Veteran Telugu actor Shobhanbabu, 70, passed away Thursday while performing yoga at his home in Chennai.
The actor was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.
Born on 14 January 1937, Shobhanbabu made his debut in Daivabalam.
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After playing minor roles in many films, he made his debut as hero in Veerabhimanyu (1965), which was a big hit. The success of Manushulu Maarali propelled him to stardom in Tollywood.
Winner of four Filmfare awards besides Andhra Pradesh government’s Nandhi Awards for a record six times, Shobhanbabu was affectionately called Andhra Andagadu meaning the ‘handsome man of Andhra Pradesh’.
Popular for his family entertainers, Shobhanbabu, in a career spanning over three decades, had been part of several blockbusters including
Jeevan Jyothi, Babu, Iddaru Devathulu, Balipeetham, Gorintaku, Sampoorna Ramayanam, Radha Krishna, Krishnarjunulu, Mosaggadu, Chandipriya, Lava Kusa, Pandava Vanavasam, Jagan, Anna chellulu.
He is survived by a son and three daughters. His last rites would be performed in Andhra Pradesh.
Profile
Sobhan Babu made his debut in the film Daivabalam. After that he acted in many films playing small roles in many films which starred N.T.R or A.N.R. Veerabhimanyu(1965) was his first movie as a ‘solo hero’. This movie turned out to be a big hit. However, he still played small roles in many films in order to earn money for his family. After the huge success of “Manushulu Maarali”, he regularly acted as a “solo hero” in many films till 1997.
Sobhanbabu, one of the senior Telugu film artistes, quietly disappeared from the Telugu film industry. Though some of his contemporaries are still making their presence in films, Sobhanbabu voluntarily opted to stay away from the film industry. Not only in films, he is keeping himself off from any functions or festivals related to the film industry like audio releases, film releases or Nandi award kind of prestigious dos.
Sobhan babu‘s real name is Uppu Shobana Chalapathy Rao. His date of birth is January 14, 1937. He is the son of Uppu Suryanarayana Rao. He has three sisters Dhanaranga, Jhansi and Nirmala, besides a brother Sambasiva Rao.
He had completed his schooling in Kuntamukkula Mylavaram. He pursued his Intermediate in Vijayawada and finished his degree in Vijayawada. Later, he joined law course in Madras, but discontinued it.
He got married to Kanta Kumari on May 15, 1958. He has a son Karuna Seshu and three daughters Mrudula, Prashanti and Nivedita.
Though he was in the glamour field, he did not allow either his sons, daughters, brothers or sisters into the film industry.
He made his debut into films through Daivabalam directed by Vasanthkumar Reddy, but the first film that hit the screen is Bhakta Sabari and his first crush is with L Vijayalakshmi. Chitrapu Narayana Murthy is his first director, while BD Naidu was the first producer. It is Pendyala Nageswara Rao who gave music for his first ever film. His film Manushulu Maarali was run for 25 weeks which was a recording during those days. By the time Sobhanbabu entered, it was black and white era. His first colour film is Kannavari Kalalu. For the first time he went abroad for a film shooting for Ramudu-Parasuramudu. He made a dual role in Potti Pleader for the first time.
During those days Sobhan babu is the only stylish star. Even if he wears a T-shirt or if he wears a suit, it is perfect fit for him. It is Sobhanbabu who used to wear goggles in song sequences and it is worth watching on screen. He had received Filmfare Awards for four times, Nandi awards for five times, AP Cine Goers Award for eight times of which he bagged the award consecutively for six years from 1970 to 1975.
Likewise he had bagged Madras Film Fans award for nine times. Vamsi Berkely Award, AP Film Fans Award, Andhra Patrika Award, Film World Award were only a few to mention. He bagged the Central Govt award for the best classical film hero for Bangaru Panjaram in 1970. Filmalaya, Cine World, Cine Express, Kalasagar, and Kalasravanthi were few more awards that came in his way.
Sobhanbabu had paired up with Sarada for several films and they were said to be a hit pair of all times. It is really a unique combination. Sobhanbabu is known for his glamour and performance for about 30 years in the filmdom and Sarada is known more for her outstanding, performance-oriented roles, especially for sober roles.
He was popularly called as “Andhra Andagadu” meaning, “Most handsome person in Andhra Pradesh”. He was honored several Nandi Awards by the state of Andhra Pradesh Government. He probably earned maximum number of awards among any Telugu hero for his diverse roles spanning over 30 years. He was the most popular ladies hero for over 20 years. In fact, he earned so much ladies popularity that even to this day any good ladies family entertainer is referred to as “Shoban Babu type movie” by the telugu movie lovers. He was honored “Natabooshana” title and it became his last name in movie credits.
Though several senior artistes had lost their earnings either by producing films or in some other way, Sobhanbabu had a planned career. He invested all his earnings in real estate business and is leading a peaceful life with a complete happy family with sons, daughters, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law and grandchildren. He acted in films that suits his age all the times. At the fag end of his career, he chose some character artiste roles and finally took retirement from films for a happy and fruitful life. He celebrated his 70th birthday on January 14, 2007.
Shoban Babu’s Detailed Profile
Name: Uppu Shobana Chalapathy Rao [14 Jan 1937- 20 March 20, 2008]
Father: Uppu Suryanrayana Rao
Mother: Uppu Ramatulasamma
Wife: Kantha Kumari, Married on 15 May 1958
Family Members: Sisters: Dhanaranga, Jhansi and Nirmala, besides a brother Sambasiva Rao
Children:
Son : Karuna Sheshu
Daughters : Mrudula, Prashanti and Niveditha
Son in laws :Dr Sharat, Anil Kumar and N.Vishnu Vardhana Rao
Daughter in law : Vijaya
Grand Children : Sandesh Sankalap (twins) Shobana
Education :
- Schooling- Kuntamukkula Mylavaram
- Inter – Vijayawada
- Degree Guntur AC College
- Law – Madras Discontinued
First Movie (released): Bhakta Sabari
First Movie Heroine: L. Vijayalaxmi
First Movie Director (released): Chitrapu Narayanamurthy
First Movie Producer: B.D. Naidu
First Music Director: Pendayala Nageswera Rao Bhakta Sabari
First 100 days Movie: Narthanasala
First Kashimiri color and whole film: Kannavari Kalalu
First foreign location (only): Ramudu Parsuhuramudu
First double Action Movie: Potti Pleader
Awards:
- Film fare Awards 1971 74 76 79
- Nandi Best Actor Award from AP Govt : 1969 1971 1972 1973 1976
- AP Cinegoers Award : 1970 71 72 73 74 75 85 89
- Madras Film Fans Award : 1971 74 75 76 78 79 80 84 85
- Vamsi Berkely Award : 1978 84 85
- AP Film Fans Award : 1971 1974
- Andhrapatrika Award : 1970 1985
- Film World : 1971 1975
- Central Govt Award for the best classical film hero award : Bangaru Panjaram 1970
- Filmalaya : 1975
- Cine World : 1975
- Kalasagar : 1975 1986
- Kalasravanthi : 1992
Movies 100 days:
- Veerabhimanyu
- Potti pleader
- Manushulu marali
- Tasildar gari ammai
- Sampoorna ramayanam
- Jeevana Tarangalu
- Puttinillu mettinillu
- Andaru dongalu
- Manchimanushulu
- Jeevana Jyothy
- Jebu donga
- Soggadu
- Mallepoovu
- Kaartika deepam
- Judagadu
- Mande gundelu
- Gorintaaku
- Kodalluvasunnaru jagartha
- Pandandanti jeevitam
- Illalu
- Maharaju
- Kaidi babai
- Illalu priyuraalu
- Premamurthulu
- Devata
- Mundadugu
- sarpayagam
- Evandi avida Vachindi
Music directors worked for Shoban Babu :
- Pendyala
- Chakravarthi
- K.V. Mahadevan
- Satyam
- S. Rajeshwara Rao
- S.P. Kondapani
- Ghantasala
- T.V. Raju
- T. Chalapathi Rao
- Raj koti
- Master Venu
- Aswadhama
- Adinarayana RAo
- Ilayaraja (Raj kumar, Ashwamedam, Mr. Bharath)
- Ramesh naidu (Amma Maata, Ganga Manga and Jeevitam)
- SP Balasubramanyam (Jackie, Kongumudi Bharyamani)
- Shankar (Pratikaram and Debbaku Ta Dongalamuta)
- JV Raghavulu (Jeevanatarangalu, Dhamapeetam Daddarililu)
- V.Kumar (Kannavari kalalu and Andraru Manchi Valle)
- Vidhyasagar (Sarpayagam, Doshi Nirdhosi)
- Rajan nagendra (Navagrahapuja Mahima)
- Adinarayana Ram and Satyam (Chandipriya)
- AA Raju (Kathanayakuraalu)
- Koti
- Raj Susarla Dakshanamurthy
- Vishwanathan Ramurthy
- Heriones worked with Shoban Babu:
- Jayasudha
- Vanishree
- Sharada
- Jayaprada
- Chandrakala
- Vijayashanthi
- Suhasini
- Radha
- Laxmi
- Sridevi
- Sujatha
- Adoni Laxmi
- Savitri
- Jayanthi
- Kanchana
- Geetanjali
- Attili Laxmi
- K.R.Vijaya
- Vijayanirmala
- Priyaraman
- Nagma
- Surabhi
- Amani
- Subhasini
- Rati
- Shavukar Janaki
- Sumalatha
- Madhavi
- L.Viajayalaxmi
- Vakkalanka Padma
- Rajashri
- Pandaribhai
- Bharathi
- Sheela
- Rajasulochana
- Radhika
- Sarita
- Nandini
- Ambika
- Preeti
- Keerti Singh
- Bhanupriya
- Sumitra
- Deevika
- Sandhaya Raani
- Y.Vijaya
- Aarti
- Vijayalalitha
- Venneradai Nirmala
- Jamuna
- Jayalalitha
- Lata
- Manjula
- Jayachitra
- Rekha
- Srividya
- Indraja
- Reena
- Deepa
- Geeta
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