MyVoice: Views of our readers 05th October 2026

Singeetham remained an unsung hero

It is indeed sad that legendary filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao is no more. One of Indian cinema’s most inventive filmmakers, he remained remarkably unsung at the national level and was never considered for the Dadasaheb Phalke award during his lifetime. His Pushpaka Vimanam, made without conventional dialogue, remains a landmark in visual storytelling.

Even more remarkable was his final film, Sing Geetham, made at the age of 94—a unique experiment in which the characters sing their lines. Rao did not need an award to establish his place in cinema. His contributions deserved recognition in his lifetime and not any posthumous gesture. Regional film makers must institute a “Singeetham Srinivas Rao” award in line with Dadasaheb.

N Nagarajan, Hyderabad-103

A doyen of Tollywood industry

The passing of veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao at the age of 96 marks the end of an illustrious chapter in Telugu cinema. His association with films began nearly seven decades ago as an assistant director in the iconic Mayabazar.

He went on to direct nearly 60 films and earned a special place in the annals of Indian cinema. His memorable works include Pushpaka Vimanam, Mayuri, Aditya 369 and Bhairava Dweepam. With his wife having predeceased him, Singeetham leaves behind generations of admirers, disciples and followers. His distinctive contribution to cinema will continue to be remembered with affection and respect.

N Ramalakshmi, Secunderabad-10

“Versatile artiste”

He etched his name permanently in the hearts of people as “Versatile Sangeetham - Singeetham Srinivasa Rao” ... an innovative - experimental - versatile director who made movies of all genres, with melodious music and songs, apart from novel themes, story line and treatment. Thus, they enthralled the public and thus he became the darling - director or people’s - director. He directed around 60 movies across multiple genres and languages, including telugu, kannada, tamil, hindi, and English. Versatility was his forte.

He won many awards - rewards at national and state level, filmfare awards too. A few movies at a glance:- social problem (Tharam marindi), telugu - Indian culture (America Ammai), folklore (Bhairava Deepam), science fiction (Adithya 369), silent movie (Pushpaka Vimanam), dance movie (Mayuri), mythology (Sri krishnarjuna Vijayam), hero in quadruplet role (Michael Madana Kama Raju), humour (Gammathu Goodacharulu, Sommokadidi Sokokadidi), female oriented - serious (Zamindharu gari ammayi), hero in a woman’s get up (Madam), hero as a dwarf (Apoorva Sahodarulu), animation movie (son of Aladdin), “only songs” movie (Sing - Geetham: his last movie in 2026, he at 95 years age).

PVP Madhu Nivriti, Secunderabad-61

A Tollywood legend like no other

Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, cinema’s eternal maverick, leaves behind a remarkable legacy of imagination, innovation and versatility. From Tamil classics like Dikkatra Parvathi, Raja Paarvai, Apoorva Sagodharargal and Michael Madana Kama Rajan to Telugu landmarks such as Mayuri, Aditya 369 and Bhairava Dweepam, he constantly pushed the boundaries of storytelling.

His dialogue-free Pesum Padam remains a bold experiment that transcended language. A director, writer, producer and actor, Singeetam embraced every facet of filmmaking with curiosity and courage. His enduring collaborations with Kamal Haasan produced some of Indian cinema’s most inventive works. Even in his nineties, he remained active, proving that cinema was inseparable from his life.

A P Thiruvadi, Chennai

Nari shakti dazzles on golden day for India

Kudos to Team India for a golden haul on Saturday - Gold in hockey, cricket, wrestling, golf and archery, taking its overall medal tally to 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals.

Meanwhile, a special salute to the men’s hockey team for beating Malaysia 5-1 to retain the Asiad title and qualify for the 2028 Olympics, and to Nari Shakti for bringing home gold in cricket, archery and golf, among other disciplines. A golden day indeed.

Ganti Venkata Sudhir, Secunderabad

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The Hans India