Noted theatre and film actor Vankayala Satyanarayana passed away on Monday in Visakhapatnam. He was 78.
The septuagenarian joined Hindusthan Shipyard as a clerk and retired as company secretary. He had his theatre study in Andhra University under the guidance of eminent stage personality K. Venkateswara Rao and acted in plays like ‘Triveni’, ‘Kodukuputtala’, ‘Asura Sandhya’, ‘Otunna Prajalaku Koti Dandalu’, ‘Manasunna Manishi’ and ‘Asaya Vardhate’.
In fact he was preparing to stage a play on March 17 and 23 at the the Nandi drama festival at Kakinada.
Vizag-based movie and theatre artist S.K. Misro recalled his association with him and said that Vankayala used to mesmerise the audience with his voice and expressions.
Mr. Satyanarayana entered the celluloid world with “Needaleni Aadadhi” and rose to fame in the role of a station master in ‘Seethamaalaxmi.’ Vankayala acted in 182 films like ‘Sagara Sangamam,’ ‘Suthradarulu,’ ‘Srinivasa Kalyanam,’ ‘Subhalekha,’ ‘Donga Kollu,’ ‘Ooriki Ichina Maata’ and ‘Vijetha.’
Mr. Vankayala had a close intimacy with Vijayawada theatre and artists. He was honoured by city-based Sumadhura Kala Niketan during the comedy drama festival in 2017. The local organisations - Telugu Artistes’ Federation, Vijayawada Cultural Organisation, Geetanjali Arts expressed their deep condolence at his demise.
