Giri Babu, Telugu Cinema's Shape-Shifting Veteran, Dies at 83

Giri Babu, the Telugu actor who moved from leading man to villain to beloved comic across more than fifty years on screen, died November 14 in Hyderabad. He was 83.

Born Yerra Seshagiri Rao on June 8, 1943, he came from a middle-class farming family in Ravinuthala village, Prakasam district, in what is now Andhra Pradesh. He left home for Madras, then the hub of South Indian filmmaking, and made his screen debut in 1973 with 'Jagame Maya.'

The filmography that followed runs to hundreds of credits. He was a constant on Telugu screens from the 1970s to the 2020s, entertaining audiences across generations.

From hero to Dushasana

He began as a leading man in 'Chandee,' 'Dorababu' and 'Zamindarugari Ammayi.' In 1977 he played Dushasana in the mythological epic 'Kurukshetram,' the role that pointed toward his true calling in character work. He became one of Telugu cinema's most dependable villains and, later, one of its most endearing comic and supporting actors.

The 1980s were his industrial peak. He sometimes appeared in more than a dozen films a year, including:

• 'Jagannatha Rathachakralu'
• 'Naa Desam'
• 'Padmavyuham'
• 'Vijetha'
• 'Simhasanam'
• 'Ravana Brahma'
• 'Viswanatha Nayakudu'
• 'Donga Garu Swagatham'
• 'Agni Keratalu'

What did he do behind the camera?

Plenty. He produced 'Simha Garjana' in 1978 and 'Merupu Daadi' in 1984. He directed three features: 'Ranarangam' in 1985, 'Indrajith' in 1990 — starring his son Bose Babu — and 'Nee Sukhame Ne Koruthunna' in 2008.

The 1990s and 2000s remade him as the warm father figure, uncle and comic sidekick of countless hits: 'Hello Brother,' 'Bhairava Dweepam,' 'Ghatotkachudu,' 'Ninne Pelladata,' 'Nuvve Kavali,' 'Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu,' 'Idiot,' 'Sambaram,' 'Athadu,' 'Stalin' and 'Gamyam.'

He kept working into his 70s, with roles in 'A Aa,' 'Geetha Govindam,' 'Jathi Ratnalu,' 'Sreekaram' and 'Most Eligible Bachelor.' His final screen appearance came in 'Anni Manchi Sakunamule' in 2023. Not a bad closing credit for a man who started in a farming village.

Who carries the legacy forward?

His family does. His son Raghu Babu followed him into the industry and became a popular actor and director in his own right.

Giri Babu's arc — from Ravinuthala to a 50-year career in Telugu cinema — proved that a great actor can play any part and make audiences believe it. The fans who booed his villains and laughed at his comic turns will remember a performer who never stopped working at the craft he loved, right up to a final film released the year before his death.