https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Kasturi_Siva_RaoKasturi Siva Rao - Revision history2026-08-01T00:15:34ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Kasturi_Siva_Rao&diff=508874&oldid=prevAmit raj at 23:29, 7 February 20262026-02-07T23:29:21Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian actor}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2013}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Kasturi Siva Rao<br />
| image = KASTURI SIVARAO.jpg<br />
| caption = Screenshot of Rao<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1913|03|06}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Kakinada]], [[British India]]<br/>(now in Andhra Pradesh, India)<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1966|02|24|1913|03|06}}<br />
| death_place = Tenali, Andhra Pradesh<br />
| years_active = <br />
| spouse = Shakuntala Kasturi<br />
| children = Three Sons and Four Daughters<br />
| father = Kasturi Krishnanandam<br />
| mother = Kasturi Ramamma<br />
}}<br />
'''Kasturi Siva Rao''' (6 March 1913 – 24 February 1966) was an Indian actor, comedian, playback singer, producer and director known for his works in [[Telugu cinema]]. He was one of the first star comedians of Telugu cinema.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gokulsing |first1=K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QwGgF-rDucEC&q=kasturi+rao |title=Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas |last2=Dissanayake |first2=Wimal |author-link2=Wimal Dissanayake |date=2013-04-17 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-136-77291-7 |language=en}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Career==<br />
Kasturi Siva Rao started his career in the film industry as a movie narrator for the silent films produced at that time. Besides providing commentary, he was also a projector operator and had a unique humor to his fame. Theaters would advertise films as having "commentary by Siva Rao".<ref name="wordpress.com">26lettersto24frames.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/kasturi-siva-rao-the-first-star-comedian/</ref><ref name="tollywood.info">tollywood.info/actor/k/kasturi_siva_rao.htm</ref> He became an actor with the film ''[[Vara Vikrayam (film)|Vara Vikrayam]]'' in 1939 and shot into the limelight with ''Chudamani'' in 1941. B N Reddy's ''[[Swarga Seema]]'' in 1945 and ''[[Balaraju]]'' in 1948 catapulted him to stardom.<ref name="m.l.narasimham">{{cite web |author=M. L. |first=Narasimham |date=30 September 2012 |title=Gunasundari Katha (1949) |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/gunasundari-katha-1949/article3949759.ece |work=The Hindu}}</ref><br />
<br />
He became a lead actor with the film ''[[Gunasundari Katha]]'' in 1949, in which he played the role of a cursed prince. The film became a huge hit and his mannerisms and dialogue were so popular that people started conversing in the same tone. He owned a [[Buick]], which was a rare possession, and whenever people saw the car on roads they used to swarm the car and run along with it. Kasturi Siva Rao later on became a producer and director with the film ''[[Paramanandayya Sishyulu]]'' in the year 1950.<ref name="m.l.narasimham"/><br />
<br />
== Selected filmography ==<br />
*''[[Swarga Seema]]'' (స్వర్గసీమ)<br />
*''[[Balaraju]]'' (బాలరాజు) 28 February 1948 Supporting Actor & playback singer<br />
*[[Laila Majnu (1949 film)|''Laila Majnu'']] (లైలా మజ్ను) 1 October 1949 Supporting Actor<br />
*''[[Raksha Rekha]]'' (రక్షరేఖ) 1949 Supporting Actor<br />
*''[[Gunasundari Katha]]'' (గుణసుందరి కథ) 1 October 1949 Hero and playback singer<br />
*''[[Paramanandayya Sishyulu]]'' (పరమానందయ్య శిష్యులు) 1950 Supporting Actor, Producer, Director<br />
*[[Swapna Sundari (film)|''Swapna Sundari'']] (స్వప్న సుందరి) 1950 Supporting Actor<br />
*''[[Sri Lakshmamma Katha]]'' (శ్రీ లక్ష్మమ్మ కథ) 1950 Supporting Actor & playback singer<br />
*''[[Mantra Dandam]]'' 1951<br />
*''[[Stree Sahasam]]'' (స్త్రీ సాహసం) 1951 Supporting Actor<br />
*[[Prema (1952 film)|''Prema'']] (ప్రేమ) 1952 Supporting Actor<br />
*''[[Iddaru Pellalu]]'' 1954<br />
*''[[Panduranga Mahatyam]]'' (పాండురంగ మహత్యం) 28 November 1957 Supporting Actor<br />
*''Dongalunnaru Jagratha'' 1958<br />
*''[[Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu]]'' (అప్పు చేసి పప్పు కూడు) 14 January 1959 Supporting Actor ( Takku )<br />
*''[[Raja Makutam]]'' (రాజమకుటం) 24 February 1960 Supporting Actor<br />
*[[Seeta Rama Kalyanam (1960 film)|''Seetharama Kalyanam'']] (సీతారామ కళ్యాణం) 6 January 1961 Supporting Actor<br />
*''[[Mugguru Maratilu]]''<br />
*''Mayalamaari''<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{authority control}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Kasturi}}<br />
[[Category:1913 births]]<br />
[[Category:Telugu comedians]]<br />
[[Category:Telugu male actors]]<br />
[[Category:Male actors from Andhra Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Year of death unknown]]<br />
[[Category:Date of death unknown]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male comedians]]<br />
[[Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]<br />
[[Category:People from Kakinada]]<br />
[[Category:Actors from East Godavari district]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]</div>Amit raj