Bapu (film Director) Biography 
Bapu is a veteran film director of Telugu cinema. This versatile story teller is widely regarded as one among the 4 pillars or foundation corner stones of Telugu film industry, the other three being Viswanath, Vamsi and Jandhyala. Known for critically well acclaimed movies, he has won 2 National awards, 5 Nandi awards and 2 Filmfare for his excellence in the field of direction. He was honoured with a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South for the year 2012. He was honoured with Padma Shri in the year 2013 for his contributions to Indian art and cinema.
Apart from film direction, he is also known for the excellence as a painter, illustrator, cartoonist, and designer. He set a new classical and social trend in Telugu literature and art fields. He has also contributed story illustration, magazine covers, cartoons and comic strips to English. He has also introduced a new cursive writing in Telugu which includes his own handwriting. As a painter, he is known for painting style which includes bright colours, but in simple style. He is known for portraying Hindu mythological characters.
He was born in the year 1933, in Narsapur of West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. His real name is Satthiraju Lakshmi Narayana. He completed Bachelor of Law from Madras University in 1955. Same year he joined as political cartoonist for the newspaper Andhra Patrika. As a graphic artist, he has also worked with some advertising agencies during his early years. Later he became a well-known painter and film maker.
He met Mullapudi Venkataramana in 1942 while at school. When Ramana’s first short story 'Amma Maata Vinakapothe', Bapu was its illustrator when it got published in Bala – a children magazine. Thus began the successful association of these two prolific artists. This duo has given significant contributions to the field of literature and cinema. As a film director, Bapu received National award for best regional films twice for the movies - Mutyala Muggu and Mister Pellam.
Bapu had suffered heart attacks many times throughout his career. He was admitted into a hospital at Chennai in mid August 2014. He suffered from a cardiac arrest on 31 August 2014, and died later on the same day.
Published: N/A
Updated: September 27, 2017
