Haranath (2 September 1936 – 1 November 1989) was an Indian actor who worked in Telugu films.

Early life career

Haranath was born on 2 September 1936 in Raparthi near Pithapuram and Gollaprolu in East Godavari district. He had two younger brothers and a sister. His early schooling was in Madras till pre-university, and he did his B. A. degree in P R College, Kakinada. He was very active in cultural activities, particularly dramas, won many a drama competition. An encounter leads him into films. He was waiting at Vanimahal bus stop in Madras, on the way to pilot training when he was spotted by Mukkmamala Krishna Murthy, famous film actor, director and producer and was selected to act as a lead actor in the film Rushyasrunga. But his second film Maa Inti Mahalakshmi was the first film to be released. He was a very popular Tollywood lead actor in the 60s being regarded as a romantic icon. He acted in classic films like Amarasilipi Jakkana, Letha Manasulu, Chitti Chellelu, Aada Janma, Maa Inti Devatha, Bhishma, Pandava Vanavasam, Abhimanyu and several others in lead roles. He was the hero of the first film shot at Saradhi Studios in Hyderabad, Ma Inti Mahalakshmi (1959). He played the role of Lord Sri Rama in the film Seetha Rama Kalyanam, produced by N.T. Rama Rao under the banner, National Art Theatres, in which NTR acted as Ravana. He also played the role of Lord Krishna in the 1962 film Bhishma and as Sri Rama in Sri Rama Katha (1969). He acted in about 117 Telugu films, 12 Tamil films, one Hindi and Kannada movie each. He played in many films opposite Jamuna. His last film was Thoduallulu in 1989. He produced one movie named Maa Inti Devatha, released in 1981.

Filmography