Ahuti Prasad


Ahuti Prasad was an Indian character actor in the Telugu film industry. He was renowned for the wide variety of roles he played, including father-figure, comedian, and antagonist. Prasad appeared in over 150 films in his career spanning nearly three decades.

Early life and family

Ahuti Prasad was born as Adusumilli Janardhan Vara Prasad to A. Ranga Rao and Hymavathi. Originally from Koduru of Krishna District near Mudinepally, his family migrated to Raichur in Karnataka when he was a child. He became interested in acting during his college days and sought a career as an actor. However, his parents were firmly against him pursuing a career in acting - he therefore completed his Bachelor's degree before taking their permission to join a film institute. After completing his education, Prasad moved to Hyderabad and joined the Film Institute of veteran director V. Madhusudhan Rao. Devadas Kanakala was the principal of the institute during this time, while Ramjagan and the late Achyuth were his classmates there.
Prasad married Vijaya Nirmala with whom he had two sons - Karthik and Bharani.

Career

"I’ve worked over 20 years in the industry, seen many ups and downs but this phase is something beautiful, I’m enjoying every bit of it." - Ahuti Prasad, in a 2009 interview, reflecting on Tollywood's transition to more modern, contemporary films and characters.
Prasad's career started with the film Vikram directed by V. Madhusudhan Rao which was Nagarjuna's debut film. Prasad also worked as an assistant director for V. Madhusudana Rao for the film Malle Moggalu.
Producer Shyam Prasad saw him on the sets of the film Ee Prashnaku Baduledi? where he was working and offered him a role as the antagonist in his film Ahuti. Because of the big break the film gave him, he came to be known popularly as Ahuti Prasad.
Prasad expressed that Krishna Vamsi's Ninne Pelladata was key in pushing his career as a character artist, and that his success in the film ended up flooding him with offers.
In 2003, he won the Nandi Award for Best Villain for the film Nenu Ninnu Premistunnanu. In 2008 he won a Nandi Award for Best Character Actor for the film Chandamama, in which he played an alcoholic landlord.
Prasad was praised for his mastery of the Telugu accent specific to the East and West Godavari districts, a trait he demonstrated in many roles throughout his career. He began his career with antagonist roles, but gradually transitioned to other shades throughout his career. Prasad was renowned for playing the role of a character's father-figure in many films like Malliswari, Bendu Apparao RMP, Kotha Bangaru Lokam, and Seethamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu.
Prasad believed that "character artistes do get to do more experimental and challenging roles," citing that "character artistes survive on such characters."
Actor Allari Naresh, who worked with Prasad in numerous films, remarked that Prasad "used to do a lot of homework on the background of his character in a movie" and that he "always thinks of others’ welfare along with his welfare."

Other works

Ahuti Prasad served as the general secretary of Movie Artistes Association. Murali Mohan, then President of the MAA, commented on Prasad, expressing that Prasad's "main concern used to be the welfare of the small artists in Telugu Film Industry."

Death

Prasad died 4 January 2015 while undergoing treatment for colon cancer at KIMS hospital. His condition was widely unknown until his final days. Murali Mohan mentioned that Prasad "didn’t like to meet anyone during his last days because cancer made his condition very pitiable."
His body was taken to his home in Film Nagar, where numerous film personalities paid their respects. His last rites were performed at the Erragadda cremation ground.
Prasad passed before seeing the release of his last three films.

Filmography

Actor

Telugu

  1. Vikram
  2. Ee Prashnaku Baduledi
  3. Ahuti
  4. Prana Snehitulu
  5. Simha Swapnam
  6. Muddula Mavayya
  7. Justice Rudramadevi
  8. Shanti Kranti
  9. Assembly Rowdy
  10. Killer
  11. Gharana Mogudu
  12. Teerpu
  13. Super Police
  14. Maatho Pettukoku
  15. Ninne Pelladata
  16. Preminchukundam Raa
  17. Anaganaga Oka Roju
  18. Sri Sita Ramula Kalyanam Chootamu Raarandi
  19. Ganesh
  20. Shrimati Vellosta
  21. Samarasimha Reddy
  22. Seetharama Raju
  23. Swayamvaram as Raghu
  24. Sooryavansham
  25. Kalisundam Raa
  26. Devi Putrudu as Elchuri
  27. Jayam Manade Raa
  28. Chiranjeevulu
  29. Budget Padmanabham
  30. Apparaoki Oka Nela Thappindi
  31. Nuvvu Nenu
  32. Cheppalani Vundhi
  33. Ammaye Navvithe
  34. Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu
  35. Aadi
  36. Allari Ramudu
  37. Santosham
  38. Indra
  39. Gemeni
  40. Nenu Pelliki Ready
  41. Vasantham
  42. Tagore
  43. Palnati Bramhanaidu
  44. Okariki Okaru
  45. Lakshmi Narasimha
  46. Malliswari
  47. Venky
  48. Samba
  49. Shiva Shankar
  50. Gowri
  51. Shankar Dada M.B.B.S.
  52. Manasu Maata Vinadhu
  53. Pandem
  54. Bunny
  55. Chakram
  56. Sri
  57. Gowtam SSC
  58. Mister Errababu Intermediate
  59. Athanokkade
  60. Premikulu
  61. Nayakudu
  62. Allari Pidugu
  63. Danger
  64. Lakshmi
  65. Asadhyudu
  66. Chukkallo Chandrudu
  67. Pellaina Kothalo
  68. Seetaramudu
  69. Samanyudu
  70. Desamuduru
  71. Chandamama
  72. Lakshyam
  73. Viyyalavari Kayyalu
  74. Veduka
  75. Aata
  76. Yamagola Malli Modalayindi
  77. Madhumasam
  78. Nava Vasantham
  79. Baladoor
  80. Homam
  81. Gunde Jhallumandi
  82. Gajibiji
  83. Siddu From Sikakulam
  84. Bujjigadu
  85. Pourudu
  86. Naa Style Veru
  87. Kotha Bangaru Lokam
  88. Ekaloveyudu
  89. Sasirekha Parinayam
  90. Adhineta
  91. Mitrudu
  92. Naa Girl Friend Baaga Rich
  93. Arundhathi
  94. Ride
  95. Boni
  96. Aa Intlo
  97. Mahatma
  98. Anjaneyulu
  99. Bendu Apparao R.M.P
  100. Rechipo
  101. Saradaga Kasepu
  102. Brindaavanam
  103. Okka Kshanam
  104. Shambo Shiva Shambo
  105. Baava
  106. Kalyanram Kathi
  107. Kathi Kantha Rao
  108. Chalaki
  109. Varudu
  110. Bindaas
  111. Leader
  112. Darling
  113. Jhummandi Naadam
  114. Em Pillo Em Pillado
  115. Police Police
  116. Wanted
  117. Aha Naa Pellanta
  118. Nenu Naa Rakshasi
  119. Nagaram Nidrapotunna Vela
  120. Daggaraga Dooramga
  121. Madatha Kaja
  122. Oosaravelli
  123. Bejawada
  124. Mr. Nookayya
  125. Naa Ishtam
  126. Lovely
  127. Dammu
  128. Dhamarukam
  129. Srimannarayana
  130. NRI
  131. Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu
  132. Priyathama Neevachata Kushalama
  133. Ongole Githa
  134. Mr. Pellikoduku
  135. Jaffa
  136. Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde
  137. Greeku Veerudu
  138. Om 3D
  139. Abbai Class Ammai Mass
  140. Atharintiki Daaredi
  141. Doosukeltha
  142. Bhimavaram Bullodu
  143. Legend
  144. Amrutham Chandamamalo
  145. Autonagar Surya
  146. Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitam
  147. Rowdy Fellow
  148. Rudramadevi
  149. Shankara
  150. Patta Pagalu

    Tamil