Srirangam Srinivasa Rao, popularly known as
Sri Sri, was a Telugu poet and lyricist. He was a member of PEN INDIA, Sahitya
Academy, Vice-President of the South Indian Film Writers Association, Madras (from Wikipedia)
Srirangam Srinivasarao (శ్రీరంగం శ్రీనివాస రావు) popularly known as Sri
Sri, was born on 2nd January 1910 in Visakhapatnam. Sri Sri completed his
education in the same school in which his father Sri Venkata Ramaiah was
working as a mathematics teacher. He married Ms. Venkata Ramanamma at an age of
15 and adapted a girl child. Later on he married Ms. Sarojini and was blessed
with a son and two daughters.
In year 1928, Sri Sri went to Madras for his higher studies and
completed them by 1931. In 1938, he joined “Andhra Prabha” a local daily
newspaper as a sub editor. He later on worked for All India Radio and armed
forces. He is a major radical poet (e.g. Prabhava) and novelist (e.g.
Veerasimha Vijayasimhulu). Sri Sri introduced free verse into his socially
concerned poetry through Maha Prasthanam. He wrote visionary poems in a style
and metre not used before in Telugu classical poetry. He moved poetry forward
from traditional mythological themes to reflect more contemporary issues.
He entered into Telugu cinema with Ahuti(1950), a Telugu dubbed
version of Junnarkar’s Neera aur Nanda(1946). Some of the songs Hamsavale O
Padava, Oogisaladenayya, Premaye janana marana leela, scored by Saluri
Rajeswara Rao, were major hits.
Literary Career:
Sri Sri was the first true modern Telugu poet to write about contemporary issues that affected day-to-day life of a common man in a style and meter which were not used in classical Telugu poetry. He wrote visionary poems in a style and meter not used before in Telugu classical poetry. He moved poetry forward from traditional mythological themes to reflect more contemporary issues.
Sri Sri was the first true modern Telugu poet to write about contemporary issues that affected day-to-day life of a common man in a style and meter which were not used in classical Telugu poetry. He wrote visionary poems in a style and meter not used before in Telugu classical poetry. He moved poetry forward from traditional mythological themes to reflect more contemporary issues.
His book Maha Prasthanam (The Great Journey), an anthology of
poems, is one of his major works. Other major works include Siprali and Khadga
Srushti (“Creation of the Sword”).
Tollywood:
Telugu Cinema industry embraced Sri Sri literature back in 1950s. He wrote songs for 42 Telugu films between 1952 and 1982. To name few, his songs “Padavoyi Bharatheeyuda” (Sing O’ Indian) from Velugu Needalu (1961), “Telugu veera levara” (Wake up!! O’ Telugu warrior) from Alluri Seetha Rama Raju (which won the National Award for best lyric) and “Nenu saitham” from Rudraveena were quite popular. Some Telugu movies like Aakali Rajyam (“Hungry Nation”) have been produced based on his works. He influenced the Telugu audience with his literary works in such a manner that if any song that related to the working class is heard, Telugu people could know the distinct style of Sri Sri.
Telugu Cinema industry embraced Sri Sri literature back in 1950s. He wrote songs for 42 Telugu films between 1952 and 1982. To name few, his songs “Padavoyi Bharatheeyuda” (Sing O’ Indian) from Velugu Needalu (1961), “Telugu veera levara” (Wake up!! O’ Telugu warrior) from Alluri Seetha Rama Raju (which won the National Award for best lyric) and “Nenu saitham” from Rudraveena were quite popular. Some Telugu movies like Aakali Rajyam (“Hungry Nation”) have been produced based on his works. He influenced the Telugu audience with his literary works in such a manner that if any song that related to the working class is heard, Telugu people could know the distinct style of Sri Sri.
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