Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry

Career

Seetharama Sastry debuted with writing songs for Kasinathuni Viswanath. Though his debut song was for Janani Janmabhoomi (1984), where his name was shown as Ch Seeta Rama Sastry, the songs in the movie Sirivennela were so phenomenally popular that the name of this movie got tagged to his given name.

The songs of this movie are so wonderful and rich in meaning that each of the songs is remembered to this day as landmarks in Telugu film-music.

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 itself, which was a one-of-a-kind event, never to be repeated as of 2016.

He then wrote lyrics for many songs in films such as Swayam Krushi, Swarna Kamalam, Samsaram Oka Chadarangam, Shrutilayalu, Pelli Chesi Choodu. The lyrics for these songs got high reception and Sitarama Sastry was established as one of the major lyricists in the Telugu film industry. 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 also made record by winning hat-trick Nandi Awards in 1986, 1987 and 1988 and became the first one to do so.

His next major breakthrough was Rudraveena. The lyrics for songs like "Tarali raada", said to have inspired many people.

He then gave lyrics to many songs from the films such as Swarakalpana, Anna Thammudu, Indrudu Chandrudu, Alludugaru, Antam with all songs gaining high critical reception. His lyrics for the film Gaayam were considered as a path-breaking effort and gained him, 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. All these songs made him extremely popular. He won his fifth and sixth Nandi Award for Best Lyricist for the films Shubhalagnam and Srikaram respectively.

His next venture was Ninne Pelladatha, in which he was the single card lyricist. All songs were big hits, both lyrically and musically.

He followed up with lyrics for songs in films such as Shubha Muhurtam, Priya Raagaalu, Aaha, Pelli Kanuka, Sindhooram, Aavida Maa Aavide, Chandralekha, Wife of V. Varaprasad, Seetharama Raju, Prema Katha etc. The lyrics for all these songs got appreciated. However, lyrics for the songs in the films Sindhooram, Prema Katha stand out. The former one was about naxalism and the latter one was a tragedy love story. His lyrics got extremely 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 exceptional 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. Lyrics for all these songs became popular. Particularly, "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 – Teluguis 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) which 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. The lyrics for the songs, written by him, from these films got high appreciation.

He is considered as one of the greatest lyricist 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 till date and was felicitated for this achievement in the Audio function of 2014 movie Mukunda. His lyrics for 2015 song "Mental Madhilo" from OK Bangaram has received praise, His lyrics for OK Bangaram has been considered very apt for a dubbed version.

Longtime Association

He is known to have a long time association with banners "Annapurna Studios" and "Sumanth Art Productions" and directors "Ram Gopal Varma", "K. Viswanath", "Krishna Vamsi" and "Trivikram Srinivas".

For "Annapurna Studios" he has written lyrics for most of the songs from films such as Sisindri, Ninne Pelladatha (Involving Krishna Vamsi), Little Soldiers, Chandralekha (Involving Krishna Vamsi), Yuvakudu, Sree Seetharamula Kalyanam Choothamu Rarandi, Prema Katha (Involving Ram Gopal Varma), Aaha, 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 Kaavali, Istam, Anandam.

With "Ram Gopal Varma", he has worked for 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 form 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 for many films including his debut venture Sirivennela, Shrutilayalu, 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 to Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry. Sitarama Sastry wrote lyrics to films directed by Trivikram such as Nuvve Nuvve, Athadu, Jalsa and Khaleja.

Style

His 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 for this kind of songs include "Aakasam Thakela" (Nuvvostanantey Nenoddantana, Pradhu 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 is often considered as the most versatile Telugu film lyricist currently working because he has contributed lyrics for songs comprising all kinds of genres like duets, hero introduction, romantic, devotional, thought provoking, lighter vein.

Personal life

Sitarama Sastri is married and has two sons and a daughter. He lives in Hyderabad, India.

His elder son Yogeswara Sharma is music director and his younger son Raja is an actor.

Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry adopted Krishna Vamsi, not legally through Indian Government Gazette, but by traditional Hindu method.

Other work

Sitarama Sastri is a Brand Ambassador of "Subhagruha", a real estate firm. His interpretation of his Lyrics & Poetry has been published as a book named Sirivennela Tarangalu. Sitarama Sastri 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". This one-of-a-kind program was a big success every place it was performed.

Awards and honours

Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry is considered as one of the best lyricists Telugu Film Industry has ever produced. He is critically acclaimed as well as highly popular. For his highly acclaimed works, he was awarded Nandi Award for Best Lyricist for eleven times and Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Telugu for four times.

He received the state sponsored Nandi Award for Best Lyricist for his debut film, a record still unequaled. He completed a hat-trick by winning Nandi Award for Best Lyricist three times consecutively in years 1986, 1987 and 1988. This was an unprecedented record and was broken by himself by winning Nandi Award for Best Lyricist consecutively for five times in years 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1999 (In 1996 and 1998, Nandi Award for Best Lyricist was not awarded), which too remains unbroken.

Among the Nandi Award for Best Lyricist winners, he holds the record for highest number of wins, i.e., Eleven (11) times.

Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Telugu was introduced only in 2005 and since then he was awarded it four times. Even in Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Telugu category, he holds the record for highest number of wins, i.e., Four (4) times.