Film producer and veteran Communist leader Atluri Purnachandra Rao passed away after prolonged illness on Sunday.
The 92-year-old communist veteran breathed his last at his house at Kapra in Medak district. He is survived by wife and two sons. Born into a middle class family in Krishna district, Purnachandra Rao was attracted to the Left ideology after joining the rationalist movement led by Gora. He was a full-time worker of the united Communist party and was arrested several times.
He shifted to Hyderabad in the mid 1950s and subsequently moved to Chennai to enter film industry. Purnachandra Rao was known for films which carried a social message. His Telugu remake of Hindi hit Choti Behan (Adabaduchu) was a major hit and he went on to produce Matru Devatha directed by yesteryear actress Savitri. He won accolades as producer with aesthetic sense, but could not make it big commercially.
In his autobiography “Naa gatasmruthulu”, he wrote about his inability to compromise with the ideals he had followed and this had led to his return to Hyderabad. CPI(M) State secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram and senior party leaders visited Purnachandra Rao’s house.
