Chembolu Sirivennela Sitaramasastri (born 20 May

1955) is an Indian lyricist known for his works in Telugu Cinema.[1] He is a multiple
winner of Nandi Award for Best Lyricist 10 times and Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist
Telugu 3 times. He was the key note speaker at the Telugu Association of North
America's celebrations held in Chicago between 2 and 4 July 2009[2][3] He is currently
the highest paid film lyricist in Andhra Pradesh.[4] Recently, He was also felicitated
by the Bay Area Telugu association[5
Early life

Sitarama Sastri was born in the town of Anakapalli in Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh.
While pursuing his habit of poetry writing, he worked with the state-owned Telephone
department for a living before he started writing film-songs. He discontinued studying medicine
in Andhra Medical College.
His father Dr C V Yogi was a multi faceted scholar who worked as a lecturer in Anakapalli
(AMAL College) and Kakinada (Ideal College).
Career

Sita Rama Sastri debuted with writing songs for K. Viswanath's Sirivennela. The songs in the
movie were so phenomenally popular that the name of this movie got tagged to his given name.
The songs of this movie are wonderful and rich in meaning that each of the songs is remembered
to this day as landmarks in Telugu film-music.
A particular highlight of the movie is the song Vidhata Thalapuna, sung by S. P.
Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela. The song is about Aum, the most sacred syllable in
Hinduism, from which the Veda traditions originated. Other notable songs include Adibhikshuvu
Vadinedi Koredhi and Ee gali Ee Nela.
Personal life

Sitarama Sastri is married and has two sons and a daughter.[6] He lives in Hyderabad.
Awards and honours
Nandi Awards

Nandi Award for Best Lyricist

Year

Movie

Song(s)

1986

Sirivennela

Aadi Bhikshuvu

1987

Shrutilayalu

Telavaarademo swami

1988

Swarnakamalam

Andela ravamidi padamuladaa

1993

Gaayam

Surajyamavaleeni swarajyamendukani[7]

1994

Shubha Lagnam

Chilaka ee thoodu leeka[8]

1996

Sreekaram

Manasu kaastha kalatha padithe[9]

1997

Sindhooram

Ardha Sathabdapu agnananne[10]

1999

Prema Katha

Devudu karunistaadani[11]

2005

Chakram

Jagamanta kutumbam naadi[12]

2008

Gamyam

Enta varaku endu koraku[13]

Filmfare Awards South

Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist Telugu - Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana

(2005)

Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist Telugu - Gamyam (2008)

Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist Telugu - Mahatma (2009)

Honours

He is a winner of the Bronzed Llama for which he is noted for in his home
town of Anakapalli.

He is honored with Lifetime achievement award in January 2012.

Lyric Style

Although he is more popular for his film songs, he has also written devotional and patriotic
songs. He has written over a thousand songs on Lord Shiva.[citation needed] Some of his patriotic
songs inspired movies like Gayam directed by Ram Gopal Varma. Another director Krishna
Vamsi formulated a story and made a movie Chakram based on 'Jagamanta kutumbam' song
written by Sirivennela.[citation needed]
Apart from being a lyricist, Sitarama Sastri is also a philosopher, thinker and a crusader through
his songs for social reformation.
He is one of the most promising lyricist. He has different style of penning the lyrics he usually
describe the things with nature. some of his highlights are
"choostune ekkadinincho chaitram kadili vastundi poga manchunu po po mantu tarimestundi"
which means spring will wash away the winter..and brings new light to us
gagananni nelanu kalipe veelundani choopela ee vinthala vanthena inka ekkadidaka which means
till how far the bridge between earth and sky continues
he also uses romantic phrases like andinchani adire adharanjali. bandhinchani kaalanne kougili
which translates i will welcome you with garland of kisses and your hug should stop the
movement of time
mounannelago nuvve vinalandi which means u should hear my silence and know my intension.
inspirational quotes like ne pandistunna raithu ni chirunavvu thotalni.. paripalistuna raju nenai
koti gundela kotalni" which translates "I am cultivating the fields of smiles by becoming a farmer
..and I am ruling million hearts by becoming king."
his all time best song is vidhata talapuna from the movie sirivennela
Partial filmography
Yea
r

Movie

198
Sirivennela
6

Cast
Sarvadaman
Banerjee,
Suhasini

198 Swayam Krushi Chiranjeevi,

7
Vijayashanti

Music

KV
Mahadevan
Ramesh
Naidu

Song(s)
Vidhata talpuna, Chandamam
ravey, Merisey taralona, Aadi
Bhikshuvu, Ee gali ee nela,
Prakruti Kanta ku
--

Gollapudi, Sharat
Samasaram Oka
K.
Babu, Rajendra
Chadaranagam
Chakravarthy
Prasad
Shrutilayalu

Rajasekhar,
Sumalata,

K.V.
Mahadevan

--

Swarnakamalam

Venkatesh,
Bhanupriya

Ilayaraja

--

198
8
Pelli Chesi
Choodu

Swarakalpana
198
Anna
9
Thammudu

,
Bhanupriya

-Ilayaraja

--

Raj-Koti

--

199 Alludugaru
0

Mohan Babu,
KV
Shobhana, Ramya
Mahadevan
Krishna

--

Antam

Nagarjuna, Urmila R D Burman

--

Gaayam

Jagapati Babu,
Revathi

Sri

Alupannadi Unda, Niggateesi

Adugu

Venkatesh,
Sridevi

M. M.
Keeravani

Jamu ratiri Jabilamma --

Swati Kiranam

Mammooty

K. V.
Mahadevan

Anatineeyara, Shruti neevu,

Teli manchu

Money

J. D.
Chakravarthy,
Chinna,
Jayasudha

Sri Murthy

--

Govinda
Govinda

Nagarjuna,
Sridevi

Koti

--

Criminal

Nagarjuna,
Manisha Koirala,
Ramya Krishna

M. M.
Keeravani

--

Gulabi

J D Chakravarthy, Shashi
Maheswari
Preetam

--

Prabhu Deva,

--

199 Kshana
2
Kshanam

199
3

199
5

199 Love Birds

A R Rahman

Nagma
Taraka Ramudu

Shubha
199
Muhurtam
7
Priya Raagaalu

Aaha

199 Pelli Kanuka

8

199
9

Soundarya,
Srikanth

Koti

--

Aamani, Indraja,
Vinod Kumar

M. M.
Keeravani

--

Jagapathi Babu,
Soundarya,
Maheswari

M. M.
Keeravani

--

Jagapati Babu,
Sanghavi

Aahvanamandi Andam,
Vandematara Antyakshari, Manasaina
m Srinivas
Priya, Priyurali Address,
Suvve Suvvamma

Jagapathi Babu,
Lakshmi,
Bhanumathi

M. M.
Keeravani

--

Aaveda Maa
Avede

Nagarjuna, Tabu, Srinivas

-Heera
Chakravarthy

W/O V.
Varaprasad

Avani, J. D.
Chakravarthy,
Vineeth

M. M.
Keeravani

--

Sitarama Raju

Jagapathi Babu,
Sanghavi,
M. M.
Nagarjuna, Sakshi Keeravani
Sivanand

--

Prema Katha

Sumanth, Antra
Mali

Sandeep
Chowta

Devudu Karunistadani

Mahesh Babu,
Sonali Bendre

Mani Sharma

Ekkada ekkada, cheppamma

cheppamma, bhama bhama

Gajala, Srikanth

Vidya Sagar

--

Mahesh Babu,
Bhumika Chawla

Mani Sharma --

Allari Naresh,
Swetha Agarwal

Paul J

--

Tarun Kumar,

Koti

--

200
Murari
1
Oh Chinadana
200 Okkadu
2
Allari
200 Ela Cheppanu

Shriya Saran

200
Varsham
4

Prabhas, Trisha
Krishnan

Nuvvostanante Sidharth, Trisha

Nenoddantana Krishnan
200
5

Devi Sri
Prasad

--

Devi Sri
Prasad

Chandrullo Unde kundhelu,

Niluvaddam ninu, Something
Something, Aakasham
taakela, Paaripoke Pittaa,
Adirey adirey

Happy

Allu Arjun,
Genelia D'Souza

Yuvan
Nee Kosam
Shankar Raja

Chakram

Prabhas, Asin,
Charmy, Prakash Chakri
Raj

Jagamanta Kutumbam songs

200
Bommarillu
6

Siddharth
Narayan, Genelia Devi Sri
D'Souza, Prakash Prasad
Raj

Nammaka Tappani

Aadavari
200
Matalaku
7
Ardhalu Verule

Venkatesh, Trisha Yuvan

Allante Dooraana, Manasa
Krishnan
Shankar Raja Manninchamma

Gamyam

Allari Naresh,
Sharwanand,
Kamalinee
Mukherjee

Anil R,
Murthy ES

Enta Varaku

Sasirekha
Parinayam

Tarun Kumar,
Genelia D'Souza

Mani Sharma

Ninne Ninne, Ila Entha sepila,

Yedo Yedo both versions

Pawan Kalyan,
Ileana D'Cruz

Devi Sri
Prasad

Jalsa, My Heart Is Beating,

You and I, Chalore Chalore
Chal

Parugu

Allu Arjun

Mani Sharma Parugulu, Hrudayam

Kotha Bangaru
Lokam

Varun Sandesh,
Shweta Prasad,
Mickey J
Prakash Raj, Ahuti Meyer
Prasad

200
8
Jalsa

Nenani Neevani, Nee

Prasnalu Neeve, Ok Anesa

200
Mahatma
9

Srikanth, Bhavana Vijay Anthony

Indiramma inti Peru kadura

Gandhi, Em jarugutondi

201
Mr. Perfect
1

Prabhas
Uppalapati, Kajal Devi Sri
Agarwal, Taapsee Prasad
Pannu

Badulu Tochanai

201
Oh My Friend
1

Siddharth
Narayan, Shruti
Rahulraj
Haasan, Hansika
Motwani

201
Oosaravelli
1

Jr.Ntr

Devi Sri
Prasad

201
Onamalu
2

Rajendra Prasad

Koti

Sri Anjaneyam

Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum,

201 Krishnam Vande Rana Daggubati,
Mani Sharma Spicy Spicy Girl, Ararey Pasi
2
Jagadgurum
Nayantara
Manasaa
Seethamma
Venkatesh,
201
Mickey J
Vakitlo Sirimalle Mahesh Babu,
3
Meyer
Chettu
Samantha, Anjali

Yem Cheddaam, Mari Antaga,

Meghaallo