Father's Day Special: Iconic and Celebrated fathers' on Telugu Screen

Telugu Film Industry increased its market and visibility as the actors par excellence started performing in iconic roles. They were so good that many writers wanted to create such characters for them and then execute in a dramatic fashion for the liking of viewers.  Here are the iconic on-screen fathers from Telugu Cinema over the years, with Father's Day wishes to all of them and you, 

Gummadi Venkateswara Rao 

In 1950's, he started out as a comedian and then transformed into a villain. Slowly, he became the friend of hero and their big brother. For icons like ANR, NTR with whom he co-starred as equal lead or antagonist, became their father in their films in late 1970's. He continued to do so for Krishna, Sobhan Babu and in few films of Chiranjeevi. He made the father role for villains also iconic with his wit and timing. 

Iconic Films: Bharya Bhartalu, Sampoorna Ramayanam, Iddaru Mithrulu, Maro Malupu, Punarjanma, Antastulu, Aastiparulu, Brundavanam 

SV Ranga Rao 

SV Ranga Rao turned to father roles of ANR, NTR in 1950's. In Pelli Chesi Choodu, he played father of NTR and he has become a strict brother of ANR or father of his lady love, in many films. Actually, he should be first remembered as the iconic father on-screen for Telugu Cinema but his aura in mythological and folklore films transcends his image as a father in social films. 

Iconic Films: Pelli Chesi Choodu, Missamma, Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu, Lakshmi Nivasam, Tata - Manavadu, Atma Bandhuvu, Dasarabullodu. 

Chittoor V. Nagayya 

If you wanted an actor like ANR to have a week and meak dad, then you wouldn't look far but go straight to Chittoor V. Nagayya. First Star Actor of Telugu Cinema, who took more than one lakh to sign a film as a lead, decided to play father roles or even small roles for money later. But his talent as a performer was never in question and his conduct on sets was never in question too.

Iconic Films: Panduranga Mahatyam, Sri SeethaRama Kalyanam, Vagdanam, Mooga Nomu

Prabhakar Reddy 

Prabhakar Reddy from late 1960's to early 1990's, became the man who looks poor and tries to repair his home under helpless circumstances. It is hard to pick one film where he excelled as he used to do such roles where regularly. 

Iconic Films: Premabhishekam 

Kaikala Satyanarayana

Kaikala Satyanarayana after being a villain for years slowly tried positive roles for big stars while being their villain in others. He clicked as negative lead and positive father too. 

Iconic Films: Sri Ranga Neethulu, Amma Rajinama, Subhalekha, Mantri Gari Viyyankudu, Majnu, Aakhari Poratam, Pelli Sandadi 

Chandra mohan 

Chandra Mohan from early 1990's started to shift to character roles from comedian, comedy hero roles. His looks of a father who is always pushed to helpless corners gave life to many sacrifices of heroes and heroines. 

Iconic Films: Aame, Okkadu, Nuvve Nuvve, Dhee, Manasantha Nuvve, Gulabi

Sutti Velu 

After playing many comic roles as Sutti Velu before Brahmanandam's entry, Velu turned into an iconic helpless father for action films. His portrayal used to fit the father who can't do anything in many films. 

Iconic Films: Kalikalam, Pavithra Bandham

PL Narayana 

As a lead heroine's father or a person from oppressed community, whose son will become hero later, he is the man who 1980's filmmakers went for. He was a great villain too. 

Iconic Films: Khaidi

Sutti Veerabhadra Rao 

If Sutti Velu turned into a hapless and hopeless father on screen, Veerabhadra Rao did the opposite in a comic way. He became the father of comic heroes and tortured them with his antics, mainly in Jandhyala films. 

Iconic Films: Chupulu Kalasina Subhavela, Srivariki Prema Lekha, Naalugu Sthambala Aata, Mogudu Pellalu 

Prakash Raj 

Prakash Raj jokes that he has become Father of Cinema with the kind of roles he played on screen as serious and funny father. He broke the mould of hapless fathers but became a father who gives, lectures on- screen at one time. 

Iconic Films: Nuvve Nuvve, Antahpuram, Nuvvu Naaku Nacchav, Premaku Swagatham, Dil, Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammayi, Varsham, Nuvvosthanante Nenoddantana, Parugu, Bommarillu

Murali Sharma 

Murali Sharma became Father of Cinema these days as from 2010's Prakash Raj became busy with production and direction, duties. His different style in delivering a line and sincerity towards the characters, make him an icon. 

Iconic Films: Bhale Bhale Mogadivoy, Ala Vaikuntapurramuloo, Vijetha (2018)

Rajendra Prasad 

Rajendra Prasad stated playing character roles from mid-2010s. Mainly after playing Raghuram in the film, Aa Naluguru, he shifted his focus from still trying to entertain audiences as a lead to different roles. 

Iconic Films: Mahanati, Kousalya Krishnamurthy, Supreme, Eedo Rakam Aado Rakam, Nannaku Prematho. 

Naresh 

Naresh also like Rajendra Prasad turned to comedy father roles from mid-2010s. Bhale Bhale Mogadivoy is a big break for him and A..Aa cemented as recent actors' father in many films. 

Iconic Films: Bhale Bhale Mogadivoy, A...Aa, Sammohanam 

Rao Ramesh 

Rao Ramesh like his father, Rao Gopala Rao  started out as a positive character actor and then turned into a villain. But he has some very good roles to boost about as father as well, in many films.

Iconic Film: Oh Baby, Seethamma Vakitlo Srimalle Chettu, RX100, A...Aa

Jagapathi Babu 

Jagapathi Babu after turning a new page as a villain, his role in Srimanthudu made him to be a go to option for father roles too. He is playing father of hero or heroine in most of the films, now-a-days. 

Iconic Film: Srimanthudu, Rarandoi Veduka Chuddam

Raghuvaran 

Raghuvaran is more known as the iconic villain from Shiva but he did a very positive father role in Pawan Kalyan's Suswagatham. We can never forget that role, ever. 

Iconic Film: Suswagatham

Arjun Sarja 

Arjun might still not have transformed into a father on screen in full-fledged capacity but he started doing so. He might come up as a competition for Jahapathi Babu for star father roles in future. 

Film: Naa Peru Surya Naa Illu India.