Puvvula Suri Babu

Puvvula Suri Babu Biography

Puvvula Suri Babu was a singer and actor belonging to Telugu cinema, fondly called Kanchu Kantham Suri Babu. He was also a well-established stage actor. Known for his distinct bold voice, Puvvula was one of the earliest established actors of Telugu cinema. He also owned a drama troupe - Balakrishna Nataka Samajam. His wife Rajeswari was also a theater artist and singer and he established a drama company in her name as well. He also produced a few movies like Mahakavi Kalidasu in 1961.

Puvvula Suri Babu, also known as P. Suri Babu was born on February 22, 1915 in Bommaluru, Andhra Pradesh. He learnt music from his uncle at an early age and got associated with theatre. This fascination towards theater prompted him to run away from his home and reach Gadwal, where he started his career as a stage actor playing character roles. Later he joined Balamithra Sabha of Guntur owned by Dantu Venkata Krishnaiah, where he groomed into a fine actor.

In 1931, he established his own drama troupe in Gudivada named Balakrishna Nataka Samajam. They played plays with high expensive sets and later it turned to a non-profitable one. He shifted to Tenali and joined Satyanarayana Natya Mandali in 1936. In 1944 he married theater artist rajeswari and started a troupe in her name. Tara Sasankam is the most successful play of this troupe, directed by Babu.

Draupadi Vastrapaharanam in 1936 was his first movie and he was one of the earliest singing actors. He played lead role in 1938 social drama – Malapilla, which told the love story between a Brahmin boy and a Harijan girl. Tara Sasankam (1941) and Raitu Bidda (1939) are other noted works. As a theater artist he is known for his powerful voice and has played many mythological characters.

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Updated: October 10, 2014