Rajababu is an artiste who left a legacy of comedy behind. Today is the birth anniversary of a great comedian of Tollywood's silver screen. Rajababu's name is considered synonymous with comedy.

Rajababu was born on  20th October, 1936 (date needs verification) at Narsapuram, West Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. His original name was Punyamurthula Appala raju and after entering into telugu cinema, he changed his name to Rajababu. His got married to Lakshmi Ammulu in 1965 and was blessed with two sons.

Rajababu was very much interested in dramas and he has given excellent performance in dramas like "Kukka Pilla Dorikindhi", "Nalugilla Chavadi" and "Alluri Sitarama Raju'. Rajababu proved himself as a great artiste in these dramas and this success directed him towards Telugu Cinema

On the advise of the then famous director Garikapati Raja Rao who has introduced many faces to tollywood, Rajababu paved his way into Telugu film field. His debute acting in the film "Samajam' in the direction of Addala Narayana Rao.From then, he has completed 185 films within the span of 21 years.

His films "Thatha Manavadu", "Manishi Rodduna Paddadu", "Tirupathi" ,"Evarikivare yamuna theere" conveyed good social message to the common audience. Leelarani, Prasannarani, Sachu, Gitanjali and Ramaprabha played his female counterparts in most of his movie. The combination with Ramaprabha was considered as the best cameo couple with huge fanfare during those days. His film Thatha Manavadu was the dubut venture of Darsaka Ratna Dasari Narayana Rao who is the entrant of Guinness Book of World Records. He produced films like "Manishi Rodduna Paddadu','Tirupathi". Thought these films failed at box-office, his aim to give a good social message to the people was successfully fulfilled. Rajababu also received nine Film Fare awads and three Nandi awards.

In the 70's he was felicitated with titles like "Hasya Chakravarthy' and "The comedian of Century". Rajababu had a unique hobby to felicitate his seniors in the film industry each year on the occassion of his birthday. He was like 'Karna' in charity and he was like 'Krishna" in giving helping hand to the needy. In real life outside of reel life he was a good philospher. If someone tried to put his words into writings, we might have had a wonderful philosphical guide. He has left an indellible mark in the hearts of Telugu people.

He got addicted to alchohol and at last Navvula Raraju, Navvula Navabhu Rajababu's journey to heaven started on 7th February, 1983 in Hyderabad and left the Telugu audience in pathos

Rajababu's name was written in golden letter in the annals of telugu film history. He will be remembered as long as the film industry survives.

-JVR