The film was listed among CNN-IBNs hundred greatest Indian films of all time. In 1988, he co-produced, scripted and directed the first Indian silent film, Pushpaka Vimana premiered at Cannes Film Festival, and has received the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Filmfare Award South for Best Film, and several International honors, including special mention at Shanghai Film Festival. The film was later remade into Hindi as Naache Mayuri. The 1984 Telugu biographical dance film, Mayuri, which won the National Film Award – Special Mention Feature Film, was premiered at the 1985 International Film Festival of India, has also received several state Awards, including the State Nandi Award for Best Feature Film, and Filmfare Award South for Best Direction. Kannada actor Shivaram has been a part of all seven movies of Rao starring Rajkumar. He also directed Puneeth Rajkumar in a lead role as a child artist in Eradu Nakshatragalu in which he had played a dual role. He was also the director of debut movies of Rajkumars sons - Shiva Rajkumars Anand and Raghavendra Rajkumars Chiranjeevi Sudhakara.
He directed Rajkumar in 7 movies including his 200th movie Devatha Manushya. He has the distinction of having directed Rajkumar and all his 3 sons - the first director to do so. Rajeswara Rao, he also composed music for 2 Kannada movies - Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma directed by him and Samyuktha - not directed by him. Rao received three Karnataka State Film Awards, including two for Best Screenplay. The Kannada Film Journalists Association has honoured Rao with a Special Biography. He was also the script-writer of Belliyappa Bangarappa 1992. Rao debuted in Kannada with the 1982 blockbuster Haalu Jenu and went on to direct other Kannada blockbusters like Chalisuva Modagalu 1982, Eradu Nakshatragalu 1983, Shravana Banthu 1984, Jwaalamukhi 1985 Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma 1985, Anand 1986, Devatha Manushya 1988, Chiranjeevi Sudhakara 1988, Ksheera Sagara 1992, Tuvvi 1999 and Make-Up 2002. It won the Presidents gold medal for National Film Award for Best Feature Film. Rao was the executive director of the 1970 Kannada movie Samskara directed by Pattabhirama Reddy. The film has received the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and Filmfare Award South for Best Film. The 1988 silent film, Pushpaka Vimana gained international acclaim, including 1988 Cannes Film Festival premiere in the International Critics Week. He then directed social problem films like Dikkatra Parvathi 1974, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil for that year, and Tharam Marindhi, which won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film, both of which were premiered at International Film Festival of India and the Moscow Film Festival. He made his Telugu directorial debut with Neethi Nijayithi 1972. Rao served as the executive director for the 1970 Kannada film, Samskara which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film, and Bronze Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival. The 2008 animation film Ghatothkach, was premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival in the Critics Week section, and was also premiered to special mention at the Grand Finale - Childrens Film Festival 2014 of the 44th International Film Festival of India. The film won Special Mention in the Competition section at the 2003 International Children’s Film Festival Hyderabad, and was subsequently premiered at the 37th International Film Festival of India. The 2003 animation film, Son of Aladdin had 1100 shots and 125 characters. In 2012, Rao served as one of the selection committee members for the Sundance Institutes screenwriters lab. Rao was also the Guest of honor alongside Barrie Osbourne at the Media and Entertainment Business Conclave 2012 hosted by FICCI and FFI. In 2011, Rao received the Life Achievement Award from the Film Federation of India at the 4th Global Film Festival. In 2010, Rao headed the Jury of the Indian Panorama at the 8th Chennai International Film Festival. He has garnered two National Film Awards, seven state Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, and three Karnataka State Film Awards. He is credited with having revolutionised the South Indian cinema with experimental films. The octogenarian is widely regarded as one of the versatile directors of India.
Singeetam Srinivasa Rao is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, composer, singer, lyricist and actor, known for his works in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi films, across multiple genres.