Yesteryear Telugu comedian Kadali Jaya Saradhi no more, acted in 372 films and helped industry shift to Hyderabad

Veteran Telugu comedian Kadali Jaya Saradhi, popular for his unusual dialogue delivery and comic timing in the 60s and 70s era, has breathed his last at 83. He passed away earlier this morning at a private hospital in Hyderabad. The actor was introduced to Telugu cinema with Seetharama Kalyanam in 1961, a mythological drama that NTR had starred in, and directed as well. Jaya Saradhi went onto work in over 370 films. He also made his presence felt in the theatre circuit while pursuing his career in cinema.

Kadali Jaya Saradhi, in his prime as a theatre actor, shared stage space with Rushyendramani, Sthanam Narasimha Rao, Relangi Venkatramaiah, B Padmanabham, to name a few. Besides his contributions as an actor, Saradhi played a key role in shifting the Telugu film industry from Madras (now Chennai) to Hyderabad four decades ago. He worked as part of the Movie Artistes Association (MAA) and served as a treasurer for a forum for cine workers in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.

His services for Chitrapuri Colony, an exclusive colony dedicated to the Telugu film fraternity in Hyderabad, are well remembered too. Some of the more popular films in the comedian's career include Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha, Ee Kalapu Pillalu, Bhaktha Kannappa, Amara Deepam, Jaganmohini, Mana Oori Pandavulu, Sommokadidhi Sokodidhi, Muthyala Muggu, Sarada, Krishnaveni and Madana Manjari. He also donned the producer's hat for a few films like Dharmatmudu, Aggi Raju and Sri Ramachandrudu. 

He had a great taste for music as well, suprvising the compositions and the score for films like Jamindar Gari Ammai, Panthulamma, America Ammayi and Intinti Ramayanam. Being a close associate of actor Krishnam Raju, he helped the films produced under the former's home banner Gopi Krishna Movies on the technical front.