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{{Short description|Indian film director (1912–1975)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Adurthi Subba Rao
| image              = AdurthiSubbaRaoImg.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| caption            = 
| birthname          = 
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1912|12|16|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Rajahmundry]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
| death_date         = {{death date and age|1975|10|01|1912|12|16|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[Madras]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| occupation         = {{hlist|Film director|screenwriter|producer|editor}}
| spouse             = Kameswari Bala
| alma mater         = [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai]]
| awards             = Seven [[National Film Awards]]<br />[[Nandi Awards]]<br />[[Filmfare Awards South]]
}}

'''Adurthi Subba Rao''' (16 December 1912 – 1 October 1975) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, and editor, primarily recognized for his contributions to [[Telugu cinema]], with a few works in Hindi and Tamil cinema. In an era dominated by [[Hindu mythological film|mythological]] and [[Fantasy film|fantasy]] genres, Subba Rao was a trailblazer in introducing social dramas and contemporary narratives to Telugu cinema. Over his career, he won seven [[National Film Awards]] and three [[Nandi Awards]].<ref name="hindu3">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |date=2013-11-30 |title=Master movie maker |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/master-movie-maker/article5408372.ece |access-date=2022-10-08 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Subba Rao began his cinematic career as an associate to [[Uday Shankar]] in the 1948 Hindi film [[Kalpana (1948 film)|''Kalpana'']].<ref>{{cite web |date=25 November 2008 |title=NFAI brings its treasures to IFFI-Goa |url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45038 |publisher=[[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]] PIB}}</ref> He made his directorial debut with ''Amara Sandesam'' (1954), a film that, although critically acclaimed, did not achieve commercial success.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=16 December 2005 |title=Star Profiles : Adurti Subbarao: A Tribute |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/starsprofile/adurtisubbarao.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102072636/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/starsprofile/adurtisubbarao.php |archive-date=2 November 2013 |work=[[Telugucinema.com]]}}</ref> His next film ''[[Thodi Kodallu]]'' (1957), which starred [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]], was a major hit. It led to a long and successful collaboration between the two, resulting in 16 more films together.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Nadadhur |first=Srivathsan |date=16 December 2021 |title=Remembering Adurthi Subba Rao: A storyteller who brought class and dignity to mainstream Telugu cinema |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/remembering-adurthi-subba-rao-a-storyteller-who-brought-class-and-dignity-to-mainstream-telugu-cinema/e18990a481645 |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=OTTPlay |publisher=[[HT Media]] |language=en}}</ref> Following this success, Subba Rao directed several acclaimed films, including ''[[Mangalya Balam]]'' (1959), and ''[[Nammina Bantu]]'' (1960), the latter of which was screened at the [[San Sebastián International Film Festival]].<ref name="idlebrain.com">{{cite web |date=9 July 2006 |title=Profile of Gummadi&nbsp;— Telugu film actor |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/profile-gummadi.html |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=[[Idlebrain.com]]}}</ref>

Other notable films, such as ''[[Velugu Needalu]]'' (1961), ''[[Manchi Manasulu]]'' (1962), and ''[[Doctor Chakravarty|Doctor Chakravarthy]]'' (1964) further solidified his reputation as a leading filmmaker.<ref name=":0" /> In 1964, he directed [[Mooga Manasulu|''Mooga Mansulu'']], one of the earliest Telugu films to explore the theme of [[reincarnation]]. The film was a significant success and was screened at the [[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]].<ref name="11thaward">{{cite web |title=11th National Film Awards |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm11thNFAAward.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170502124428/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm11thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=2 May 2017 |access-date=13 September 2011 |publisher=International Film Festival of India}}</ref> His 1965 film [[Thene Manasulu (1965 film)|''Thene Manasulu'']], made with a cast of newcomers, became a runaway success, marking [[Krishna (Telugu actor)|Krishna]]'s first lead role and introducing [[Ram Mohan (actor)|Ram Mohan]] to Telugu cinema.<ref name=":1" /> In 1968, he ventured into [[courtroom drama]] with ''[[Sudigundalu]]'', a film noted for its "[[Film à clef|film with a key]]" narrative, which received special mentions at the Tashkent and Moscow Film Festivals.<ref name="Film producer passes away2">{{cite web |date=27 March 2006 |title=Film producer passes away |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/film-producer-passes-away/article3169975.ece |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref name="filmfare">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q5UqAAAAYAAJ |title=Collections |publisher=Update Video Publication |year=1991 |page=387}}</ref>

Several of Subba Rao's films, including ''Thodi Kodallu'' (1957), ''Mangalya Balam'' (1959), ''Nammina Bantu'' (1960), ''Mooga Manasulu'' (1964), ''Doctor Chakravarthy'' (1964), and ''Sudigundalu'' (1968), won the [[National Film Award for Best Telugu Feature Film]]. Additionally, his Tamil film ''[[Kumudham]]'' (1961) won the [[National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film]]. [[K. Viswanath]], who would later become a celebrated filmmaker, worked as an associate director under Subba Rao before making his own directorial debut. In recognition of Subba Rao's contributions to cinema, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce instituted the Adurthi Subba Rao Award in his honour.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Adurthi Subbarao Awards Presented |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/telugu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924165217/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/gallery/3/263659.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Adurthi Subba Rao was born to Sathanna Panthulu and Rajalakshmamma on 16 December 1912 in [[Rajahmundry]].<ref name="hindu3"/> His father was a Revenue Department official. He completed school final ([[Matriculation]]) at the age of 14.<ref name=":1"/> He joined [[Kakinada]] [[PR Government College Kakinada|PR College]] to do his Pre-University Course. As a college student, he developed a passion for [[photography]] and [[Film|films]]. Defying his father, he went to [[Mumbai|Bombay]] with the little money he had given him.<ref name=":1" /> He joined the [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai|St. Xavier's College]] there in a three-year course of photography, and completed two years.<ref name="hindu3" />

== Career ==

=== Early career ===
Subba Rao then worked in the processing and printing department of Bombay Film Lab.<ref name=":1" /> Then he joined film editor Dina Narvekar as his assistant. He started his film career as a cinematographer, editor and screenwriter. His started as an assistant director and later became the editor for [[Uday Shankar]] on his [[Hindi film]] [[Kalpana (1948 film)|''Kalpana'']] (1948).<ref name="idlebrain.com"/> His debut film as an editor was Tamil film ''Parijatapaharanam''.<ref name="hindu3" /> He also worked as a writer penning stories, dialogues, and lyrics. Some of the films he wrote were V''anarani'' (1946), ''Mangalasootram'', O''ka Roju Raju'' (1944), ''Circus Raju'', etc.<ref name=":1" />

Later, he moved to Prakash Studios as an editor but also worked in other departments. [[K. S. Prakash Rao]] let him direct some parts in his films such as ''Deeksha'' (1951), ''[[Kanna Talli]]'' (1953) and ''Baalanandam'' (1954) for Prakash Studios.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0"/> He also worked for [[C. Pullayya]]'s ''Sankranthi'' (1952) as editor at the same time.<ref name=":1" />

=== Directorial debut and breakthrough ===
Subba Rao debuted as a director with ''Amara Sandesam'' (1954) which was critically acclaimed but not commercially successful.<ref name=":1" /> After watching the film, [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]] recommended him to his friend and business partner in [[Annapurna Studios#Annapurna Pictures|Annapurna Pictures]], [[D. Madhusudhana Rao|Dukkipati Madhusudhana Rao]], who gave Subba Rao the chance to direct the film ''[[Thodi Kodallu]]'' (1957), adapted from [[Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay|Sarat Chandra Chatterjee]]'s [[Bengali language|Bengali]] novel ''Nishkruti.'' It became a super hit.<ref name="hindu3" /> The film won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu|Certificate of merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu]].

In 1959, he directed [[romantic drama]] ''[[Mangalya Balam]]''. Subba Rao adapted ''Mangalya Balam'' to the Telugu screen from the [[Bengali language|Bengali]] film ''[[Agni Pariksha (1954 film)|Agni Pariksha]]'' (1954), The Telugu version was simultaneously shot in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as ''[[Manjal Mahimai]]''; both versions became box office successes. The former winning the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu]],<ref>{{cite web |title=6th National Film Awards |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6thNFAAward.aspx |access-date=3 September 2011 |publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]]}}</ref> and the [[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu]] in 1960.

The 1960 film ''[[Nammina Bantu]]'' was simultaneously shot in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as ''[[Pattaliyin Vetri]]''. Upon release both versions received critical acclaim. The Telugu work was screened at the [[San Sebastián International Film Festival]].<ref name="idlebrain.com" /> The film also won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu]] for that year.<ref name="7thawardPDF">{{cite web |title=7th National Film Awards |url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/7th_nff.pdf |access-date=4 September 2011 |publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]}}</ref><ref name="idlebrain.com" /><ref name="hindu3" />

In 1961, he directed ''[[Kumudham]]'' written by [[K. S. Gopalakrishnan]]. ''Kumudham'' was released on 29 July 1961 with final reel length of {{Convert|4501|metres|feet}} and became a commercial success at box office. The film received Certificate of Merit for Third Best Feature Film at [[9th National Film Awards]]. It was remade by Subba Rao himself in Telugu as ''[[Manchi Manasulu]]'' (1962).

Subba Rao's next work was ''[[Mooga Manasulu|Mooga Mansulu]]'' (1964) based on the concept of [[reincarnation]]. The film was remade in [[Hindi language|Hindi]] as ''[[Milan (1967 film)|Milan]]'' (1967) directed by Subba Rao himself, while the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ''[[Praptham]]'' (1971) was remade from Subba Rao's work. The Telugu version received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and the [[Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu)]] in 1964 and was screened at the [[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]].<ref name="11thaward"/><ref name=":2">{{cite web |title=Stars : Star Interviews : Chit Chat with Jamuna |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/stars/interview_jamuna_2009_2.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501055610/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/stars/interview_jamuna_2009_2.php |archive-date=1 May 2009 |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=[[Telugucinema.com]]}}</ref>

The 1964 film ''[[Doctor Chakravarty|Doctor Chakravarthy]],'' an adaptation of the novel ''Chakrabhramanam'', was awarded the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu]], and the state [[Nandi Award]] for that year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ramadasu (1964) Awards - Award Winners Of Ramadasu Telugu Movie |url=http://www.gomolo.com/ramadasu-movie-awards/15991 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825212638/http://www.gomolo.com/ramadasu-movie-awards/15991 |archive-date=25 August 2018 |access-date=10 January 2019 |work=Gomolo}}</ref>

In 1968, Subba Rao experimented with [[courtroom drama]] and [[detective fiction]] in his work ''[[Sudigundalu]]''. The film received special mention at the Tashkent and Moscow Film Festivals for its inherent "[[Film à clef|film with a key]]" narrative.<ref name="15thawardPDF">{{cite web |title=15th National Film Awards |url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/15th_nff_1967.pdf |access-date=21 September 2011 |publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]}}</ref><ref name="Film producer passes away">{{cite web |title=Film producer passes away |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/film-producer-passes-away/article3169975.ece |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref name="filmfare"/> The film has garnered the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu]], [[Nandi Award for Best Feature Film]], and the [[Filmfare Award for Best Film - Telugu]] for that year and was featured at the [[International Film Festival of India]].<ref name="15thawardPDF" /><ref name="Film producer passes away" />

Subba Rao scripted and directed the 1976 [[biographical film]] ''[[Mahakavi Kshetrayya]]'' based on the life of [[Kshetrayya]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Mahakavi Kshetrayya (Banner) |url=http://www.filmiclub.com/movie/mahakavi-kshetrayya-1976-telugu-movie |work=Filmiclub}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mahakavi Kshetrayya (Direction) |url=http://www.knowyourfilms.com/film/Mahakavi-Kshetrayya/15072 |work=Know Your films}}</ref> Subba Rao had expired in the middle of the making of the film and director [[C. S. Rao]] completed the rest of the shoot.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mahakavi Kshetrayya (Review) |url=http://www.thecinebay.com/movie/index/id/7537?ed=Tolly |work=The Cine Bay}}</ref>

==Mentorship==
Subba Rao's Biography has been published by veteran actor [[Krishna (Telugu actor)|Krishna]], who made his Telugu film debut under the direction of Subba Rao.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions1/booklaunch-adurthisubbarao.html|title=Adurthi Subba Rao Book launch by Krishna, Mahesh Babu & Kasinadhuni Viswanath - Telugu cinema news|website=www.idlebrain.com}}</ref> [[K. Viswanath]] has worked as an associate director of Subba Rao for many years. The Telugu film chamber of commerce has instituted the ''Adurthi Subba Rao Award'' in his honour.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924165217/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/gallery/3/263659.html Events – Adurthi Subbarao Awards Presented gallery clips actors actress stills images<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Language
! Role
|-
| 1948
| ''[[Kalpana (1948 film)|Kalpana]]''
| Hindi
| Assistant Director
|-
| 1954
| ''Balanandam''
| Telugu
| Assistant Director
|-
| 1954
| ''Amara Sandesam''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Todi Kodallu]]''
| Telugu
| Editor, Screenplay and Director
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi]]''
| Tamil
| Editor, Screenplay and Director
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Aada Pettanam]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1959
| ''[[Mangalya Balam]]''
| Telugu
| Writer and Director
|-
| 1959
| ''[[Manjal Mahimai]]''
| Tamil
| Writer and Director
|-
| 1959
| ''[[Engal Kuladevi]]''
| Tamil
| Director
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Nammina Bantu]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Pattaliyin Vetri]]''
| Tamil
| Director
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Kumudham]]''
| Tamil
| Director
|-
| 1961
| ''[[Velugu Needalu]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1961
| ''[[Iddaru Mitrulu (1961 film)|Iddaru Mitrulu]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1961
| ''Krishna Prema''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1962
| ''[[Manchi Manasulu]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1963
| ''[[Chaduvukunna Ammayilu]]''
| Telugu
| Screenplay and Director
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Mooga Manasulu]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Dagudu Moothalu]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Doctor Chakravarty]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Sumangali (1965 film)|Sumangali]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Tene Manasulu]]''
| Telugu
| Writer and Director
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Thodu Needa]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1966
| ''[[Kanne manasulu]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1967
| ''[[Milan (1967 film)|Milan]]''
| Hindi
| Screenplay and Director
|-
| 1967
| ''[[Poola Rangadu (1967 film)|Poola Rangadu]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1967
| ''[[Sudigundalu]]''
| Telugu
| Screenplay and Director
|-
| 1968
| ''Man Ka Meet''
| Hindi
| Director
|-
| 1969
| ''[[Doli (1969 film)|Doli]]''
| Hindi
| Screenplay and Director
|-
| 1970
| ''Darpan''
| Hindi
| Producer and Director
|-
| 1970
| ''[[Maro Prapancham]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1970
| ''[[Mastana (1970 film)|Mastana]]''
| Hindi
| Director
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Rakhwala (1971 film)|Rakhwala]]''
| Hindi
| Director
|-
| 1972
| ''[[Jeet (1972 film)|Jeet]]''
| Hindi
| Producer and Director
|-
| 1972
| ''[[Vichitra Bandham]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Insaaf (1973 film)|Insaaf]]''
| Hindi
| Director
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Jwar Bhata (1973 film)|Jwar Bhata]]''
| Hindi
| Director
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Mayadari Malligadu]]''
| Telugu
| Producer and Director
|-
| 1974
| ''[[Bangaaru Kalalu]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1975
| ''Gajula Kishtayya''
| Telugu
| Producer and Director
|-
| 1975
| ''[[Gunavanthudu]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|-
| 1975
| ''[[Sunehra Sansar]]''
| Hindi
| Director
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Mahakavi Kshetrayya]]''
| Telugu
| Director
|}

==Awards==
===[[National Film Awards]]===
;[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu]]  
*''[[Sudigundalu]]'' - 1967
*''[[Doctor Chakravarthy]]'' - 1964
*''[[Mooga Manasulu]]'' - 1963
*''[[Nammina Bantu]]'' - 1960 <ref name="7thawardPDF"/>
*''[[Mangalya Balam]]'' - 1959 <ref name="6thaward">{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6thNFAAward.aspx|title=6th National Film Awards|publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]]|access-date=3 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020054317/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=20 October 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*''[[Thodi Kodallu]]'' - 1957 <ref name="5thawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/5th_nff.pdf|title=5th National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|access-date=2 September 2011}}</ref>

;[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]] 
*''[[Kumudham]]'' - 1961 <ref name="9thaward">{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|title=9th National Film Awards|publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]]|access-date=8 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202115652/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
 
;[[Nandi Awards]]
*1964 - [[Nandi Award for Best Feature Film]] - ''[[Doctor Chakravarthy]]''
*1967 - Nandi Award for Best Feature Film - ''[[Sudigundalu]]''
*1976 - Nandi Award for Best Feature Film - ''[[Mahakavi Kshetrayya]]''

;[[Filmfare Awards South]]
*[[Filmfare Award for Best Film&nbsp;– Telugu]] - ''[[Sudigundalu]]''<ref name="filmfare"/>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0836899}}
* [https://www.csfd.cz/tvurce/188237-adurthi-subba-rao/ Adurthi Subba Rao] at {{ill|ČSFD|cs}}
* [https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/603367/ Adurthi Subba Rao] at [[Kinopoisk]]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Adurthi Subba}}
[[Category:Telugu film directors]]
[[Category:Film producers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Cinematographers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Telugu film cinematographers]]
[[Category:St. Xavier's College, Mumbai alumni]]
[[Category:Telugu film producers]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
[[Category:Nandi Award winners]]
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:Writers from Rajahmundry]]
[[Category:Film directors from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Telugu screenwriters]]
[[Category:Hindi-language screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]