'''Bapu (b.1933)'''

Telugu cartoonist, designer and director, also worked extensively in Hindi film. Born in Narsapur, West Godavari, AP, as Sattiraju Lakshminarayana. Graduated as a lawyer from Madras University (1955). Collaborated with comic writer Mullapoodi Venkataramana; political cartoonist for Andhra Patrika newspaper (1955) and illustrator. Worked in advertising in the early 60s. Début with [[Saakshi]], a rare instance of late 60s New Indian Cinema aestheticism in Telugu. Occasionally resorted to painterly imagery in his otherwise realist approach (e.g. [[Muthyala Muggu]]). Transposed several mythological narratives into contemporary fables (Manavoori Pandavulu, remade in Hindi as [[Hum Paanch]]). Some early work invoked rationalist ideology and Hum Paanch was strongly defended by populist independent Left. Later films are unashamedly revivalist: e.g. [[Thyagayya]], a remake of [[Nagaiah]]’s 1946 film. His Hindi films are usually remakes of Telugu ones: Bezubaan is based on S.P. Muthuraman’s Mayangurikal Oru Madhu (1975) but with a modified role for [[Naseeruddin Shah]]; Radha Kalyanam is adapted from [[Bhagyaraj]]’s Andha 7 Natkal (1981); he remade his adaptation in Hindi as Woh Saat Din. Remade [[B.R. Chopra]]’s notorious rape movie, [[Insaaf Ka Tarazu]] (1980), as Edi Nyayam Edi Dharmam.

'''
FILMOGRAPHY:''' 1967: Saakshi; 1968:
Bangaru Pichika; 1969: Buddhimanthudu;
1970: Inti Gauravam; Balaraju Katha; 1971:
Sampoorna Ramayanam; 1973: Andala
Ramudu; 1974: Shri Ramanjaneya
Yuddham; 1975: Muthyala Muggu; 1976:
Seeta Kalyanam; Seeta Swayamvar; Shri
Rajeshwari Vilas Coffee Club; Bhakta
Kannappa; 1977: Sneham; 1978: Manavoori
Pandavulu; Gorantha Deepam; Anokha
Shivbhakt; 1979: Thoorpu Velle Railu; Rajadhi
Raju; 1980: Kaliyuga Ravana Surudu; Vamsha Vriksham; Hum Paanch; 1981: Bezubaan; Thyagayya; Radha Kalyanam; 1982: Edi Nyayam Edi Dharmam; Neethi Devan Mayangurigal; Pellidu Pillalu; Krishnavataram; 1983: Woh Saat Din; Mantrigari Viyyankudu; 1984: Seetamma Pelli; 1985: Mohabbat; Bullet; Jackie; Pyari Behna; 1986: Mera Dharam; Kalyana Tambulam; 1987: Diljala; 1989: Prem Pratigya; 1990: Pelli Pustakam; 1993: Mr Pellam; Shrinatha Kavi Sarvabhowma; 1994:Pelli Koduku; Parmatma; 1995: Rambantu.

[[Director]]
[[Production Design]]