Gollapudi Maruti Rao (14 April 1939 – 12 December 2019) was an Indian actor, writer and director known for his works in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre and Telugu Literature.
Rao acted in over 250 Telugu films in a variety of roles.
His noted literary works and plays, like Rendu Rellu Aaru, Patita, Karuninchani Devatalu, Mahanatudu, Kaalam Venakku Tirigindi, Aasayaalaku Sankellu, won numerous State Awards.
Maruti Rao was born in a Telugu-speaking brahmin family on 14 April 1939, in Nandabalaga Village, Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh, India and graduated from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in 1959 specializing in B.SC Mathematical Physics.
Maruti Rao has written and published several plays (9), playlets (18), novels (12), story volumes (4), essays (2), and children's stories (3).
He wrote a weekly column, "Jeevana Kaalam" (The Living Times), a kaleidoscopic study of contemporary social and political issues for over 24 years.
It was a very popular feature in one of the largest circulated Telugu dailies of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Jyothy, and the feature continued to appear in Vaartha (Daily).
His column with an audio reading (his voice) is presented, in an internet magazine Koumudi.
His autobiography Amma Kadupu Challaga, a 550-page compendium of his memoirs was released in India, USA and Australia.
1963
He published two research articles appearing in Andhra Vignana Sarvaswam (Telugu Encyclopedia) 11th volume: "History of the development in 'Thought' and 'Technique' of Telugu Play-writing" and "Amateur Theatre – its origin and growth in relation to the World Amateur Theatre movement. His Telugu play Vandemaataram, the first one in Telugu about the Sino-Indian War, was published by Andhra Pradesh State Information & Public Relations Department, (1963).
1967
A volume of essays on theatre, Telugu Nataka Rangam, was prescribed as a textbook for the Department of Theatre Arts, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam (1967).
1975
His 1975 play Kallu, was also remade into a Telugu film Kallu, which also garnered Nandi Award for Best Feature Film.
His play Oka Chettu – Rende Puvvulu was purchased by the Song and Drama Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for popular exhibition.
1988
The work was remade into a Telugu film in 1988 which won the Nandi Award for the Best Story in 1989.
1996
He was a member of the Script Scrutiny Committee of National Film Development Corporation and served as a Jury Member at International Film Festival of India for the Indian Panorama section in 1996.
He was known for scripting landmark films like Doctor Chakravarthy, Tharangini, Samsaram Chadharangam, Kallu etc. He garnered six Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards.
1997
In 1997, he established the Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation, which presents the Gollapudi National Award, for the best first film of a director in Indian cinema.
Rao was also known for his works in All India Radio and Journalism, for over two decades.
His play was included in the Master of Arts (Telugu literature) curriculum of Osmania University.
This work was translated into all Indian languages by the National Book Trust, under the Aadaan Pradaan programme.
2008
A travelogue Tanzania Teerthayatra was published by Koumudi in the US in 2008 in its collection.
It is based on a 15-day safari with his friend Ganti Prasada Rao in the major national parks and historical places in Tanzania.
2009
The novel Pidikedu Aakaasham was released as an audio publication on 16 February 2009 while conferring the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Vanguri Foundation in Hyderabad.
2019
He died on 12 December 2019 in Chennai.
The loss of Gollapudi Maruti Rao was mourned by several noted writers and members of the Telugu film fraternity.
