Sarath Babu
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Sarath Babu
(Age 72 Yr. )
Personal Life
Education | B.Sc. |
Nationality | Indian |
Profession | Actor |
Place | Amadalavalasa, Madras State,  Andhra Pradesh, India |
Physical Appearance
Height | 5 feet 11 inches |
Eye Color | Brown |
Hair Color | Salt & Pepper |
Family
Parents | Father: VSR Murthy |
Marital Status | Divorced |
Spouse | Rama Prabha (m. 1981 - div. 1988), Sneha Nambiar (m. 1990) |
Sathyam Babu Dixithulu, known by his stage name Sarath Babu, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Tamil and Telugu cinema. He appeared in more than 200 films, including in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and a few Malayalam and Hindi films. He has received eight state Nandi Awards.
Babu was noted for his height, handsome looks, and charming smile throughout his acting career, which spanned for around five decades. He was known for his compelling screen presence, especially known for his camaraderie with Rajinikanth in the films where the duo acted together. He had also shared screen space with Kamal Haasan, Vijay, and Vikram as he did with almost all the lead actors of Kollywood and Tollywood industries.
Personal life
Sarath Babu was born as Sathyam Babu Dixithulu on 31 July 1951. He was in a live-in relationship with Telugu actress Rama Prabha during the 1980s. The duo separated themselves from the living together lifestyle in 1988, and Rama slammed Babu by making allegations that he had cheated her and snatched all of her properties in Chennai. Babu denied the allegations and accepted that he was in a relationship with Rama but revealed that he had no intentions whatsoever to claim others' properties unlawfully. Babu himself confirmed that he was too younger than Rama when he got into a relationship with her.
Career
Babu entered the film industry in 1973 through the Telugu film Rama Rajyam. He made his Tamil film debut with Pattina Pravesam (1977), directed by K. Balachander. He later became popular through the Tamil film Nizhal Nijamagiradhu (1978), which was also directed by Balachander. Balachander would eventually become Babu's guru in film career.
Babu's maiden collaboration with Rajinikanth, Mullum Malarum (1978), which was the directorial debut for Mahendran, became an evergreen cult classic hit in Tamil cinema, and the film also marked an important milestone in Tamil cinema. His supporting role with Rajinikanth was critically acclaimed, and his performance in the film's song Senthazham Poovil became talk of the town across Tamil Nadu. He later developed a deep rooted friendship with Rajinikanth following the success of Mullum Malarum.
Babu's other collaborations with Rajinikanth, such as Annamalai and Muthu, also stamped his authority as a go-to supporting actor and was also praised for his onscreen chemistry with Rajinikanth, which was fueled by his characterization in those films. Babu played the role of a friend for Rajinikanth before becoming his foe in Annamalai and for Babu's performance in Annamalai as a villain, it stirred memes in social media even several years after the release of the film. His role in the film, Ashok, became iconic when he locked horns with Rajinikanth's titular role following a land dispute, although they were initially friends.[10] Annamalai also had a scene where Babu eventually slaps Rajinikanth, although the former escaped the wrath of hardcore fans due to the offscreen friendship between Rajinikanth and Babu. One of the iconic notable scenes in Annamalai, where title character played by Rajinikanth challenges Ashok by saying, "Ashok, intha naal un diaryla kurichi vechikko" (transl. Ashok, mark this day in your diary).
Babu played the role of a Jamindar in Muthu, and Rajinikanth played the role as his charioteer in the film. Rajinikanth's titular role, Muthu, depicted as being the respectful of his Jamindar Raja, and Raja too is fond of Muthu. Raja even listens to Muthu in some aspects, which portrayed the affection between both characters. However, things change when both of them fall in love with the same woman and Raja orders his servant to beat up Muthu.
Babu also collaborated with Vijay in the early part of his film career, including playing the role as Vijay's mentor in Vijay's debut film Naalaiya Theerpu (1992), which was directed by Vijay's father S. A. Chandrasekhar. Babu also joined hands with Vijay in Puthiya Geethai (2003), where the former played the role of an astrologer who eventually had the say on deciding the fate of Vijay's life by driving it to the climax part with suspense.
Babu's last film acting role came in Vasantha Mullai, which released in 2023. Films such as Malli Pelli and Por Thozhil are set to be posthumous releases of him.
Babu was reported to have said that:
My dad was a hotelier, he wanted me to handle his business but I wanted to be a police officer. During college days, I developed shortsight and my dreams crashed as clear eyesight was a pre-requisite to join the police. People told my mother that her son was good looking and he should get into films. My lecturers in college said the same. All this played on my mind. My father was against it but my mother supported me. I knew in my heart that I would not fit into business. Even if I failed I could fall back on the family business, that is what I thought though I knew in my heart that I would not fit into business. I responded to an advertisement in the paper for fresh faces for a film and I got through the audition more easily than I had expected. My first break was in a Tamil film, directed by K. Balachander. The same was remade in Telugu as Idi Katha Kaadu, with me, Kamal Haasan and Chiranjeevi and the film was a hit.
Illness and death
In April 2023, it was reported that Babu was suffering from sepsis. He died from multiple organ failure on 22 May 2023, after being admitted in a ventilator at a private hospital in Hyderabad, Telangana. He was 71. Sarath Babu's final rites were performed in Chennai.
Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Language |
---|---|---|---|
1973 | Rama Rajyam | Telugu | |
1976 | Raaja | Advocate Ramu | Telugu |
1977 | Pattina Pravesam | Tamil | |
1977 | Panthulamma | Telugu | |
1978 | Nizhal Nijamagiradhu | Venkatachalam | Tamil |
1978 | Vattathukkul Chaduram | Tamil | |
1978 | Maro Charitra | Telugu | |
1978 | Uyirullavarai | Tamil | |
1978 | Mullum Malarum | Kumaran | Tamil |
1978 | Mudi Sooda Mannan | Bhairavan | Tamil |
1978 | Ithu Eppadi Irukku | Tamil | |
1978 | Nenjil Aadum Poo Ondru | Tamil | |
1979 | Guppedu Manasu | Buchi Babu | Telugu |
1979 | Agal Vilakku | Doctor | Tamil |
1979 | Mambazhathu Vandu | Tamil | |
1979 | Nadagame Ullagam | Tamil | |
1979 | Nool Veli | Tamil | |
1979 | Srungara Ramudu | Telugu | |
1979 | Idi Katha Kaadu | Bharani | Telugu |
1979 | Ninaithale Inikkum | Tamil | |
1979 | Tayaramma Bangarayya | Telugu | |
1979 | Urvasi Neeve Naa Preyasi | Telugu | |
1979 | Padhai Marinaal | Tamil | |
1979 | Suprabatham | Tamil | |
1979 | Uthiripookkal | Prakash | Tamil |
1979 | Chakkalathi | Guest Appearance | Tamil |
1979 | Thisai Maariya Paravaigal | Rangamani | Tamil |
1979 | Sarapancharam | Swami | Malayalam |
1980 | Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal | Tamil | |
1984 | Tulasidala | Ravi | Kannada |
1980 | Kannil Theriyum Kathaikal | Tamil | |
1980 | Megathukkum Dhagam Undu | Tamil | |
1980 | Azhagu | Tamil | |
1980 | Manmatha Ragangal | Tamil | |
1980 | Moodu Mulla Bandham | Telugu | |
1980 | Nenjathai Killathe | Chandrasekhar | Tamil |
1980 | Ponnagaram | Tamil | |
1980 | Oru Iravu Oru Paravai | Tamil | |
1980 | Mangala Nayagi | Tamil | |
1980 | Saranam Ayyappa | Tamil | |
1980 | Andharangam Oomaiyanathu | Tamil | |
1980 | Pudhiya Thoranangal | Tamil | |
1980 | Uchakattam | Dr. Kiran | Tamil |
1981 | Dhanya (film) | Malayalam | |
1981 | 47 Natkal | Dr Shankar | Tamil |
1981 | 47 Rojulu | Telugu | |
1981 | Ammayi Manasu | Telugu | |
1981 | Jeevitha Ratham | Mohan | Telugu |
1981 | Netrikkann | Yuvaraj | Tamil |
1981 | Arumbugal | Tamil | |
1981 | Radha Kalyanam | Dr Anand | Telugu |
1981 | Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum | Srivathsan | Tamil |
1981 | Bala Nagamma | Tamil | |
1981 | Dhanya | Malayalam | |
1981 | Seetakoka Chiluka | David | Telugu |
1981 | Devi Dharisanam | Tamil | |
1982 | Aval Etriya Deepam | Tamil | |
1982 | Kanavugal Karpanaigal | Tamil | |
1982 | Theerpu | Tamil | |
1982 | Yamakinkarudu | Kishore | Telugu |
1982 | Azhagiya Kanne | Tamil | |
1982 | Eera Vizhi Kaaviyangal | Tamil | |
1982 | Metti | Tamil | |
1982 | Mettela Savvadi | Telugu | |
1982 | Pannai Purathu Pandavargal | Tamil | |
1983 | Sagara Sangamam | Raghu | Telugu |
1983 | Imaigal | Tamil | |
1983 | Sattam | Ravi | Tamil |
1983 | Villiyanur Matha | Tamil | |
1983 | Sitaara | Zamindar | Telugu |
1983 | Puli Debba | Manohar | Telugu |
1983 | Kaliyuga Daivam | Telugu | |
1983 | Gaaju Bommalu | Telugu | |
1983 | Sandhippu | Tamil | |
1984 | Velai Pura Ondru | Tamil | |
1984 | Kanchana Ganga | Jayasimha | Telugu |
1984 | Anbulla Malare | Tamil | |
1984 | Chiranjeevi | Tamil | |
1984 | Unnai Naan Santhithen | Tamil | |
1984 | Azhagu | Tamil | |
1984 | Ninaivugal | Tamil | |
1984 | Naan Paadum Paadal | Tamil | |
1984 | Ezhuthatha Sattangal | Tamil | |
1984 | Mudivalla Arambam | Tamil | |
1984 | Agni Gundam | Telugu | |
1985 | Anveshana | James | Telugu |
1985 | Jansi Rani | Tamil | |
1985 | Pagal Nilavu | Robert Manohar | Tamil |
1985 | Shiksha | Telugu | |
1985 | Swati | Satyam | Telugu |
1985 | Anuraga Bandham | Telugu | |
1985 | Visha Kanni | Tamil | |
1985 | Swati Mutyam | Chalapati | Telugu |
1985 | Ooriki Soggadu | Ravi | Telugu |
1986 | Usha | Kannada | |
1986 | Jeevana Poratam | Telugu | |
1986 | Muddula Manavaraalu | Telugu | |
1986 | Manakanakku | Tamil | |
1986 | Sippikkul Muthu | Tamil | |
1986 | Dharma Devathai | Tamil | |
1986 | Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu | Tamil | |
1986 | Kaithi Rani | Tamil | |
1986 | Ukku Manishi | Salim | Telugu |
1986 | Kashmora | Sridhar | Telugu |
1987 | Velaikaran | Rajkumar | Tamil |
1987 | Shankar Guru | Devi's father | Tamil |
1987 | Chellakutti | Tamil | |
1987 | Gautami | Telugu | |
1987 | Sankeertana | Sravan Babu | Telugu |
1987 | Gandhinagar Rendava Veedhi | Ravi | Telugu |
1987 | Dabbevariki Chedu | Govardhanam | Telugu |
1987 | Michael Raj | Tamil | |
1991 | Ranachandi | With Radha | Kannada |
1987 | Samsaram Oka Chadarangam | Prakash | Telugu |
1988 | Shakthi | Kannada | |
1988 | Kampana | Kannada | |
1988 | Daisy | Malayalam | |
1988 | Abhinandana | Kamala's husband | Telugu |
1988 | Aanimuthyam | Ravi Chandra | Telugu |
1988 | Jeevana Jyothi | Sridhar | Telugu |
1988 | Chattamtho Chadarangam | Telugu | |
1988 | Aatma Katha | Telugu | |
1988 | Prana Snehitulu | Telugu | |
1988 | Dorakani Donga | Tiger Raja | Telugu |
1988 | Kanchana Seeta | Telugu | |
1988 | Adhu Antha Kaalam | Tamil | |
1988 | Rendum Rendum Anju | Balu | Tamil |
1988 | Anna Chellelu | Dr. Rajasekhar | Telugu |
1988 | Manasukkul Mathappu | Dr. Raja | Tamil |
1988 | August 15 Rathri | Telugu | |
1989 | Chettu Kinda Pleader | Gopala Krishna | Telugu |
1989 | Raktha Kanneeru | Rajasekharam | Telugu |
1989 | Swathi Chinukulu | Telugu | |
1989 | Yamapasam | Telugu | |
1989 | Thendral Sudum | Tamil | |
1989 | Thendral Puyalanadhu | Tamil | |
1989 | Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil | Rajesh | Tamil |
1990 | Kokila | Police Officer | Telugu |
1990 | Neti Siddhartha | David | Telugu |
1990 | Aggiramudu | Ram Mohan | Telugu |
1990 | Four First Nights | Malayalam | |
1990 | Sandhana Kaatru | Dr Sarath | Tamil |
1991 | Manjeera Nadam | Telugu | |
1992 | Naangal | Rajasekhar | Tamil |
1992 | Aapad Bandhavudu | Sripathi | Telugu |
1992 | Palleturi Pellam | Telugu | |
1992 | Sabarimalayil Thanka Sooryodayam | Malayalam | |
1992 | Annamalai | Ashok | Tamil |
1992 | Naalaiya Theerpu | Priya's brother | Tamil |
1993 | Vedan | Ganesh | Tamil |
1993 | Rojavai Killathe | Sathasivam | Tamil |
1993 | Sivarathiri | Tamil | |
1993 | Kanyakumariyil Oru Kavitha | Malayalam | |
1994 | Captain | Ramasamy | Tamil / Telugu |
1994 | Uzhiyan | Anakkal Raj | Tamil |
1994 | Criminal | Dr Pratap | Telugu |
1994 | Duet | Paramaguru | Tamil |
1994 | Hello Brother | Chakravarthy | Telugu |
1994 | Teerpu | ACP Madhu | Telugu |
1995 | Muthu | Prince | Tamil |
1995 | Puthiya Aatchi | Vivekanandan | Tamil |
1995 | Chandralekha | Shankar | Tamil |
1995 | Pokiri Raja | Dual Role | Telugu |
1995 | Kolangal | Shankar | Tamil |
1995 | Sisindri | Sarah Kumar | Telugu |
1996 | Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi | Vishnu Murthy | Telugu |
1996 | Vasantham | Tamil | |
1996 | Love Birds | Prakash | Tamil |
1996 | Mahaprabhu | Eswari Pandian | Tamil |
1996 | Amrutha Varshini | Hemanth | Kannada |
1996 | Mahaprabhu | Eswari Pandian | Tamil |
1996 | Gaaya | With Geetha | Kannada |
1997 | Dongaata | Telugu | |
1997 | Poonilamazha | Chandran | Malayalam |
1998 | Uyirodu Uyiraga | Chandrasekhar | Tamil |
1998 | Sandhippoma | Tamil | |
1998 | Gamyam | Telugu | |
1998 | Pelli Pandiri | Inspector Rama Rao | Telugu |
1999 | Hrudaya Hrudaya | Kannada | |
1999 | Nilave Mugam Kaattu | Police officer | Tamil |
2000 | Annayya | Rangarao | Telugu |
2000 | Kadhal Rojavae | Sarath | Tamil |
2001 | Aalavandhan | Tejaswini's father | Tamil |
2001 | Neela | Palegar Jagadevaraya | Kannada |
2001 | Daddy | Doctor | Telugu |
2002 | Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu | Panduranga Rao | Telugu |
2002 | Baba | Tamil | |
2002 | Devan | Tamil | |
2002 | Maaran | District Collector | Tamil |
2003 | Anbu | Adithya's father | Tamil |
2003 | Indru Mudhal | Tamil | |
2003 | Puthiya Geethai | Annamalai | Tamil |
2003 | Ottran | Manikkavel IPS, IG, Prisons | Tamil |
2004 | Arul | Doctor | Tamil |
2004 | Shock | Dr. Rajan | Tamil |
2004 | Gajendra | Azhagarsamy | Tamil |
2004 | Kavithai | Tamil | |
2004 | Pedababu | Pedababu's step-father | Telugu |
2005 | Rendella Tharuvatha | Gandham | Telugu |
2005 | Kannadi Pookal | Tamil | |
2006 | O Priyathama | Yashas's father | Kannada |
2006 | Kalvanin Kadhali | Sathya's boss | Tamil |
2006 | Parijatham | Sumathi/Subhathra father | Tamil |
2006 | Perarasu | Chakkaravarthi Pandiyan | Tamil |
2006 | Shankar Dada Zindabad | Suresh's father | Telugu |
2006 | Rakhi | Police Commissioner | Telugu |
2006 | Evandoi Srivaru | Chandrasekhar | Telugu |
2006 | Sri Ramadasu | Sage Bhadra | Telugu |
2007 | Aata | Srikrishna's father | Telugu |
2007 | Waking Dreams | Dr Kumar | English |
2008 | Velli Thirai | Balaji | Tamil |
2008 | Uliyin Osai | Raja Raja Cholan | Tamil |
2008 | Souryam | Police Commissioner | Telugu |
2009 | Namyajamanru | Dr. Patil | Kannada |
2009 | Magadheera | Maharaj Vikram Singh | Telugu |
2009 | Kannukulle | Joseph Aruldoss | Tamil |
2009 | Adada Enna Azhagu | Vaikam | Tamil |
2009 | Malayn | Meiyappan aka Annachi | Tamil |
2010 | Nagavalli | Shankar Rao | Telugu |
2011 | Ilaignan | Deivanayagam | Tamil |
2011 | It's My Love Story | Vandana's father | Telugu |
2012 | Dhoni | Chief Minister | Tamil / Telugu |
2012 | Shirdi Sai | Mahalsapati | Telugu |
2013 | Ramanujan | Diwan Bahadur R Ramachandra Rao ICS | English / Tamil |
2013 | Masani | Village head | Tamil |
2013 | Brindavana | Kannada | |
2013 | Backbench Student | Karthik's Father | Telugu |
2014 | Aryan | Kannada | |
2017 | Si3 | K. C. D. P. Sathyanarayana Reddygaru | Tamil |
2018 | Nela Ticket | Ananda Bhupathi | Telugu |
2018 | Next Enti? | Prakash | Telugu |
2018 | Prashna Parihaara Shaala | Malayalam | |
2020 | Entha Manchivaadavuraa | Siva Prasad | Telugu |
2021 | Vakeel Saab | Discipline Committee Chairman | Telugu |
2023 | Vasantha Mullai | Doctor | Tamil |
2023 | Malli Pelli | Peddayana | Telugu |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Channel | Language |
---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Silandhi vallai | Doordarshan | Tamil | |
1988 | Narendhiranin vinodha vazhakku | Doordarshan | ||
1991 | Penn | Doordarshan | Tamil | |
1989 | Ivala En Manaivi | Doordarshan | ||
1997–2001 | Antharangalu | ETV | Telugu | |
1997 | Ethanai Manidhargal | Doordarshan | Tamil | |
2000–2002 | Gopuram | Vasanthan/Jayanthan | Sun TV | |
2000–2001 | Janani | ETV | Telugu | |
2001–2002 | Preetigagi | ETV | Kannada | |
2003–2004 | Rekkai Kattiya Manasu | Raj TV | Tamil | |
2005–2006 | Agnigundalu | ETV | Telugu | |
2013 | Rajakumari | Sun TV | Tamil | |
2014 | Mannan Magal | Jaya TV |
Awards
Nandi Awards
Best Supporting Actor – Seethakoka Chilaka (1981)
Best Supporting Actor – O Bharya Katha (1988)
Best Supporting Actor – Neerajanam (1989)
Other Awards
Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Character Artiste (Male) for the film Malayan in 2017.