Senior actor Sridhar (68) is no more. He passed away on Wednesday at 11.45 am at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad. Sridhar had acted in about 150 films and Muthyalamuggu (1975) remains his most memorable film.
Sridhar : A level playing character actor!
Character actor turned Hero turned character actor Sridhar passed away in the Apollo hospital, Hyderabad at about 11:45 a.m. on July 11th. This 68 year old actor was receiving treatment for his heart. He is survived by his wife and their three children. Though not an over achiever, his story is no less inspiring than that of any to someone interested in making a career in films.
Surapaneni Sridhar was born in Kummukuru Village (Gannavaram Taluq), Krishna district in a lower middle class family. After completing his intermediate education in Machilipatnam, he moved to Hyderabad in 1964 and worked as a clerk in the P.W.Department. Sridhar also had to burn his midnight oil to complete his B.A. Degree from a night college.
Not many people would have known him today had he been contended with working in a regular 9 to 5 job then. Despite his hectic schedule, he was very active in the college’s cultural association and served as its secretary. He also played the lead role in several plays like “Pareeksha”, “Cheekati Theralu”, “Abhagyulu”. “Salegoodu”, “Mandekondalu” etc. “Manchuthera”, another play in which he played a lead role, won the runners up award from the Andhra Nataka Kalaa Parishath.
His first make up test: “Alluri Seetharamaraju”, another play in which he played the title role, was perhaps his most important theater experience. Among the hundreds of plays from different associations, it was one of those officially chosen to represent our state at the Inter State Cultural Exchange Programs. People from Southern movie town banner, liked his performance in the play and sent him a feeler for a make up test. Sridhar passed it and was offered the hero role in their “Sathi Arundathi”. However, he did not accept the offer as he was reluctant to enter into a three year agreement with the firm. Another producer called Babu Rao wanted to cast him as the male lead in his next film and asked him to mail him his pictures/stills. But Babu Rao's partners thought it was too risky to work with a new comer and made the film (“Atthagaaru Kotthakodalu”) with Krishna instead.
His first role: Sridhar was unfazed by these setbacks and continued doing what he liked. And ultimately, he made his debut in N.T.R.’s home production “Thallaa—Pellamaa”? After this, people like Nandamuri Sambasivarao, Vittalacharya and Pinjala Subbarao encouraged Sridhar by casting him in their films like “Vijayammanadhee”, “Rowdilaku Rowdy”, and “C.I.D. Raju”. Sridhar also acted as a B.D.O.. in N.T.R.’s “Raithu Bidda”.
Major break: Before becoming a household name with his understated performance in “Muthyala Muggu”, Sridhar got noticed in Jaggaiah’s “Sabhash Paapanna”. He played the main villain in this film. After this, he played the main role in “Vysali” Sarada acted as the heroine in this film. Muthyala Muggu happened after this film and he played the main role in films like “Gorantha Deepam”, “America Ammaayi” etc. The famous song “Oka Veenuvu Vinipinchenu” was picturized on him.
Back to character roles again: Despite his brief stint as hero, Sridhar is best remembered for his supporting roles in films like “Adavi Ramudu”, “Kaliyuga Ravanasurudu”, “Alluri Seetharamaraju”, “Sri Krishnavatharam”, “Bangaaru Manishi”, “Seetha Mahalakshmi”, “Kodallosthunnaru Jagratha”, “Bommarillu” (old) etc. Sridhar was last seen in “Govinda Govinda”. Overall, he would have acted in 150 films approximately.
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Sridhar was one of the most private persons in Tollywood. He refused to talk to media in his last years.
