KALAIMAMANI MARUTI RAO

Late Sri S Maruthi Rao was born in Thanjavur on 25-04-1921. Right from his school days he was interested in photography. He would carry his camera to school and capture whatever images of interest that he saw.

Impressed by his interest in photography, his neighbour, Sri NC Pillai, Editor of Flash magazine enquired whether he would be interested in joining movies. With the permission of his parents, he enlisted as an apprentice in Pragajothi Films in 1940 for the Telugu film “Choodamani” where the heroine was Pushpavalli, mother of Hindi film actress Rekha. The producer of the film was Raja Sandow and the cinematographer was Mama Shinde.

His next film was “Kavi Kalamegam,” where the hero was Nadaswaram Vidvan Sri Rajarathnam Pillai, directed by Ellis R Dungan and WJ Moylam. The cinematographer was Sri MA Rehman. He also worked as assistant under the eminent cinematographer Marcus Bartley. He thereafter moved to Vel Pictures studio in Guindy and worked for the film “Bhakthi Mala” where the heroine was Banumathi. The cinematographer who was from Bombay was so impressed with Rao’s work that he took him on as First Assistant and gave him the responsibility of handling the Mitchell camera.

Then came the World War and Maruthi Rao returned to his native place for a while. When he returned, he joined Pragathi Studio and was the still photographer for the film “Sri Valli” produced by AVM. When AVM moved to Karaikudi, Rao got the opportunity to work as still photographer and First Photographer for the film “Mahathma Kabir” directed by the late Sri RN Nagendra Rao. Luck favored him as the German photographer left for home and he got the opportunity to finish the film.

When AVM returned from Karaikudi, Rao got the chance to work as Second Photographer and also as in-charge of the still department. Then came the production of “Or Iravu” and Rao took over for the first time as cinematographer for the film. Directed by P Neelakandan, the film’s cinematography won wide acclaim and thus began his illustrious career. He went on to work in as many as 60 films, Tamil 34, Hindi 13, Kannada 8 and Telugu 5.

He was specially commended for his lighting skills in such challenging movies such as the B/W films – “Or Iravu,” “Andha Naal,” “Parasakthi,” “Major Chandrakant” and color movies “Anbe Vaa,” “Adhey Kanngal,” and “Ranganayagi” (Kannada). He has had the distinction of working with 3 CMs of Tamilnadu, viz, M Karunanidhi, MGR and J Jayalalithaa. He was also the make-up test photographer for Sivaji Ganesan, SV Subbiah, Vyjayanthimala, Hema Malini and many others before they could enter cinema.

He has served as Honorary Member of TNPSC , Selection Committee Chairman for Film Institute and in other capacities as well.

BIO-DATA

FILMOGRAPHY

Countries visited

Andhappuram – Historical,
Mariyadhai Raman, Anbulla Amma,
Arumbugal & Windows – Telefilms for DD,
Working Woman (Sumaithangigal),
Chinna Sambu, Nijamaana Uyarangal, Tamil serials
Kaadu Sollum Kadhaigal – Documentary on Social Forestry – production, direction, photography,
Aquaculture – 50 min documentary for Central Institute of Brackish Water

Other activities : Member, Madras Amateur Photography Society since 1937
Won several awards for still photography