Srikakulam: Famous Folk Singer and Poet and writer of the lyrics “Jajjanakari Janare”, “Empillo Eldamostava” Vanga Pandu Prasad Rao (77) passes away on the vee hours of Tuesday, due to Cardiac arrest.

Vanga Pandu Prasad Rao is the member of cultural wing, “people’s war group”. He is one of the members in establishing a cultural organization “Jana Natya Mandali” in 1972 along with the Telangana Folk singer “Gaddar”. He wrote and sung nearly 300 songs, to create awareness in the villagers, since three decades.

He wrote nearly 30 songs in Telugu movies, which related to the theme of revolution. Especially the actor, director and writer R. Narayana Murthy’s films. He entered in Tollywood film Industry through Narayana Murthy’s Film “Ardharatri Swathanthram”. Ten of Vanga Pandu lyrics translated in many languages in India, which were popular in the society.

Mainly the folk song “Yantrametla Kadulutunadante” is among one of the translated lyric of Vanga Pandu. It is also translated in English language also and it was populared in UK and US also.

Vanga Pandu Prasad Rao was born in Srikakulam Dist, in Bondupally Village in 1943. He was studied upto SSLC, after failing SSLC, he completed ITI (Fitter trade) in Bobbili. Later he got a job in Vishakha Shipyard and resigned it, and he joined in the people’s war associated organization of “Jana Natya Mandali”.

He was facilitated with “Kalaa Ratna Award” in 2017 by the government of Andhra Pradesh.