Biography
rirangam Srinivasarao (Telugu: ???????? ????????? ????), popularly known as Sri Sri (Telugu: ????????), 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 and President of the revolutionary writers association of Andhra. He was also awarded the Soviet Land Nehru Award of India.
Early Life
Srirangam Srinivasa Rao, popularly known as Sri Sri, was born on 30 April 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 Three daughters.Son Venkat and Daughters are Manjula, Mangala and Mala.
He went to Madras for his higher studies in 1928 and completed them by 1931. In 1938, he joined as a sub editor of 'Andhra Prabha' daily newspaper. 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). He 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
Srirangam Srinivasa Rao 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 metre which were not used in classical Telugu poetry. 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.
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").
Telugu Cinema
Sri Sri was a screenwriter for several Telugu films. He is one of the highest film song writers in India, he has penned lyrics for over 1000 soundtracks in Telugu.
National Honours
Sahitya Akademi Award - 1972
Soviet Land Nehru Award
Film Awards
National Film Award for Best Lyrics - 1975
Nandi Award for Best Lyricist
Raja-Lakshmi Award in 1979 by the Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation in Chennai ..
