Kosaraju Raghavaiah

Kosaraju or Kosaraju Raghavaiah or Kosaraju Raghavaiah Chowdary (Telugu: కొసరాజు రాఘవయ్య చౌదరి) was a Telugu poet and writer. His lyrics are steeped in Telugu folklore and rural idiom. Born in 1905 in an agricultural family in Appikatla village, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. Raghavaih studied Telugu literature, epics and puranas. His familiarity with all aspects of Telugu rural culture and traditions empowered him to write immemorable songs for Telugu films.

Early life

Raghavaih was influenced by a Telugu scholar Kondamudi Narasimham Pantulu in whose play based on the Ramayana he acted when still in his teens. Initially, he worked as a journalist in the Raitu Patrika where he met the famous writerSamudrala Raghavacharya and the director Gudavalli Ramabrahmam. He published his first poetry anthology, Kadagandlu.

Film career

Raghavaiah acted in a Telugu film Raitu Bidda (1939) as a hero. Later, he shifted his focus to writing lyrics for the films. He penned humorous lyrics for K.V. Reddy's Pedda Manushulu (1954), followed by one of his most famous songs, Jebulo bomma je jela bomma (in B.A. Subba Rao's Raju Peda, 1954). He was well known for his earthy poetry, often referring to popular tales of morality and ethics. Raghavaih wrote about 3,000 lyrics for 350 Telugu films.

He wrote memorable songs like "Eruvaka Sagaro", "Illarikamlo Unna Maza" and "Chethilo Dabbulu Poyene".

Filmography

Awards and honours

• He was awarded the prestigious Raghupathi Venkaiah Award by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh for his outstanding contribution to Telugu cinema in 1984.
• He was given the titles Janapada Kavi Sarvabhouma and Kaviratna.

Kosaraju Raghavaih died in 1987.

See also

• Raghupathi Venkaiah Award

External links

• Listen to some of the songs of Kosaraju at Old Telugu Songs.
• Listen to some of the songs of Kosaraju at Chimata Music.com