Raja Babu (Telugu

Telugu language

Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...

: పుణ్యమూర్తుల అప్పలరాజు) (20 October 1937 – 7 February 1983) was a popular actor in Telugu film industry. He has also produced few films. He is considered as the most successful comedian in Tollywood. He played many roles with actress Rama Prabha

Rama Prabha

Rama Prabha is an Indian actress who has performed primarily in Telugu language films. She acted in almost 1000 films. She was credited as a character artist who shared screen space with all generation superstars...

.

Early life

He was born in Rajamundry, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...

 to Punyamurthula Umamaheswara Rao and Ramanamma as Appala Raju. His brother is also a noted comedian, Chitti Babu. He passed out Intermediate study and successfully completed Teacher training course. He worked sometime as Telugu teacher. He used to play in dramas during that period like Kukka Pilla Dorikindi, Naalugilla Chaavadi and Alluri Sitarama Raju.

Career

Garikapati Raja Rao invited Babu after seeing his acting skills in dramas. Babu reached Madras in 1960 and initially lived on tuitions. Film Director Addala Narayana Rao gave him a chance to act in his film Samajam in 1960. Babu was known for his slapstick comedy roles. He acted in record 589 movies in less than 20 years.

He has acted as hero in Tata Manavadu

Tata Manavadu

Tata Manavadu or Thatha Manavadu is a 1972 Telugu film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao . This is the first film as a hero to comedian Raja Babu paired with Guinness record holding director and actress Vijaya Nirmala. The film won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film...

, Pichodi Pelli, Thirupathi, Evariki Vare Yamuna Teere, Manishi Rodduna Paddadu. Leela Rani, Prasanna Rani, Gitanjali and Rama Prabha

Rama Prabha

Rama Prabha is an Indian actress who has performed primarily in Telugu language films. She acted in almost 1000 films. She was credited as a character artist who shared screen space with all generation superstars...

 played with him as his female counterparts. But it was Ramaprabha who had a major share in his career playing opposite him and they were considered as the best comedy couple. The Comedy song Vinara Suramma Kooturu Moguda Vishayam Chebutanu featured on the duo in the film Illu Illalu went on to become the highlight of the entire film and heard everywhere.

He portrayed the lead role of Giri, grandson (Manavadu) in the film Tata Manavadu

Tata Manavadu

Tata Manavadu or Thatha Manavadu is a 1972 Telugu film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao . This is the first film as a hero to comedian Raja Babu paired with Guinness record holding director and actress Vijaya Nirmala. The film won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film...

directed by Dasari Narayana Rao

Dasari Narayana Rao

Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao B.A. is a politician, film director, and film producer. Narayana Rao directed about 150 films, produced 53 films and worked in more than 250 films as a dialogue writer and as a lyricist.Beside graduating with a BA degree, he used to take part in scores of drama competitions...

 and teaches a lesson to his father. The cast included S. V. Ranga Rao

S. V. Ranga Rao

Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao Popularly Known as S.V.R. was an Indian Theater actor, Tollywood actor, director and producer...

 and Anjali Devi

Anjali Devi

Anjali Devi is a veteran Telugu actress and producer. She is well known for her mythological role as Sita in Lava Kusha and roles in movies like Suvarna Sundari and Anarkali.- Biography :...

.

He produced a few films under Bob and Bob Productions, including Evariki Vaare Yamuna Teeru and Manishi Rodduna Paddadu.

Babu was one of the greatest comedians in Telugu movies released during 1970-80.

Personal life

Raja Babu married Lakshmi Ammalu in 1965 and they have two children Nagendra Babu and Mahesh Babu.

He died of an heart attack in Srinagar colony

Srinagar colony

Srinagar colony is an important commercial & residential area in the west zone of Hyderabad, India.There are many upmarket flats which have created a huge rise in the real estate prices. Since it is close to Madhapur, a lot of software professionals working prefer it.-Commercial area:There are many...

 in Hyderabad.

Filmography

This is partial list of films acted by Raja Babu. Kindly help expand the list.

Year	Film	Language	Character
1960	Samajam (debut)	Telugu
1962	Bhishma Bhishma (film) Bhishma or Bheeshma is a 1962 Telugu film based on the life of the great Mahabharata character Bhishma. It is produced and directed by B. A. Subba Rao. The title role is played by N. T. Rama Rao.-The plot:...	Telugu
1962	Chitti Tammudu Chitti Tammudu Chitti Tammudu is a 1962 Telugu Drama film directed by K. B. Tilak.The film is based on the English novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.-The plot:...	Telugu
1963	Paruvu Prathishta	Telugu
1966	Navarathri Navarathri Navratri, Navaratri, or Navarathri is a Hindu festival of worship of Shakti and dance & festivities. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped...	Telugu
1966	Paramanandayya Shishyula Katha Paramanandayya Shishyula Katha Paramanandayya Shishyula Katha is a 1966 Telugu Comedy film directed by C. Pullayya. The story is written by Vempati Sadasivabrahmam.-The plot:...	Telugu	Sishya
1967	Goodachari 116	Telugu
1967	Saakshi	Telugu
1968	Bandipotu Dongalu Bandipotu Dongalu Bandipotu Dongalu is a 1968 Telugu Drama film written and directed by K. S. Prakash Rao. The film is starring S. V. Ranga Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Kongara Jaggayya in key roles. It is also a Musical film with some Melodious songs rendered by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao...	Telugu
1968	Bangaru Pichika	Telugu
1968	Ranabheri	Telugu
1969	Ekaveera Ekaveera Ekaveera is an Indian novel written by Kavi Samrat Viswanatha Satyanarayana in Telugu language. It was penned between 1925–29 and was published in Bharathi magazine in 1935. Originally written in Telugu, it has since been translated into various Indian languages. In 1969, a film version was...	Telugu	Bhattu
1969	Kathanayakudu Kathanayakudu -Cast:* N. T. Rama Rao* Jayalalitha* Dhulipala* B. Padmanabham* Raja Babu* T. G. Kamala Devi-Songs:* "Intenaya TelusukOvaya EelOkam Intenaya"...	Telugu
1970	Kodalu Diddina Kapuram Kodalu Diddina Kapuram Kodalu Diddina Kapuram is a 1970 Telugu drama film directed by D. Yoganand. It was produced by National Art Theatres of Nandamuri Trivikrama Rao, brother of N. T. Rama Rao....	Telugu
1971	Bomma Borusa Bomma Borusa Bomma Borusa is a 1971 Indian Telugu language Comedy / Drama film directed by Padma Shri awardee K. Balachander....	Telugu	Appula Appa Rao
1971	Prem Nagar	Telugu
1971	Shrimanthudu	Telugu
1972	Badi Panthulu Badi Panthulu Badi Panthulu is a 1972 Telugu Drama film directed by P. Chandrasekhara Reddy and starring N. T. Rama Rao and Anjali Devi. This is the first film of popular actress Sridevi....	Telugu
1972	Iddaru Ammayilu Iddaru Ammayilu Iddaru Ammayilu is a 1972 Telugu Drama film written and directed by S. R. Puttanna Kanagal.It is the remake of 1969 Kannada film Kappu Bilupu starring Kalpana....	Telugu
1972	Tata Manavadu Tata Manavadu Tata Manavadu or Thatha Manavadu is a 1972 Telugu film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao . This is the first film as a hero to comedian Raja Babu paired with Guinness record holding director and actress Vijaya Nirmala. The film won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film...	Telugu	Grandson Giri
1972	Vichitra Bandham	Telugu	Babji
1973	Andala Ramudu Andala Ramudu (1973 film) Andala Ramudu is a 1973 film directed by Bapu. The story is based on the "Janata Express" story of Mullapudi Venkata Ramana. The film won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film in 1973. Recent film Godavari by Sekhar Kammula enthusiastically made on this classic family entertainment film...	Telugu	Appa Rao
1973	Sharada Sharada (1973 film) Sharada is a 1973 Telugu Drama film starring Sharada and directed by K. Vishwanath.-The Plot:A psychiatrist visits a small village for a friend's marriage. Everyone thinks they have seen a ghost. The doctor soon finds out the reason. Sarada has lost her sanity over time. Sarada believes him to...	Telugu
1974	Alluri Seetharama Raju Alluri Seetharama Raju (1974 film) Alluri Seetharama Raju is a super hit, historical Telugu cinema based on the life of Indian freedom fighter Alluri Sitaramaraju and produced by Padmalaya Studios. It is the 100th film of Ghattamaneni Krishna. The film is directed by V. Ramachandra Rao and written by Maharadhi Tripuraneni...	Telugu
1974	Andaru Dongale Andaru Dongale Andaru Dongale is a 1974 Telugu Comedy film directed by V. B. Rajendra Prasad. It is a remake of 1972 Bollywood film Victoria No. 203. It is a commercial hit film ran for more than 100 days in 3 centers.-Cast:...	Telugu	Dhairyam
1974	Deeksha	Telugu
1974	Evariki Vare Yamuna Theere	Telugu
1975	Jeevana Jyothi	Telugu
1975	Soggadu Soggadu (1975 film) Soggadu is a 1975 blockbuster Telugu drama film directed by K. Bapaiah. It was remade as Dildaar in Hindi in 1977, starring Jeetendra and Rekha.-The plot:...	Telugu	Rajendra Prasad
1975	Zamindarugari Ammayi	Telugu
1976	Alludochhadu	Telugu
1976	Mahakavi Kshetrayya Mahakavi Kshetrayya Mahakavi Kshetrayya is a 1976 Telugu film based on the life of Kshetrayya. It is produced by Anjali Pictures and starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi. The film has excellent songs voiced by V. Ramakrishna and music score proved by P. Adinarayana Rao.-Cast:* Akkineni Nageshwara Rao ......	Telugu
1977	Adavi Ramudu	Telugu	Bheemanna
1978	Dongala Dopidi	Telugu
1979	Karthika Deepam Karthika Deepam (film) Karthika Deepam is a 1979 Telugu film directed by Laxmi Deepak and starring Shobhan Babu, Sridevi and Sharada. The songs are highly popular particularly Aaraneekuma Ee Deepam Karteeka Deepam penned by Devulapalli Krishnasastri...	Telugu
1979	Tayaramma Bangarayya Tayaramma Bangarayya Tayaramma Bangarayya is a 1979 Telugu film starring Sowcar Janaki as Tayaramma and Kaikala Satyanarayana as Bangarayya. It costars Chiranjeevi.-The Plot:...	Telugu
1980	Saradaa Ramudu	Telugu
1981	Gadasari Attaha Sosagara Kodalu	Telugu

Awards

He won a record 14 Film fare awards - 7 of which were won in succession.

He was given the titles "Haasya Nata Chakravarthi" (Comedy King) and "Comedian of the Century".

Recently, Rajababu's 9ft bronze statue was unveiled in his birth place of Rajahmundry, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.