Chakri was born in Kambalapalli Mahabubabad, Warangal district, Andhra Pradesh. He had one brother and three sisters. He started his career with private music albums and stepped into Tollywood with Puri Jagannadh’s Bachi. Chakri went on to compose several hit albums for numerous successful films thereafter. In an illustrious career that spanned over 85 films, Chakri churned out many hit albums and even won the prestigious Filmfare and Nandi Awards. He introduced many lyricists, singers, and technicians to Tollywood. Chakri was recently seen singing in the Memu Saitam event, and his last prominent release was Erra Bus.
Career
Chakri composed music for around 85 movies. He started his career as music director with the movie Bachi directed by Puri Jagannadh. As a composer he introduced many new talents. He won best singer award for Satyam in the Tollywood Filmfare Awards and a Nandi Award for Simha. He is generally considered to have hits in the month of January, which is considered to be Sankranthi season in Andhra Pradesh. This is due to movies such as Devadasu, Desamuduru, Krishna and Maska in straight years during Sankranthi. He gave many musical hits to Ravi Teja and director Puri Jagannadh, working on 9 films with the former and 10 films with the latter.
Personal life
Chakri had married Sravani nearly 10 years ago after he divorced his first wife. Sravani defied her parents and married Chakri and they started staying at an apartment complex at Journalist Colony, Jubilee Hills. Her family is originally from Andhra but moved to Kothagudem and eventually to Godavarikhani due to job.
Death
According to media reports, Chakri didn't wake up from bed on 15 December morning despite repeated attempts by his wife Sravani. Suspecting something wrong, she immediately took him to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced his death at around 7:45 AM. Chakri had been suffering from obesity and related ailments. His death was most likely due to heart attack. Chakri's untimely death had shaken the Telugu film industry. He also has two sisters and one brother. His brother was handicapped, who was also a music composer. Chakri's elder sister name was Krishna Priya Gilla. She was a teacher in Zilla ParishadHigh school Chelpur, Huzurabad, Karimnagar.
Controversies
In 2013, a molestation case was filed against Telugu music composer Chakri and producer Paruchuri Prasad on the grounds of allegedly misbehaving with a woman during a party, a police official said on 6 August that year. "Following the complaint by a 36-year-old woman, who alleged that Chakri and Paruchuri Prasad misbehaved with her on Sunday night, we have registered a molestation case. We are investigating the case," sub-inspector Mohan Kumar of Banjara Hillspolice station said. The two have been booked under penal provisions for assault on a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty. "The victim is a friend of Chakri, who personally invited him to the party. However, hours later Chakri and Prasad after being drunk misbehaved with her. She said in her complaint that Chakri apologised to her later but Prasad failed to do so," he added.
