Rajashri

Rajashri Biography

Indukuri Ramakrishnam Raju, commonly referred to as Rajashri was a famous dialogue writer, lyricist and music director associated with Telugu film industry. He has worked in around 1000 Telugu films, most of them being dubbed from Tamil movies. For his excellence in translating songs to Telugu language, he was fondly called "Anuvaada Brahma". He composed music for a couple of movies directed by Dasari Narayana Rao, Mama Kodalu (1993) and Venkanna Babu (1992). He has worked with many dubbed versions of Mani Ratnam movies. His son Rajashri Sudhakar is also a dialogue writer associated with Telugu film industry.

He was born in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh on 31 August 1934 to Indukuri Appalaraju and Narayanamma. His school and college education was done at his hometown itself. After completing type writing, he also worked as a typist and personal-assistant in Srikakulam District Board. Later he moved to Chennai where he started working in movies as a writer. During his initial days he worked as an assistant to Pinisetty Sriramamurthy and also as an assistant writer to L. V. Prasad for Bollywood movies like Khilona and Sasural. He also worked as an assistant director in those struggling days.

He gained popularity as a lyricist in the Telugu film industry. Known for his successful association with Chalam he penned some memorable lyrics for his movies, Bullemma Bullodu, Devudamma, Thulaabhaaram, Sambaraala Rambabu etc. Roja, Gharshana, Anjali, Dalapathi, Mouna Ragam, Naayakudu and Donga Donga are among his notable association with Mani Ratnam. Since 1960s he has been associated with Telugu film industry as a lyricist and dialogue writer and this veteran writer spent around 4 decades in the film industry. He was active in the field till his death in 1994. He died while asleep during the shooting of Premikudu in 1994.

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Updated: April 24, 2016