Veteran Telugu actor Devadas Kanakala passes away

Prominent theatre artiste, actor, trainer, and director Devadas Kanakala, who holds the distinction for grooming actors like Chiranjeevi, Rajinikanth, Rajendra Prasad, and Raghuvaran among others, passed away today evening after a brief illness. He was 74 and is survived by his son actor Rajiv Kanakala and daughter Lakshmi. His daughter-in-law Suma is a popular television presenter. 

According to reports, he slipped into depression after his wife and actor Lakshmi Devi's demise in February, last year.

Born in Kanakala near Yanam, Devadas completed his graduation in AVN College, Visakhapatnam and Masters degree in theatre arts from Andhra University. He dabbled in theatre initially while working in Song and Drama division at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting before being introduced as an actor with K Vishwanath's O Seetha Katha (1974).

Since then, he went on to work in over 30 films as an actor and director. He last appeared on the big screen in the Mahesh Babu-starrer political action drama, Bharat Ane Nenu (2018). 

Devadas Kanakala was one of the few Telugu actors who completed a course at the Film and Television Institute at Pune. He also worked as a faculty in Adayar Film Institute, Madhu Film Institute and also served as the Head of the theatre arts department in Telugu University, Hyderabad. 

Devadas's performances in films like Siri Siri Muvva (1978), Gang Leader (1991), Manasantha Nuvve (2001), King (2008), and Robo (2010) earned him a good name among the audience. He also won accolades for playing a supporting role in popular television series Amrutham (2003).

Devadas Kanakala's death has shaken the industry and several celebrities rushed to KIMS hospital, where his mortal remains are kept, to pay their last respects. His body is being kept for public viewing at his residence in Manikonda today. His last rites will be performed after 11:30 am tomorrow at Mahaparasthanam.