[2][3] Suryanarayana was born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh in a Telugu Vaidika Brahmin family.
His other siblings were Gopala Krishna, Venkata Subbu Lakshmi and Rama Rao.
Coming from an educated family, Suryanarayana successfully completed matriculation, learned Sanskrit and Telugu along with Panchakavyas.
He toured Andhra Pradesh with Mylavaram Balabharati Nataka Samajam of Vijaywada and Seetharamanjaneya Nataka Samajam of Eluru.
He portrayed many roles in plays such as Satyavan in Savithri, Rama in Rama Paduka Pattabhishekam, Dushyantudu in Sakunthala, Sarangadhara in Sarangadhara, Arjuna in Gayopakhyanam, Bahuka in Chitranaleeyam, and as Duryodhana in Veni Samharam, Draupadi Vastrapaharanam and Pandava Udyoga Vijayam plays.