Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad   

Industry pays rich tributes to Veturi

Huge loss: Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi turns emotional while paying his last respects to lyricist Veturi Sundararamurty at his residence in Hyderabad on Sunday. (Right) Jayasudha paying homage.

HYDERABAD: The Telugu film industry paid rich tributes to the legendary lyricist Veturi Sundararama Murthy who passed away following a cardiac arrest at a corporate hospital here on Saturday. His mortal remains were consigned to flames at Bansilalpet crematorium here on Sunday afternoon.

The who's who of the Telugu film industry visited Veturi's house in Ameerpet. Among those present were eminent directors K. Viswanath and Dasari Narayana Rao, producer D. Rama Naidu, actors Chiranjeevi, N. Balakrishna, Murali Mohan and Jayasudha. Several others attended the last rites at the crematorium.

Paying tributes, producer Suresh Babu said Veturi had written about 75 songs for him, while ‘Arundhati' producer Shyamprasad Reddy said the writer had penned the song, ‘Bhu Bhu Bhujangam'.

Mr. Suresh has known Veturi since 1982, until which time his production house used to patronise Acharya Atreya. “The one thing I remember him for, is his prolific writing. People used to line up outside Vijaya Gardens in Vadapalani, Chennai, for him to deliver the song. Whether it is a mass entertainer or a classy song, it was all the same for him.”

Veturi has the credit of writing over 10,000 songs. He left an indelible impression on the film industry with his involvement for over three decades.

He began his career as a journalist with Telugu dailies Andhra Prabha and Andhra Patrika.

Returns award

Born on January 29, 1936, at Pedakallepalli, in Krishna district, the eminent writer achieved the distinction of being the second lyricist from the Telugu film industry to get a national film award for his lyrics, but returned it because Telugu was not bestowed with a classical status.

He also bagged eight Nandi awards.

Among others, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University's former Vice-Chancellor Avula Manjulatha recalled Veturi as a trend setter who changed the course of song-writing for Telugu films from the days of Atreya.

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