Dharmavarapu Subramanyam is more than an actor

Dharmavarapu Subramanyam had an illustrious career in T-Town. His colleagues remember him.
Ever since news of the death of popular comic actor Dharmavarapu Subramanyam broke on Saturday night, his residence had been teeming with friends,well wishers, film stars and politicians, hoping to catch a last glimpse of the actor���s mortal remains and console the bereaved family.As per the wishes of the late actor, the final rites are set to be performed in his native village, Komminenivari Palem, Ballikuruva mandal in Prakasam district on Monday.
A veteran of over 170 films, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam carved a niche for himself in a career spanning 23 years. Director Teja who first worked with the late actor in the hit film Nuvvu Nenu was witness to the actor���s struggle with liver cancer.
���I shared a close bond with Dharmavarapu garu. I���ve seen him battle cancer for a long time. Last December, the doctors gave him 15 days to survive. But he defied the odds and never lost his sense of humour, all through the ordeal. It���s a great loss for the industry and a huge personal loss for me,��� says Teja, adding that the actor���s contribution goes beyond cinema and television.
Born in a little hamlet, Dharmavarapu honed his acting skills with theatre and went on to be closely associated with the Andhra Pradesh wing of the Praja Natya Mandali. ���During his stint as the Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Cultural Council, he strove to work for the betterment of theatre artistes in the state,��� recalls actor Rajendra Prasad, who played the lead in the Dharmavarapu���s debut film Jayambu Nischayammu Ra directed by Jandhyala.
Dharamavarapu played Rajendra Prasad���s dad in the movie, and their pairing went on to be hugely popular. ���We shared an equation similar to the one Gummadi and NTR shared. Though Gummadi was younger than NTR, he has been cast as the father in many films. We shared a great chemistry on screen and complimented each other���s acting in numerous films. I���m particularly saddened to lose a dear friend and a great colleague, most importantly, a great human being. He will be missed,��� shares Rajendra Prasad.
Ace comedian Brahmanandam echoes similar views. ���We were both introduced by Jandhyala garu and shared a great equation. He was almost like a brother to me. He had a multifaceted personality. He was a writer, stand-up comedian, political satirist and director, all rolled into one and will always remain etched in the collective memory of Telugu film lovers,��� shares Brahmanandam.