The Man who turns Impossible to Possible

The multi-faceted Bapu has rewritten the idiom of film narrative in a style that can be possible only to him and has his imprint embossed on Tollywood canvas. In simple, his vibrant and pleasant strokes stand out from the rest in many ways. Being an artist, the director with his visual richness gives a treat to connoisseurs and his lucid style of storytelling laced with humorous punch and a soft flow has been the delight of his films that have enthralled Telugu audience for over 55 years.

Bapu, born as Sattiraju Lakshmi Naryana in 1933, he celebrates 78th birthday today. He misses his long term friend Mullapudi Venkata Ramana, who died recently. Bapu-Ramana, the director-writer duo stood as an extension of each other until the writer departed. Beginning from Sakshi, they made a memorable collection till recent ‘Sri Rama Rajyam,’ giving hits and flops but they had a chunk of die hard audience.

Before coming to films, Bapu worked as a cartoonist for Andhra Patrika. His paintings were popular for economy of strokes and highly expressive gestures, more so the eyes and plait. Using bright colors and doing away with background clutter has been his uniqueness. His paintings were widely used in mythological movies he had directed.

Humor, Innocence, Values and a hilarious Comedy track form nucleus of Bapu films. ‘Bangaru Pichchuka,’ ‘Mr. Pellam,’ ‘Pelli Pusthakam’ to name a few. ‘Seetha Kalyanam’ has been acclaimed as best film of his career, technically and has floored the world of critics. Some of the other pictures that were shaped to delightful masterpieces by Bapu are ‘Vamsa Vruksham,’ ‘Mutyala Muggu,’ ‘Andala Ramudu,’ ‘Balaraju Katha,’ ‘Rajadhi Raju,’ ‘Sampoorna Ramayanam’ and ‘Tyagaiah.’ Technically speaking, every frame in Bapu’s film is a unique painting by itself. Latest ‘Sri Rama Rajyam’ is acclaimed to rich in narration and music.

Popular poet Arudra dedicated a poem on Bapu, in his ‘Kunalamma Sathakam’ which reads:  

Konte Bommala Bapu

Konni Taramula Sepu

Gundenuyala Loopu

O Kunalamma.

Cinejosh wishes this creative genius a Very Happy Birthday.