Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry
Chembolu Seetharama Sastry (20 May 1955 – 30 November 2021), known professionally as Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry, was an Indian poet and lyricist known for his works in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He acquired the stage name Sirivennela after writing the lyrics for K. Viswanath's directorial film of the same name in 1986. Sastry has garnered several awards including eleven state Nandi Awards and four Filmfare Awards South for his work. He has penned lyrics for over 3000 songs until 2020. In 2019, he was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, for  his contributions towards the field of arts and aesthetics. Early life. Chembolu Seetharama Sastry was born on 20 May 1955 in Anakapalle in Andhra Pradesh, India. Career. Seetharama Sastry was a lyricist for K. Viswanath with "Sirivennela". A particular highlight of the movie is the song "Vidhata Thalapuna", sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela. The song is about Aum, the most sacred syllable in Hinduism, from which the Veda traditions originated. Other notable songs include "Adibhikshuvu Vadinedi Koredhi" and "Ee gali Ee Nela". The songs and their lyrics became hugely popular with Sastry subsequently winning his first Nandi  Award for Best Lyricist for the song "Aadi Bhikshuvu". He won the Nandi Award for his first film. He then wrote lyrics for many songs in films such as "Swayam Krushi", "Swarna Kamalam", "Samsaram Oka Chadarangam", "Shrutilayalu", and "Pelli Chesi Choodu". The lyrics for these songs met with positive reception. He won his second Nandi Award for Best Lyricist for the song "Telavardemo Swamy" from the film "Shrutilayalu" and his third Nandi Award for Best Lyricist for the song "Andela Ravamidi Padamuladaa" from the film "Swarna Kamalam" in 1988. He is the first person to have won Nandi Awards in  three consecutive years in 1986, 1987 and 1988. He then wrote the lyrics to many songs from the films such as "Swarakalpana", "Anna Thammudu", "Indrudu Chandrudu", "Alludugaru", and "Antam" with all songs garnering positive reception. His lyrics for the film "Gaayam" were particularly well received, and Sastry was awarded his fourth Nandi Award for Best Lyricist for the song "Surajyamavaleni" in 1993. He then wrote lyrics for many songs for films such as "Kshana Kshanam", "Swati Kiranam", "Money", "Govinda Govinda", "Criminal", "Gulabi", "Love Birds" (Telugu Version), "Taraka Ramudu", "Shubhalagnam", "Srikaram" and "Little Soldiers". He won his fifth and sixth Nandi  Award for Best Lyricist for the films "Shubhalagnam" and "Srikaram" respectively. His next work was "Ninne Pelladata", in which he was the single card lyricist. He followed up with lyrics for songs in films such as "Shubha Muhurtam", "Priya Raagaalu", "Aahaa..!", "Pelli Kanuka", "Sindhooram", "Aavida Maa Aavide", "Chandralekha", "Wife of V. Varaprasad", "Seetharama Raju", "Prema Katha" etc. His lyrics received positive reception and won him his seventh and eighth Nandi Award for Best Lyricist for the songs "Ardha Shatabdapu" ("Sindhooram") and "Devudu Karunistadani" ("Prema Katha"). He started 2000s by writing lyrics for films such as "Murari", "Oh Chinadana", "Okkadu", "Nuvve  Kavali", "Nuvvu Naaku Nachav", "Manmadhudu", "Ela Cheppanu", "Varsham", "Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana", "Chakram", and "Happy". Among these songs, "Hare Rama" ("Okkadu"), "Ekkada Unna" ("Nuvve Kavali"), "Aakasam Thakela" ("Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana") and "Jagamantha Kutumbam" ("Chakram") got positive reception with "Aakasam Thakela" winning him his first Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Telugu and "Jagamantha Kutumbam" winning him his ninth Nandi Award for Best Lyricist. He followed up by writing lyrics for many songs from films such as "Bommarillu", "Aadavari Matalaku Ardhalu Verule", "Gamyam", "Sasirekha Parinayam", "Jalsa", "Parugu", "Kotha Bangaru Lokam", "Mahatma" etc. "Entha Varaku" from "Gamyam" is often described as one of his best works  and won him his tenth Nandi Award for Best Lyricist and second Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Telugu is for "Inthavaraku" from "Gamyam", the third Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Telugu is for "Konthamandi Sontha Peru" from "Mahatma" & the fourth Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Telugu is for "Raa Mundaduguveddham" from "Kanche". In 2011, he wrote lyrics for "Badulu Thochani" ("Mr. Perfect") with rave reviews for its lyrical content. He also wrote lyrics for many songs from the films such as "Oh My Friend", "Oosaravelli", "Tuneega Tuneega", "Onamalu", "Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum", "Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu", "Greeku Veerudu", "Paisa", "Om 3D , Balupu", "Anthaka Mundu Aa Tarvatha", "Adavi Kaachina Vennela". He is considered one of the greatest lyricists in Telugu Film Industry along with Veturi and Aatreya. Most of the younger lyricists like Chandra Bose, Ananth Sreeram and Rama Jogayya Sastri consider him as their guru. He has written over 3000 songs and was felicitated for this achievement in the Audio function of 2014 movie Mukunda. His lyrics for 2015 song "Mental Madhilo" from "OK Bangaram" have received praise. His lyrics for "OK Bangaram" have been considered very apt for a dubbed version. He was the speaker at the Telugu Association of  North America's celebrations held in Chicago Illinois, U.S. 2–4 July 2009. In 2014, he was also felicitated by the Bay Area Telugu association. Frequent collaborations. Seetharama Sastry is known to have a long time association with banners Annapurna Studios and Sumanth Art Productions and directors K. Viswanath, Ram Gopal Varma, Krishna Vamsi and Trivikram Srinivas. For Annapurna Studios he has written lyrics for most of the songs from films such as "Sisindri", "Ninne Pelladata" (involving Krishna Vamsi), "Little Soldiers", "Chandralekha" (involving Krishna Vamsi), "Yuvakudu", ""Sri Sita Ramula Kalyanam Chutamu Rarandi"", "Prema Katha" (involving Ram Gopal Varma), "Aahaa..!", "Manmadhudu". Among  them, for most films he was the single card lyricist (lyrics for all songs written by a single lyricist). For Sumanth Art Productions, he contributed lyrics for films such as "Manasantha Nuvve", "Okkadu", "Nee Sneham", "Varsham", "Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana", "Pournami", "Vaana" and "Aata" and for most of the films he was the single card lyricist. For Ushakiran Movies he wrote lyrics in films like "Nuvve Kavali", "Ishtam", "Anandam". With Ram Gopal Varma, he has worked on many films, contributing lyrics, such as "Siva", "Antam", "Kshana Kshanam", "Gaayam", "Govinda Govinda", "Rangeli (Telugu dubbed version of Rangeela)", "Anaganaga Oka Roju", "50-50" (Telugu  dubbed version of "Daud"), "Satya" (Telugu dubbed version), "Prema Katha" and for many production ventures by Ram Gopal Varma such as "Money", "Gulabi" etc. And for most of them, he was the single card lyricist. With K. Viswanath, he has worked on many films including his debut venture "Sirivennela", "Sruthilayalu", "Swayamkrushi", "Swarna Kamalam", "Aapadbandhavudu", "Swati Kiranam", "Subha Sankalpam" etc. K. Viswanath is also known to have introduced Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry. Krishna Vamsi is known to be a big fan of Sitarama Sastry. The films for which Sitarama Sastry wrote lyrics, which were directed by Krishna Vamsi include "Ninne Pelladatha", "Gulabi , Sindhooram", "Chandralekha", "Murari", "Khadgam", "Chakram", "Mahatma" etc. and more recently "Paisa". Trivikram Srinivas is a relative of Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry. Sitarama Sastry wrote lyrics to films directed by Trivikram such as "Nuvve Nuvve", "Athadu", "Jalsa" , "Khaleja", "Son of Satyamurthy", "Agnyaathavaasi" and "Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo" Style. Seetharama Sastry's lyrics are known to have extreme optimistic value. Through his lyrics, he has time and again conveyed the essence of life by giving simple yet powerful examples and motivated people into living a happy, meaningful life irrespective of the hurdles one encounters. Some examples of this kind of song include "Aakasam Thakela" ("Nuvvostanantey  Nenoddantana", Prabhu Deva's directorial debut), "Entha Varaku" ("Gamyam"). Some of his songs also have rebellious tendencies, criticizing the shortcomings and social evils of society in songs like "Niggadeesi Adugu" ("Gaayam"), "Ardha Satabdhapu" ("Sindhooram"). He also wrote songs which have humour like "Vaareva Emi Face uu" (Money). He was often considered the most versatile Telugu film lyricist working because he has contributed lyrics for songs comprising all kinds of genres like duets, hero introduction, romantic, devotional, thought provoking, lighter vein. Other works. Seetharama Sastry was a celebrity actor for "Subhagruha", a real estate firm. His interpretation of his Lyrics & Poetry  has been published as a book named "Sirivennela Tarangalu". Sitarama Sastry attended Loksatta Party on 3 March 2014 in a public event in Tirupati. In summer of 2014 along with singers Parthasaradhi (Parthu) and Sahithi, he toured many cities in United States presenting the concept behind the lyrics called "Sirivennela Antharangaalu". Death. Seetharama Sastry died on 30 November 2021 at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Secunderabad, Telangana due to lung cancer. On 24 November 2021, he was admitted to KIMS hospital with pneumonia and was put on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) treatment for supporting his lungs. Santosham Film Awards Awards  and honors. South Indian International Movie Awards Discography. This is a listing of the songs and tracks Sastry has contributed as a lyricist in the chronological order of films.