Veturi Sundararama Murthy (30 January 1936 – 22 May 2010), known mononymously by his surname Veturi, was an Indian poet and lyricist who is known for his works in Telugu literature and cinema. Veturi is a recipient of the National Film Award, various Nandi Awards, Filmfare Awards, and other state honors. His career in Telugu cinema spanned more than four decades.
Early life Veturi was born to Chandrasekhar Sastry and Kamalamba in Pedakallepalli, near Challapalli, Krishna into a Telugu Brahmin family."Veturi Passes Away" The Times of India."Big loss to Telugu" Merinews. Veturi was a nephew of the Telugu Research Scholar Veturi Prabhakara Sastri. His grandfather Veturi Sundara Sastry was also a poet.
Education Veturi completed his schooling in Diviseema, Jaggayyapeta, near Vijayawada in Krishna district, and SSLC in his grandmother's village. Later, Veturi went to Chennai for his intermediate studies and came back to Vijayawada where he completed his degree at S.R.R. Government College. He was a student of the legendary Viswanatha Satyanarayana at this college.
Career as a journalist Veturi joined Andhra Prabha as a journalist in 1952, after his education. He learned the basics of editing a news article from his senior at Andhra Prabha, Narla Venkateswara Rao, whom he considers his first teacher. In 1959, he joined a weekly called Andhra Patrika, where Bapu and Mullapudi Venkata Ramana were his colleagues. He was the in-charge of the Cinema section at Andhra Patrika. He also worked for the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee's official daily newspaper, called Andhra Janata, as an editor.
In 1962, he became the first and only Telugu journalist to interview the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who came to inaugurate the Srisailam Hydroelectricity project. He covered the speeches of national leaders like Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. In 1964, he worked as an assembly reporter.
His articles are said to be very catchy and witty. For instance, he referred to the meeting of MLAs in Hotel Dwaraka, near the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly as "Adigo Dwaraka - Ivigo Alamandalu" ("This is Dwaraka and here are the cattle") (). His writing style caught the attention of the film industry due to his use of traditional poetic rules related to alliteration and rhyme for describing current affairs.
Career as a lyricist
Entry into films
Veturi had contacts with the Telugu film industry during his days as a journalist. He used to meet veteran lyric writer Dasarathi often. Legendary director V. Nagayya offered him a role in his film, Naa Illu (1953). However, two days before the shooting began, Veturi decided not to act as he felt that he was not fit for acting, and wrote a letter of apology to Nagayya for rejecting his offer. N. T. Rama Rao, has invited him to join the film industry as a lyricist. In 1974, he wrote his first song, "Bharatanaari Charitamu" (), in the form of Harikatha, for O Seeta Katha (1974) under the direction of K. Viswanath.
1970s
In 1978, K Viswanath's Siri Siri Muvva proved his prowess in expressing diverse emotions with poetry. In 1977, actor Sr. N.T.R's Adavi Ramudu showcased Veturi's talent for penning inspirational and romantic lyrics. The album was an instant hit among various audiences. Acharya Aatreya, the leading lyricist in those days, was known to take days for writing a song. Veturi became the first choice for directors and producers too because of his ability to write a song to the director's taste in a few minutes. He went on to pen more than 6,000 songs in his career. He wrote more mass numbers for movies like Vetagadu and Driver Ramudu, and classics for movies like Sankarabharanam and Sagara Sangamam. In particular, Sankarabharanam stood as a landmark in the Telugu film industry.
1980s
After the surge of his popularity during the 1970s, he went on to work with a variety of directors and actors in the 1980s. He wrote classics for directors like Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, Dasari Narayana Rao, Bapu, Jandhyala, Vamsy and mass numbers for directors like Raghavendra Rao, A. Kodandarami Reddy, Vijaya Bapineedu. He delivered a number of hits for senior actors like Sr. N.T.R, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Ghattamaneni Krishna, Shobhan Babu, Krishnam Raju and upcoming stars like Chiranjeevi, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Daggubati Venkatesh. This golden period in his career saw memorable albums like Saptapadi, Subhodayam, Subhalekha, Sagara Sangamam, Meghasandesam, Mudda Mandaram, Malle Pandiri, Nalugu Stambhalata, Rendu Jalla Seeta, Amarajeevi, Sreevariki Prema Lekha, Ananda Bhairavi, Srivari Sobhanam, Mogudu Pellalu, Chantabbai, Sitaara, Anveshana, Alapana, Mayuri, Amavasya Chandrudu, Janaki Ramudu and Geetaanjali.
1990s
During the late 1980s, Veturi's mass numbers garnered a lot of response from the public resulting in directors demanding more and more of them. However, Veturi still maintained his balance between classics and mass-numbers with movies like Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari, Sarigamalu, Sitaramayya Gaari Manavaralu, Matru Devo Bhava, and Mechanic Alludu. Veturi was given the opportunity to dub many Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi movies. Some of his dubbed albums, for instance Iruvar and Devaraagam, received wide acclaim.
2000s
During this period, Veturi created classics like Gangotri and Swarabhishekam. His association with young directors like Sekhar Kammula and Gunasekhar produced some memorable albums, like Anand, Godavari, Varudu, Arjun, Premishte (Dubbed version of Kaadhal) and Leader.
Awards and honors Veturi received several national and regional awards for his contributions to literature and films. He has been conferred an honorary Doctorate in the 23rd convocation of Acharya Nagarjuna University. In 2007, he received the Jandhyala Memorial Award.
National Awards
He got the National Film Award for Best Lyrics for the song "Ralipoye Puvva" () in the film Matrudevobhava, making him the second Telugu film lyricist to achieve the distinction after the revolutionary poet, Sri Sri. In 2006, he declared that he would return the National Award if Telugu is not given the status of Classical Language by the Government of India."Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News: Going all out for 'classical' tag". The Hindu. In 2008, the Government of India declared Telugu as a classical language.
Filmfare Awards
He received filmfare award for the song, Uppongele Godavari () in the 2006 movie, Godavari. In 2008, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nandi Awards
He received the Nandi award for best lyrics, from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, six times. They are listed here.
Year Song Movie 1977 Maanasa Veenaa Madhu Geetam (Telugu: మానసవీణ మధుగీతం) Panthulamma 1979 Sankara Naadasareeraparaa (Telugu: శంకరా నాదశరీరాపర) Sankarabharanam 1984 Brundavani Vundi (Telugu: బృందావని ఉంది) Kanchana Ganga 1985 Ee Duryodhana Dushaasana (Telugu: ఈ దుర్యోధనదుశ్శాశన) Pratighatana 1991 Pavuraniki Panjaraniki (Telugu: పావురానికి పంజరానికి) Chanti 1992 All Songs Rajeswari Kalyanam(in Telugu)
Manaswini Awards
He received two Manaswini awards. Song: Venuvai vachchaanu (), Movie: Matrudevobhava, Year: 1993. Song: Aakaashaana suryudundadu (), Movie: Sundarakanda, Year: 1992.
Filmography He wrote thousands of songs as a lyricist for many successful Telugu films. He has also acted in very few films in cameo roles. He acted as a fake swamiji in a film, which succeeded in producing good comedy. He also penned Dialogues along with writer Jandhyala for the movie Siri Siri Muvva.
1970s O Seeta Katha (1974) Adavi Ramudu (1977) Pantulamma (1977) Siri Siri Muvva (1978) Gorintaku (1979) Sankarabharanam (1979)
1980s Challenge Ramudu (1980) Love in Singapore (1980) Gharana Donga (1980) Yedanthasthula Meda (1980) Rowdy Ramudu Konte Krishnudu (1980) Mogudu Kavali (1980) Sarada Ramudu (1980) Aarani Manthalu (1980) Bhale Krishnudu (1980) Superman (1980) Alludu Pattina Bharatam (1980) Sita Ramulu (1980) Punnami Naagu (1980) Circus Ramudu (1980) Ram Robert Rahim (1980) Aatagadu (1980) Saptapadi (1981) Puli Bidda (1981) Mudda Mandaram (1981) Priya (1981) Kondaveeti Simham (1981) Thodu Dongalu (1981) Ragile Jwala (1981) Prema Simhasanam (1981) Srirasthu Subhamasthu (1981) Devudu Mavayya (1981) Viswaroopam (1981) Seethakoka Chilaka (1981) Nyayam Kavali (1981) Ooruki Monagadu (1981) Maha Purushudu (1981) Parvathi Parameswarulu (1981) Satyam Sivam (1981) Sri Vemana Charithra (1981) Doctor Cine Actor (1982) Manchu Pallaki (1982) Bobbili Puli (1982) Nalugu Stambalata (1982) Bangaru Kanuka (1982) Tingu Rangadu (1982) Gopala Krishnudu (1982) Talli Kodukula Anubandham (1982) Vayyari Bhamalu Vagalamari Bhartalu (1982) Edi Dharmam Edi Nyayam? (1982) Justice Chowdary (1982) Pagabattina Simham (1982) Yamakinkarudu (1982) Raaga Deepam (1982) Naa Desam (1982) Anuraga Devatha (1982) Subhalekha (1982) Bandalu Anubandhalu (1982) Patnam Vachina Pativrathalu (1982) Khaidi (1983) Poratam (1983) Manthri Gari Viyyankudu (1983) Meghasandesham (1983) Sangharshana (1983) Mundadugu (1983) Abhilasha (1983) Siripuram Monagadu (1983) Puli Bebbuli (1983) Shivudu Shivudu Shivudu (1983) Simham Navvindi (1983) Prema Pichollu (1983) Bezawada Bebbuli (1983) Kirayi Kotigadu (1983) Ramarajyamlo Bheemaraju (1983) Moodu Mullu (1983) Rendu Jella Sita (1983) Palletoori Monagadu (1983) Sagara Sangamam (1983) Amarajeevi (1983) Sitaara (1983) Devanthakudu (1984) Bobbili Brahmanna (1984) Sampoorna Premayanam (1984) Rustum (1984) Bharatamlo Shankaravam (1984) Vasantha Geetam (1984) Anubandham (1984) Sahasame Jeevitham (1984) Merupu Daadi (1984) Goonda (1984) Swathi (1984) Pralaya Simham (1984) Agni Gundam (1984) Tandava Krishnudu (1984) Disco King (1984) Nayakulaku Saval (1984) Mahanagaramlo Mayagadu (1984) Illalu Priyuralu (1984) Srivariki Premalekha (1984) Naagu (1984) Janani Janmabhoomi (1984) Intiguttu (1984) Kathanayakudu (1984) Challenge (1984) Pattabhishekam (1985) Raktha Sindhuram (1985) Surya Chandra (1985) America Alludu (1985) Dampatyam (1985) Agni Parvatam (1985) Darja Donga (1985) Adavi Donga (1985) Kattula Kondayya (1985) Bullet (1985) Illale Devata (1985) Pachani Kapuram (1985) Donga (1985) Aatmabalam (1985) Vijetha (1985) Nyayam Meere Cheppali (1985) Puli (1985) Babai Abbai (1985) Kotha Pelli Koothuru (1985) Preminchu Pelladu (1985) Terror (1985) Punnami Rathri (1985) Kanchu Kavacham (1985) Anveshana (1985) (writer) Seetharama Kalyanam (1986) Chantabbai (1986) Kaliyuga Pandavulu (1986) Vikram (1986) Kondaveeti Raja (1986) Nippulanti Manishi (1986) Kirathakudu (1986) Anasuyamma Gari Alludu (1986) Magadheerudu (1986) Driver Babu (1986) Kaliyuga Krishnudu (1986) Brahma Rudrulu (1986) Santhi Nivasam (1986) Kashmora (1986) Dhairyavanthudu (1986) Aranyakanda (1986) Krishna Garadi (1986) Desoddharakulu (1986) Chanakya Sapatham (1986) Apoorva Sahodarulu (1986) Rakshasudu (1986) Simhasanam (1986) Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu (1986) Rendu Rellu Aaru (1986) Khaidi Rudrayya (1986) Brahmastram (1986) Padaharella Ammayi (1986) Jayam Manade (1986) Karu Diddina Kapuram (1986) Thandri Kodukula Challenge (1987) Makutamleni Maharaju (1987) Padamati Sandhya Ragam (1987) Bhargava Ramudu (1987) Ajeyudu (1987) Sardar Krishnama Naidu (1987) Dharmapatni (1987) Allari Krishnayya (1987) Sankharavam (1987) Vijetha Vikram (1987) Donga Garu Swagatham (1987) Ramu (1987) Dammit Katha Addam Thirigindi (1987) Chakravarthy (1987) Aha! Naa Pellanta!! (1987) Collector Gari Abbayi (1987) Prema Samrat (1987) Trimurthulu (1987) Kirayi Dada (1987) Srinivasa Kalyanam (1987) Muddayi (1987) Bhanumati Gari Mogudu (1987) Agni Putrudu (1987) Pasivadi Pranam (1987) Sahasa Samrat (1987) Gundammagari Krishnulu (1987) Jebu Donga (1987) President Gari Abbai (1987) Maa Voori Magadu (1987) Donga Pelli (1988) Chuttalabbayi (1988) Bava Marudula Saval (1988) Aakhari Poratam (1988) Bazaar Rowdy (1988) Yamudiki Mogudu (1988) Asthulu Anthasthulu (1988)