Vanamali

Vanamali Biography

Vanamali is a renowned Telugu poet and lyricist. His real name is Mani Gopal. Songs of hit movie, Happy Days made him popular. He won Nandi Award for Best Lyricist for the song, Oh My Friend Song and Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for the song, Arerey, both belonging to Happy days. In 2013, he won a nomination at SIIMA Award for Best Lyricist for the song, "Amma Ani Kothaga" - Life Is Beautiful. He holds a PhD in Telugu literature from Madras University. He has worked with A. R. Rahman, Harris Jayaraj and Ilaiyaraaja. He wrote the Telugu version of songs of Rajinikanth movie, Ethiran.  

Vanamali was born as Mani Gopal in Railway Kodur, Andhra Pradesh on January 29, 1974. From childhood he was attached to art subjects and music. While doing graduation, he took writing seriously. Though he was not at all interested in taking any art form as his career seriously, his parents prompted him to excel in education apart from arts. Vanamali has earned his PhD with High Honours in Telugu literature. As a lyricist, his first songs were for Doordarshan. His first composition was sung by Vijayalaksmi Sarma in a Doordarshan program. Later he became a reporter of Sitara weekly and worked for 10 years. It was during this time when he got interested in films and its music and thus joined the industry as a lyricist.

He has been closely associated with great names of music industry like Harris Jayaraj, A. R. Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja. As a lyricist he has been active in the industry since the second half of 2000’s. A few of his Telugu film projects include – 180, Life is beautiful, Ninnu Choosthe Love Vasthundi, Rangam, Orange, Gaayam 2, Oy!, Avakai Biryani, Kadali, NH 4, Sivaputrudu and Maro Charitra.

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Updated: March 20, 2014