Kosaraju Raghavaiah


Kosaraju or Kosaraju Raghavaiah or Kosaraju Raghavaiah Chowdary was a Telugu poet and writer. He wrote about 3,000 songs for 350 Telugu films. His lyrics are steeped in Telugu folklore and rural idiom. Born in an agricultural family in Appikatla village, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, Raghavaiah studied Telugu literature, epics and puranas. He died in 1987.

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 writer Samudrala Raghavacharya and the director Gudavalli Ramabrahmam. He published his first poetry anthology, Kadagandlu.

Film career

Raghavaiah acted in a Telugu film Raitu Bidda 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, followed by one of his most famous songs, Jebulo bomma je jela bomma. 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