Legendary director and great cartoonist Bapu who is originally named Sathiraju Lakshminarayana breathed his last on Sunday evening, 31st of August, 2014 in Chennai due to cardiac arrest. He is 80. He was born on 15 December,1933 at Narasapuram of West Godavari district. He earned great reputation as a painter and as a cartoonist. With his great painting works, Bapu stands as pride of Telugu people forever. Bapu-Mullapudi Venkataramana duo stands as an insignia for a true friendship. Both worked together for many movies.
As a director, Bapu made his film debut with 'Sakshi'. There after he made many master pieces such as, 'Balaraju Katha', 'Andalaramudu',' Sampoorna Ramayanam', 'Bhaktha kannappa', 'Muthyalamuggu', 'Seetha Kalyanam', 'Manavoori Pandavulu', 'Mantrigari Viyyankudu', 'Pelli Pusthakam', 'Mr.Pellam'. 'Sriramarajyam' was Bapu's last directorial venture.
Bapu was honoured with Padmasri by the Government of India in 2013. He won two naitonal awards, Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, five Nandi awards, Filmfare Life Time Achievement Award etc. Cinejosh is saddened with the demise of this great legendary personality of Andhra Pradesh. We pay our heartfelt condolences to the members of his family. May his soul rests in peace.