Tollywood comedian Kallu Chidambaram dead

Actor and comedian, Kolluri Chidambara Rao, popularly known as Kallu Chidambaram, died recently at a private hospital following respiratory ailment. The 67 year old had made his debut with 'Kallu', based on writer Gollapudi Maruti Rao's play-let and directed by cinematographer M V Raghu in 1987, for which he won the Nandi award. He has also acted in comic roles in more than 300 films, including 'April 1 Vidudala', 'Aa Okkati Adakku', 'Govinda Govinda', 'Jambalakadipamba' and 'Money, Money, Money'. Drawn to the theatre right from his school days, he acted in 36 plays and play-lets. In 2008 he had founded a federation of artistes, Sakala Kalakalrula Samakhya, for the welfare of artistes.