Gollapudi Maruthi Rao

Gollapudi Maruti Rao
Gollapudi Maruti Rao on his way to Kalahasthi, December 2007
Born	(1939-04-14) 14 April 1939 (age 77) Vizianagaram, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Andhra Pradesh, India)
Residence	Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Occupation	Writer (plays, stories, novels), screenwriter, TV anchor, journalist, film editor, actor, director
Website	www.gollapudimaruthirao.com www.koumudi.net.

Gollapudi Maruti Rao is an Indian film actor, theatre actor, screenwriter, dramatist, playwright, and dialogue writer known for his works in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre and Telugu Literature. He has acted in over 230 Telugu films. His noted literary works and plays, like Rendu Rellu Aaru, Patita, Karuninchani Devatalu, Mahanatudu, Kaalam Venakku Tirigindi, Aasayaalaku Sankellu, have won numerous State Awards.

He was a member of the Script Scrutiny Committee of National Film Development Corporation and served as a Jury Member at International Film Festival of India for Indian Panorama section in 1996. He is known for scripting landmark films like Doctor Chakravarthy, Tharangini, Samsaram Chadharangam, Kallu etc. He has garnered six Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards. In 1997, He has established the Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation, which presents the Gollapudi National Award, for the best first film of a director in Indian cinema.

Rao was also known for his works in All India Radio and Journalism, for over two decades. His play was included in the Master of Arts (Telugu literature) curriculum of Osmania University. This work was translated into all Indian languages by the National Book Trust, under the Aadaan Pradaan programme. The work was remade into a Telugu film in 1988 which won the Nandi Award for the Best Story in 1989. His 1975 play Kallu, was also remade into a Telugu film Kallu, which has also garnered Nandi Award for Best Feature Film. His play Oka Chettu – Rende Puvvulu was purchased by the Song and Drama Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for popular exhibition.