Vangapandu Prasada Rao Biography 
Vangapandu Prasada Rao is a Telugu actor, poet, activist and lyricist. He is nicknamed ‘Vangapandu’ in the North coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. He is also associated with Communist led agitations. He is an actor, dancer, singer, writer, poet and composer, and is known for his multiple talents in the entertainment industry. As a singer he is best known for folk songs in Telugu language. Telugu-language balladeer Vangapandu Usha is his daughter. She is popular for her folk songs and dance.
Vangapandu Prasada Rao was born in 1943 in Pedabondappali village of Parvathipuram, Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. Jagannadham and Chinathalli are his parents. He has 2 sons and a daughter, Vangapandu Usha, also a popular ballad singer. Vangapandu Prasada Rao gained popularity as a revolutionary poet and singer. He endured several hardships in life that compelled him to support the Srikakulam movement. The burning social problems faced by backward people and how they were exploited turned him a poet. His dance to the drumbeats began at the age of eight. At the age of 75 too he is fully active. He now plans to set up a ‘Janapada’ training academy in Uttarandhra.
As a singer he became popular through folk songs. Some of his popular songs are Jajjenaka janare, Yentrametta nadusthuvundante, Emi pilloi yeldamosthava and Nampally station Kada. Folk songs such as ‘Jajjanaka Janaare’ and ‘Em pillado eldamostava’ have become stirring symbols of revolution in Andhra Pradesh. He was their composer and balladeer. The song composed by the revolutionary poet five decades ago has also been translated into about 30 Indian languages. His soulful folk-tunes truly reflect the sufferings of rural people.
Published: January 12, 2020
Updated: January 12, 2020
