Mukku Raju (born Sagiraju Rajamraju) was an Indian film choreographer and actor known for his work in Telugu films like Erra Sainyam, Orey Rikshaw and Cheemala Dandu. He played important roles in movies directed by R. Narayana Murthy.
Career Raju started his career as choreographer in Tamil cinema, but ended as an actor and has acted in over 1000 films. He choreographed for legendary actors NTR and Sivaji Ganesan. He also directed and wrote scripts for a few films. He started a dancers associations in Madras, later moved to Hyderabad and co-founded the Telugu Dancers and Directors Association, to support and help the budding directors and dancers. He received the Nandi Award for Best Character Actor in 2008 for his film 1940 Lo Oka Gramam (A Village in 1940).
Raju was also an Ayurveda practitioner and a Multilinguist and was best known by the name Sagi Rajan Raju in his hometown, Kumudavalli.
Raju died aged 83 after a short illness, and his funeral took place at Cherukuvada.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1957Mayabazar1968Tikka Sankarayya 1984Mayuri Ananda BhairaviMahanagaramlo Mayagadu 1985 America Alludu 1987Dabbevariki Chedu1988Annapurnamma Gari Alludu1989Bharata NariPaila Pachesu1990Yuvabharatham1992Aapadbandhavudu1994Erra Sainyam1995Orey RikshawCheemala Dandu1997Rowdy DarbarOsey Ramulamma1998Telugodu1999Raja2000Adavi Chukka2001Maa Aavida Meeda Ottu Mee Aavida Chala ManchidiVeedekkadi Mogudandi!2003Indiramma2008Maga Simham Devarakonda Veerayya As choreographer20101940 Lo Oka Gramam Dixitulu
Awards He received the Nandi Award for Best Character Actor in 2008 for the film 1940 Lo Oka Gramam.
Death Raju died on 31 July 2014 due to ill health in Bhimavaram, West Godavari district.
References