Education
Raghavaih studied Telugu literature, epics and puranas.
Raghavaih studied Telugu literature, epics and puranas.
His lyrics are steeped in Telugu folklore and rural idiom. Born in 1905 in an agricultural family in Appikatla village, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. His familiarity with all aspects of Telugu rural culture and traditions empowered him to write immemorable songs for Telugu films.
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.
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 Bachelor 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.