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Sarath Babu

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Sarath Babu
BERJAYA
Babu in 2009
Born
Sathyam Babu Dixithulu

(1951-07-31)31 July 1951
Amadalavalasa, Srikakulam district, Madras State, India
Died22 May 2023(2023-05-22) (aged 71)
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
OccupationActor
Years active1973–2023
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1974; div. 1988)​
Sneha Nambiar
​
​
(m. 1990; div. 2016)​

Sathyam Babu Dixithulu (31 July 1951 – 22 May 2023), known by his stage name Sarath Babu, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Tamil and Telugu cinema. He appeared in more than 300 films, including in Tamil, Telugu, 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.[1][2] He was known for his compelling screen presence, especially known for his camaraderie with Rajinikanth in the films where the duo acted together.[3] He had also shared screen space with Kamal Haasan in many films.[4]

Personal life

[edit]

Sarath Babu was born as Sathyam Babu Dixithulu on 31 July 1951.[5][6] 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 blamed Babu by making allegations that he had cheated her and snatched all of her properties in Chennai. Babu denied the allegations but admitted to being in a relationship with Rama. However, he asserted that he had no intention of unlawfully claiming others' properties. Babu himself confirmed that he was much younger than Rama when he entered into a relationship with her.[7] He was later married to Sneha Nambiar, daughter of M.N. Nambiar.

Career

[edit]

Although Babu's father, a hotelier, wanted him to manage the family business, Babu aspired to become a police officer. However, he developed shortsightedness during his college years, which prevented him from joining the police force. Many people close to Babu felt he could enter the film industry as an actor, and though his father objected, his mother was supportive.[8]

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.[9]

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 alongside Rajinikanth received critical acclaim, and his performance in the film's song Senthazham Poovil became the talk of the town across Tamil Nadu. He later developed a deep rooted friendship with Rajinikanth following the success of Mullum Malarum.[10]

Babu's other collaborations with Rajinikanth, such as Annamalai (1992) and Muthu (1995), 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.[11][12] He also tasted success in Kannada cinema with Amruthavarshini (1997).[13]

Babu's last film acting role came in Vasantha Mullai, which released in 2023.[14] Films such as Malli Pelli and Por Thozhil were posthumous releases of him.[15]

Illness and death

[edit]

In April 2023, it was reported that Babu was suffering from sepsis. He died of multiple organ failure on 22 May 2023, after being placed on a ventilator at a private hospital in Hyderabad, Telangana.[16] He was 71. Sarath Babu's final rites were performed in Chennai.[17][18]

Partial filmography

[edit]
List of Sarath Babu film credits
Year Title Role Language
1973StreeTelugu
Rama Rajyam
1976RaajaAdvocate Ramu
1977Pattina PravesamTamil
PanthulammaTelugu
1978Nizhal NijamagiradhuVenkatachalamTamil
Indradhanussu[19]NageshTelugu
Vattathukkul ChaduramTamil
Sahasavanthudu[20] GopiTelugu
Maro Charitra
Mullum MalarumKumaran Tamil
Mudi Sooda MannanBhairavan
Ithu Eppadi Irukku
Nenjil Aadum Poo Ondru
1979Guppedu ManasuBuchi BabuTelugu
Agal VilakkuDoctorTamil
Mambazhathu Vandu
Nadagame Ullagam
Nool VeliBuchi Babu
Srungara RamuduJaipalTelugu
Idi Katha KaaduBharani
Ninaithale InikkumGuest appearanceTamil
Andamaina AnubhavamTelugu
Tayaramma BangarayyaGopala Krishna
Urvasi Neeve Naa PreyasiVenu
Padhai MarinaalTamil
Suprabatham
UthiripookkalPrakash
ChakkalathiGuest Appearance
Thisai Maariya ParavaigalRangamani
SarapancharamSwamiMalayalam
Pancha BhoothaluTelugu
1980Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha KadalTamil
Kannil Theriyum Kathaikal
Megathukkum Dhagam Undu
Manmatha Ragangal
Moodu Mulla BandhamTelugu
Nenjathai KillatheChandrasekharTamil
PonnagaramRaja
Oru Iravu Oru Paravai
Mangala Nayagi
Saranam Ayyappa
Andharangam Oomaiyanathu
Pudhiya Thoranangal
UchakattamDr. Kiran
1981Tholi Kodi KoosindiVenkata SwamyTelugu
Enga Ooru KannagiTamil
DhanyaMalayalam
47 NatkalDr ShankarTamil
47 RojuluTelugu
Agni Poolu
Ammayi Manasu
Jeevitha RathamMohan
NetrikkannYuvarajTamil
Arumbugal
Radha KalyanamDr AnandTelugu
Prema Natakam[21] Rajasekharam
Keezh Vaanam SivakkumSrivathsanTamil
Bala NagammaVijayavarma
DhanyaMalayalam
Seetakoka ChilukaDavidTelugu
Devi DharisanamTamil
1982Aval Etriya Deepam
Kanavugal Karpanaigal
Theerpu
Pelleedu PillaluChalapatiTelugu
YamakinkaruduKishore
Azhagiya KannePrasannaTamil
Eera Vizhi KaaviyangalGopal
Bala NagammaVijayavarmaTelugu
MettiPattabhiTamil
Mettela SavvadiTelugu
Pannai Purathu PandavargalTamil
1983Sagara SangamamRaghuTelugu
ImaigalTamil
AmarajeeviMadhuTelugu
Muddula Mogudu[22]MadhuTelugu
SattamRaviTamil
Villiyanur Matha
SitaaraZamindarTelugu
Puli DebbaManohar
Kaliyuga Daivam
Gaaju Bommalu
SandhippuVasanthTamil
Benkiyalli Aralida HoovuKavitha's bossKannada
Makkale DevaruRamu
1984Vellai Pura OndruTamil
Kanchana GangaJayasimhaTelugu
Kondaveeti Nagulu[23] D.S.P. Narayana Rao
Anbulla MalareTamil
Chiranjeevi
Unnai Naan SanthithenCaptain Jagdeesh
Azhagu
Ninaivugal
Naan Paadum PaadalBarath
Ezhuthatha SattangalDr. Basheer
Mudivalla ArambamDr. Ram
SwatiSatyamTelugu
Agni Gundam
1985AnveshanaJames
Pagal NilavuJ. Peter ManoharTamil
SikshaGeorge PrasadTelugu
Musugu Donga[24]Kiran
Anuraga Bandham
VishakanyaVijayasimha
Visha KanniTamil
ThulasidalaSridharKannada
Ooriki SoggaduRaviTelugu
1986UshaKannada
Jeevana PoratamTelugu
Swati MutyamChalapati
Muddula Manavaraalu
ManakanakkuLakshmi's husbandTamil
Dharma DevathaiChandrasekhar
Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu
Khaidi RaniTelugu
Ukku ManishiSalim
KashmoraSridhar
1987VelaikaranRajkumarTamil
Shankar GuruDevi's father
Chinnari DevathaTelugu
ChellakuttiTamil
Ida PrapanchamTelugu
Gautami
Chaitanya RathamVijay
Viswanatha NayakuduThimmappa
SankeertanaSravan Babu
Gandhinagar Rendava VeedhiRavi
Dabbevariki CheduGovardhanam
Samsaram Oka ChadarangamPrakash
Michael RajTamil
1988ShakthiACP Bharath KumarKannada
Kampana
Jeevana JyothiSridharTelugu
Aatma Katha
Dorakani DongaTiger Raja
Adhu Antha KaalamTamil
AanimuthyamRavi ChandraTelugu
AbhinandanaKamala's husband
DaisyMalayalam
Chattamtho ChadarangamSuryam and NagabhushanamTelugu
Neerajanam
Prana Snehitulu
Kanchana Seeta
August 15 RaatriRavindra
Rendum Rendum AnjuBaluTamil
Anna ChelleluDr. RajasekharTelugu
Manasukkul MathappuDr. RajaTamil
O Bharya Katha[25]SubhashTelugu
1989Chettu Kinda PleaderGopala Krishna
Raktha KanneeruRajasekharam
Swathi Chinukulu
Yamapasam
Thendral SudumTamil
Thendral Puyalanadhu
Paape Maa Pranam[26] RichardsTelugu
VijayGiridhar
Andru Peytha MazhaiyilRajeshTamil
1990KokilaPolice OfficerTelugu
Neti SiddharthaDavid
AggiramuduRam Mohan
Raktha Jwala
Mrugathrushna
Four First NightsMalayalam
Sandhana KaatruDr SarathTamil
1991Manjeera NadamTelugu
Keechu Raallu
MalaichaaralTamil
Palleturi PellamTelugu
RanachandiKannada
1992NaangalRajasekharTamil
AnnaamalaiAshok
SooriKannada
Aapad BandhavuduSripathiTelugu
Sabarimalayil Thanka SooryodayamMalayalam
Naalaiya TheerpuPriya's brotherTamil
1993VedanGanesh
Manikantana MahimeKannada
Puthiya ThendralTamil
Nakshatra PoratamTelugu
Rojavai KillatheSathasivamTamil
Sivarathiri
Kanyakumariyil Oru KavithaMalayalam
1994CaptainRamasamyTelugu
UzhiyanAnakkal RajTamil
Hello BrotherChakravarthyTelugu
DuetParamaguruTamil
Makkala SakshiKannada
CriminalDr PratapTelugu
TeerpuACP Madhu
1995MuthuPrinceTamil
Puthiya AatchiVivekanandan
ChandralekhaShankar
Desa DrohuluTelugu
Pokiri RajaCM & Brahmam (Dual role)
Muddayi MuddugummaRaja
KolangalShankarTamil
SisindriSarah KumarTelugu
1996MahaprabhuEswari PandianTamil
Vasantham
Love BirdsPrakash
Amrutha VarshiniHemanthKannada
Gaaya
Akkada Ammayi Ikkada AbbayiVishnu MurthyTelugu
1997DongaataASP Vikram
Thodu
PoonilamazhaChandranMalayalam
1998Uyirodu UyiragaChandrasekharTamil
SandhippomaNilani's father
Gamyam[27]SriramTelugu[28]
Pelli PandiriInspector Rama Rao
1999JanumadathaSrichandra VidyasagarKannada
Rythu Rajyam Telugu
Nilave Mugam KaattuPolice officerTamil
Hrudaya HrudayaKannada
2000AnnayyaRangaraoTelugu
Bharatha NaariKannada
Kadhal RojavaeSarathTamil
2001MajnuKannada
NeelaPalegar Jagadevaraya
DaddyDoctorTelugu
AalavandhanTejaswini's fatherTamil
IshtamChakravarthyTelugu
2002Law and OrderKannada
Nuvvu Leka Nenu LenuPanduranga RaoTelugu
BabaThe father of the girl saved by BabaTamil
MaaranDistrict Collector
2003AnbuAdithya's father
Ninne IshtapaddanuSanjana's fatherTelugu
Neeke ManasichaanuVivek's father
Indru MudhalGeetha's fatherTamil
Puthiya GeethaiAnnamalai
OttranManikkavel IPS, IG, Prisons
2004ArulDoctor
ShockDr. Rajan
GajendraAzhagarsamy
KavithaiSubbulakshmi's father
PedababuPedababu's step-fatherTelugu
2005Rendella TharuvathaGandham
Kannadi PookalChild psychiatristTamil
O PriyathamaNagarajKannada
2006Kalvanin KadhaliSathya's bossTamil
Sri RamadasuSage BhadraTelugu
Evandoi SrivaruChandrasekhar
Miss CaliforniaPrasadKannada
ParijathamSumathi/Subhathra fatherTamil
PerarasuChakkaravarthi Pandiyan
Rocky The RebelAjay Sinha: Rocky's fatherHindi
StudentKannada
RakhiPolice CommissionerTelugu
2007AataSrikrishna's father
Shankar Dada ZindabadSuresh's father
ChandrahasChatrapati
Waking DreamsDr KumarEnglish
2008Velli ThiraiBalajiTamil
Uliyin OsaiRaja Raja Cholan
SouryamPolice CommissionerTelugu
PayanaKaveri's fatherKannada
Neenyare
Haage Summane
2009NamyajamanruDr. Patil
Neramu SikshaLawyerTelugu
MagadheeraMaharaj Vikram Singh
KannukulleJoseph AruldossTamil
Adada Enna AzhaguVaikam
MalaynMeiyappan aka Annachi
2010NagavalliShankar RaoTelugu
2011IlaignanDeivanayagamTamil
It's My Love StoryVandana's fatherTelugu
2012AK 56Kannada
DhoniChief MinisterTamil / Telugu
Shirdi SaiMahalsapatiTelugu
2013 Donga PoliceTelugu[29]
MasaniVillage headTamil
BrindavanaKannada
Backbench StudentKarthik's FatherTelugu
2014RamanujanDiwan Bahadur R Ramachandra Rao ICSEnglish / Tamil
AryanKannada
2017Si3K. C. D. P. Sathyanarayana ReddygaruTamil
2018Nela TicketAnanda BhupathiTelugu
Next Enti?Prakash
Prashna Parihaara ShaalaMalayalam
2020Entha ManchivaadavuraaSiva PrasadTelugu
2021Vakeel SaabDiscipline Committee Chairman
2023Vasantha MullaiDoctorTamil
Malli PelliNarendra's stepfatherTelugu
Por ThozhilKennedy SebastianTamil

Dubbing artist

[edit]
List of Sarath Babu dubbing credits
Year Title Actor Notes
1981NanduSuresh[citation needed]

Television

[edit]
List of Sarath Babu television credits
Year Title Role Network Language
1987Silandhi vallai DoordarshanTamil
1988Narendhiranin vinodha vazhakku
1991Penn
1989Ivala En ManaiviDoordarshan
1997–2001AntharangaluETVTelugu
1997Ethanai ManidhargalDoordarshanTamil
2000–2002GopuramVasanthan / JayanthanSun TV
2000–2001JananiETVTelugu
2001–2002PreetigagiKannada
2003–2004Rekkai Kattiya ManasuRaj TVTamil
2005–2006AgnigundaluETVTelugu
2013RajakumariSun TVTamil
2014Mannan MagalJaya TV

Awards

[edit]
Nandi Awards[30]
Other Awards

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Sarath Babu no more | An actor with a compelling screen presence and sartorial elegance". The Hindu. 22 May 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Despite his transition over years, his smile was always constant: KS Ravikumar on Sarath Babu". CinemaExpress. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Rajinikanth mourns demise of Sarath Babu: 'I have lost my dear friend…'". The Indian Express. 22 May 2023. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Actor Sarath Babu dies after a prolonged illness". The Hindu. 22 May 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "నేడు నటుడు శరత్ బాబు పుట్టినరోజు". Andhra Jyothi. 31 July 2015. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021. (in Telegu)
  6. ↑ "Yesteryear actress Rama Prabha claims her ex Sarath Babu cheated her". India Today. 3 February 2019. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Sarath Babu blasts Rama Prabha for cheating accusation: I was born with a silver spoon". India Today. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "My First Break – Sarath Babu". The Hindu. 26 November 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Affable, big bro, iconic actor Sarath Babu passes away". The New Indian Express. 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Sarath Babu passes away: 5 memorable roles of the veteran actor in Tamil films". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "Sarath Babu became my Ashok in real life: Suresh Krissna". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Sarath Babu: The only actor who could slap Rajinikanth on screen without enraging fans". The Indian Express. 22 May 2023. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  13. ↑ Jyothi, Y. Krishna; SM, Shashiprasad (23 May 2023). "The top 5 films of Sarath Babu — across South film industries". South First. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "Sarath Babu Dies: 5 Points On South Actor". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "Sarath Babu: Everybody's best friend". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 23 May 2023.[dead link]
  16. ↑ "Sarath Babu Passes Away: టాలీవుడ్‌లో వరుస విషాదాలు.. సీనియర్ నటుడు శరత్ బాబు మృతి". Hindustan Times Telugu. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  17. ↑ "Sarath Babu Death News: Actor Sarath Babu passes away at 71 in Hyderabad". The Times of India. 22 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  18. ↑ "Veteran actor Sarath Babu in critical condition with multiple organ failure, on ventilator support". Hindustan Times. 3 May 2023. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  19. ↑ "Indradhanusu (1978)". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  20. ↑ "Sahasavantudu (1978)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  21. ↑ "Prema Natakam Movie Cast".
  22. ↑ "Muddula Mogudu (1983)". Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  23. ↑ "Kondaveeti Nagulu (1984)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  24. ↑ "Musugu Donga Cast and Crew".
  25. ↑ "Latest Telugu News, Movies, Celebrities, Images & Videos | V CINEMA". www.vcinema.com. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  26. ↑ "Pape Maa Pranam (1989)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  27. ↑ "Gamyam 1998 Telugu Movie Cast Crew,Actors,Director, Gamyam Producer,Banner,Music Director,Singers & Lyricists". MovieGQ. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  28. ↑ Gopalrao, Griddaluru. "అయోమయం "గమ్యం" చిత్రం" (PDF). Zamin Ryot. p. 9,11.
  29. ↑ "Donga Police Telugu Full Length Movie || Nikhil Siddharth, Rajeev Kanakala, Shashank". 25 June 2015 – via YouTube.
  30. ↑ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)
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