Jaladi Raja Rao
Jaladi Raja Rao was a versatile writer, playwright and lyricist in Telugu cinema.
Life
Jaladi was born in a Mala Caste family on 9 August 1932 in Gudiwada in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh and later converted to Christianity. He was the fourth son of Amrutamma and the late Jaladi Emmanuel, a member of the Krishna District Board and Indian freedom fighter.He passed his S.S.L.C. with Telugu as special course. He started his career as a drawing teacher in District Board Schools. He worked in various districts and learned the slang used in different areas of the State. He resigned his job during his stint at Veeraghattam in Srikakulam district in 1968 and went to Chennai to try his luck in films.
He entered the realm of films as a lyricist for the movie Palle Sema in 1976. His debut song Churattakku Jarutadhi Situkku Situkku is tuned by K V Mahadevan. He wrote several social, philosophical, patriotic and folk songs in Telugu movies. His songs consist of only Telugu words of various regions of Andhra Pradesh.
Being from a Dalit background, he always liked to write about poverty, village life and folk type of songs. He penned nearly 1,500 songs in more than 270 movies and remained popular for his folk-oriented songs, which had an exotic rural touch.
He also wrote books like Viswamohini and Kakulamma and plays like Amarajeevi, Tandri, Samadhi and Karumeghalu. He died on 14 October 2011 in Visakhapatnam.
Awards and achievements
- Best writer award from the Vijayawada Cultural Association for his play `Karu Meghalu' in 1957.
- Conferred Twin Cities Cultural Award and the Hyderabad Film Fare Award in 1970.
- Conferred The Kalasagar Award, Madras in 1987.
- Conferred The Cine Herald Award, Hyderabad in 1987.
- Nandi Award of the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1990 for Erramandaaram.
- Was given the title `Navarasa Kavi Samrat' by the Prabhu Chitra Arts Association of Eluru in 1991.
- Was given the title `Kalasagar' for the song `Punya bhoomi naa desam namonamami' in the film Major Chandrakanth.
- Served as a member of the AP Film and TV Awards Committee for 1990-91 and 1994-95.
- Became member of the Executive Council of Sri Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, in 1997.
- Honored with Kala Prapoorna award from Andhra University, 2008.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Songs |
| 1976 | Palle Seema | "Churattuku Jaratadhi Situkku Situkku" |
| 1976 | Devude Gelichadu | "Ee kalam Padi Kalalu Bratakalani" |
| 1978 | Chal Mohan Ranga | "Gallu Galluna Kali Gajjelu" |
| 1978 | Chesedi Patnavasam | "Chesedi Pattanavasam Mesedhi Pallela Grasam" |
| 1978 | Pranam Khareedu | "Yethamesi Thodina Yeru Endadhu" |
| 1979 | Kotala Rayudu | "Oka Nelavanka Chiru Goruvanka" |
| 1979 | Thoorpu Velle Railu | "Sandepoddu andaalunna chinnadi" |
| 1980 | Dharma Chakram | "Gogula Pooche Gattu Meedha" |
| 1981 | vaaraalabbaayi | "kaakamma kaaki" |
| 1982 | Gruha Pravesam | "Abhinava Sasirekhavo" |
| 1986 | Repati Pourulu | "Matrudevobhava Tallulara Tandrulara" |
| 1990 | Alludu Garu | "Konda Meeda Chukka Potu" |
| 1992 | Brahma | "Musi Musi Nuvvulalona" |
| 1992 | Chittemma Mogudu | "Nindu Kundala neelosukuntaadi" |
| 1993 | Bobbili Simham | "Srirasthu Subhamastu" |
| 1993 | O Tandri O Koduku | "Konda Meedha Poddhu Podupu" |
| 1994 | Major Chandrakanth | "Sukhibhava Sukhibhava" |
| 1994 | Major Chandrakanth | "Punyabhumi Na Desam Namo Namami" |
| 1995 | Errodu | "Raja Nimmala Pandu" |
| 2001 | Subbu | "I love my India" |