Allu Ramalingaiah

01 Oct, 1922 |

Actor

Biography

Allu Rama Lingaiah (1 October 1922 – 31 July 2004), commonly known as Allu, was an Indian Telugu language comedic actor from Palakollu, India who appeared in over one thousand Tollywood films. Rama Lingaiah began his film career in 1953 with Puttillu and finished his last film Jai in the year before his death. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1990 by the Government of India, and was felicitated with the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 2001. Telugu Cinema viewers remember him for his antics, jokes, humor, and many performances. Rama Lingaiah played memorable roles in classics like Mayabazar (one of the Sarma-Sastry duo), Missamma, in Muthyala Muggu (where he played as a monkey-bit man, imitating the monkey, towards the climax), Sankarabharanam (his speech preceding the song dorakunaa ituvanti seva... commenting the downfall in current-day music, and the scene where he admonishes Somayajulu), Saptapadi, yamagOla ("taalamu vesitini, gollemu marachitini!"), and numerous movies of the 80's where he played a soft and unhated villain with the likes of Raogopal Rao and Nagabhushanam. His apt comedic timing and his very nasal voice added to his many notable comic performances. Other works This comedian was also a homeopathic doctor and freedom fighter. Was arrested by the British during Quit India Movement. Was featured in dramas for Praja Natya Mandali before joining films and awarded the title 'Hasya Kala Prapoorna' by Nritya Kala Mandali. His social service and concern for others can be seen in his active support of the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust. Posthumously, he had his eyes donated to the Chiranjeevi Eye Bank. Family ties Rama Lingaiah's family includes others in the Telugu film industry, including star producer and distributor (Allu Aravind), megastar hero (Chiranjeevi), brothers Nagendra Babu and Pawan Kalyan, and upcoming actors Allu Arjun, Ram Charan Teja.