 22, 1915 - February 12, 1968) was an Indian actor and singer on stage and cinema. He had a peculiar bold voice and was called Kanchu Kantham Suri Babu.
Early life
Suribabu was born on February 22, 1915 in Bommaluru village of GudivadaGudivada
Gudivada is a census town in Krishna district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a mandal headquarters with more than 100,000 inhabitants, lying as junction of Vijayawada-Machilipatnam-Bhimavaram-Nuzvid-Eluru in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh of...
taluq, Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. He learned music from his uncle Hanumanlu. With enthusiasm in drama, he ran away from home and reached Gadwal
Gadwal
Gadwal is a town, Mandal and a municipality in Mahbubnagar district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located 188 km from Hyderabad, the state's capital.- Geography :Gadwal is located at...
and played few characters in Samsthanam drama company.
He returned to Guntur
Guntur
Guntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
and joined the Balamithra Sabha owned by Dantu Venkata Krishnaiah. During those days Kopparapu Subbarao was training children in music and acting. He played many roles and soon became one of the finest actors.
Acting career
He established his own drama troupe named Balakrishna Nataka Samajam in 1931 in GudivadaGudivada
Gudivada is a census town in Krishna district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a mandal headquarters with more than 100,000 inhabitants, lying as junction of Vijayawada-Machilipatnam-Bhimavaram-Nuzvid-Eluru in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh of...
. They played Bhakta Vijayam, Maya Madhusudhana with huge sets. However they met with heavy losses. He subsequently shifted to Tenali and joined Satyanarayana Natya Mandali in 1936.
He married Rajeswari in 1944 and established on her name Raja Rajeswari Natya Mndali.Rajeswari was also a singer and drama artist of repute and many grampphone companies like HMV, Columbia released her records. He got Tara Sasankam
Tara Sasankam
Tara Sasankam was filmed in 1969 directed by Manapuram Appa Rao and produced by K. Satyanarayana of Ramakrishna Pictures. It was starring Devika as Tara and Sobhan Babu as Sashank. Gummadi Venkateswara Rao played the role of Brihaspati. The other key roles are played by T. L. Kanta Rao, Haranath...
drama written by Kopparapu Subbarao and played more than 1500 times under his own direction.Suribabu's wife Rajeswari played the role of Tara in Tarasasankam and won many accolades.They toured not only Andhra Pradesh but also cities like Bombay, Calcutta etc. They played Bhukailas, Kurukshetram, Vipranarayana, Tulabaram like puranic plays and earn reputation.
He played variety of roles like Narada, Dharmaraju,Ashwadhama,Vipranarayana, Bilwamangal, Subudhi, Ramadasu, Dharmarayudu and many more. His voice is metallic and used to be heard long distances clearly. His singing poems used to be simplified and used to be understood by the lay persons and draw huge crowds. Many shows used to last the entire night. He acted in some Telugu films and used to sing his own songs.Many movie music directors used to take his help while tuning for padyalu (poems).The famous “manikyaveena” slokam sung by Ghantasala in the movie Mahakavi Kalidasu was composed by Suribabu
He played before Mysore Maharajah Durbar in 1946 and got facilitated. He was ceremoniously honoured with titles "Kala Visharada", "Gana Gandharva" in Tenali in 1957.
This great actor left earthy world on February 12, 1968.
Filmography
- Draupadi VastrapaharanamDraupadi VastrapaharanamDraupadi Vastrapaharanam is a 1936 Telugu film. It was made to compete with Draupadi Manasamrakshanam . This film was a major boxoffice success, whereas the Manasamrakshanam failed. The film is remembered for the rendition of poems with acting performances by C. S. R...
(1936) (actor and singer) - KanakataraKanakataraKanakatara was made as a film by Saraswathi Talkies in 1937 under the direction of H. V. Babu. It was starring Dommeti Suryanarayana, Kannamba and P. Suribabu.-1956 film:...
(1937) (actor and singer) - Malapilla (1938) (actor and singer)
- Raithu BiddaRaithu Bidda (1939 film)Raithu Bidda is a 1939 Telugu Drama film directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam.It is a social reformist film during the period of British India, at the time of battle against Zamindari system. The film was banned by the British Government. Thereby this film got the distinction of being the first...
(1939) (actor and singer) - IllaluIllaluIllalu is a 1940 Telugu Drama film directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam.-The Plot:Murthy is married to Indira and they live happily. Subsequently he falls in love with Leela , an educated and sophisticated lady. He brings her home as his second wife, making Indira unhappy...
(1940) (actor and singer) - Tara SasankamTara SasankamTara Sasankam was filmed in 1969 directed by Manapuram Appa Rao and produced by K. Satyanarayana of Ramakrishna Pictures. It was starring Devika as Tara and Sobhan Babu as Sashank. Gummadi Venkateswara Rao played the role of Brihaspati. The other key roles are played by T. L. Kanta Rao, Haranath...
(1941) (actor and singer) - Jeevana MukthiJeevana MukthiJeevana Mukthi or Jeevanmukthi is a 1942 Telugu film produced by S. S. Vasan of Gemini Studios.-Plot summary:Jeevudu, an untouchable cobbler, leads a saintly life with his wife Seva and son Bhavudu. Because of his devotion, Lord Vishnu appears before him every day, and eats whatever he is given as...
(1942) (actor and singer) - Shri Krishna Tulabharam (1955) (actor)
- Krishna Leelalu (1959)
- Sri Krishna RayabaramSri Krishna RayabaramSri Krishna Rayabaram is a popular Telugu drama written by Tirupati Venkata Kavulu in the early 20th century. It was made as a Telugu film in 1960. Many actors and companies have staged this production throughout Andhra Pradesh, India, and abroad.-The plot:The plot is based on the story of...
(1960) (actor, singer and music director) - Sri Venkateswara MahatyamSri Venkateswara MahatyamSri Venkateswara Mahatyam is a 1960 Magnum opus Telugu Musical film produced and directed by P. Pullaiah and starring N. T. Rama Rao. The story is based on the story of Lord Venkateswara .-The Story:Evil forces dominates the world...
(1960) (actor and singer) - Mahakavi KalidasuMahakavi KalidasuMahakavi Kalidasu is a 1960 Telugu Biographical film based on the life of the great Sanskrit poet Kalidas. It is directed by Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao. Akkineni Nageswara Rao played the role of Kalidas. Some poems of Kalidas including Shyamala dandakam by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao is...
(1961) (producer, actor and playback singer) - Usha ParinayamUsha ParinayamUsha Parinayam was taken as a Telugu film in 1961 by Kadaru Nagabhushanam under Rajarajeshwari films. It was starring Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao as Anirudha, S. V. Ranga Rao as Banasura and Jamuna as Lady Usha. Rajanala Kaleswara Rao, Kannamba, Mukkamala, Relangi Venkataramaiah and Peketi Sivaram...
(1961) (actor and playback singer) - Dakshayagnam (1962) (actor and singer)