Singeetham Srinivasa Rao dies at 94 in Chennai: key facts and films to revise

Veteran Indian filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao died in Chennai on 3 October 2026 at the age of 94. According to GKToday, he was being treated at Kauvery Hospital for age-related ailments and health complications, and his family confirmed the death. He is remembered for a career of more than six decades across several Indian-language film industries.

What happened and when

Event date and publication dates

The death took place on 3 October 2026. The sources were published later: the GKToday item is dated 5 October 2026, and the Deccan Herald report carries a 05 October 2026, 01:55 IST timestamp. Exam notes should therefore give 3 October 2026 as the date of death, not the date of either article.

Cremation

GKToday says the cremation was scheduled for 4 October 2026 at AVM Crematorium, Chennai. The supplied sources do not report that it was carried out, so this page treats it only as a scheduled arrangement.

Why he is in the news for exam preparation

The story fits the persons-in-news and art-and-culture areas of current affairs. A death report like this is usually useful for a few checkable facts: the person's field, the place and date of death, notable works and the languages they worked in. No source here says that a question on him will appear in any exam.

Career profile

Per GKToday, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao directed about 60 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam. His work included experimental, fantasy and science-fiction films. He is associated mainly with Telugu cinema but also worked in other regional industries.

Notable films named in the sources

The sources do not say whether Sing Geetham has been released or when it will be, only that it was completed in 2026.

Kannada cinema link

Deccan Herald reports that Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar condoled his death. The report's headline quotes the Chief Minister calling him a 'jewel of Indian film industry'. It adds that Shivakumar recalled Rao's films with Dr Rajkumar, namely Chalisuva Modagalu, Shravana Bantu and Haalu Jenu. This shows his reach beyond Telugu cinema.

Quick revision points

• Died: 3 October 2026, Chennai, aged 94.
• Treatment: Kauvery Hospital, for age-related ailments and complications (as reported by GKToday).
• Career: more than 60 years, about 60 films.
• Languages: Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam.
• Works to remember: Pushpaka Vimanam (1987, silent), Aditya 369 (1991, time travel).
• Final film: Sing Geetham, a musical fantasy completed in 2026 and produced by Nag Ashwin.

What the sources do not confirm

• His date of birth and early life are not given, so they are not stated here.
• No awards or honours are listed in the supplied material.
• It is not confirmed that the cremation took place, or when Sing Geetham will be released.
• The 'about 60 films' figure is an approximate count from one source, so avoid treating it as an exact tally.

FAQ

When did Singeetham Srinivasa Rao die?

He died on 3 October 2026 in Chennai, aged 94, according to GKToday.

Which films should learners associate with him?

The sources name Pushpaka Vimanam (1987), Aditya 369 (1991) and his final film Sing Geetham. Deccan Herald also mentions Chalisuva Modagalu, Shravana Bantu and Haalu Jenu, made with Dr Rajkumar.

Which languages did he direct films in?

Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam.