Tollywood lyricist Kandikonda no more

Telugu film lyricist Dr Kandikonda Yadagiri (49) passed away on Saturday evening following a prolonged illness.

Kandikonda was admitted to a private hospital last year for treatment of cancer. Upon learning of his situation, the Telangana government extended support by providing financial assistance. After spending a few months in the hospital, Kandikonda had overcome the disease and returned home recently.

However, the tumour had affected his spinal cord following which his condition deteriorated on Saturday and he breathed his last at his home in Vengal Rao Nagar, Hyderabad.

Born on October 13, 1973, in Nagurlapally, Narsampet Mandal of Warangal district, Kandikonda, as he is popularly known, has penned lyrics for over 1200 songs. He studied MA (Telugu & Politics) from Osmania University and it was his love for Telugu literature and language that triggered a desire to foray into the film industry.

Known as one of the mainstream lyricists for director Puri Jagannadh, Kandikonda entered into the industry with the director's romantic drama Itlu Sravani Subramanyam (2001).

He had worked from a range of music composers from late Chakri to Sunil Kashyap and had proved to be adept at weaving words to suit all kinds of situations, evident in songs like Malli kuyave guvva (Itlu...), Chupultho guchi guchi champake (Idiot), Chennai chandrama (Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammai), Madhurame madhurame (Sathyam), Malleteegaroi (Andhrawala), Gala gala paruthunna (Pokiri), Akkad bakkad bombai po (Super), I wanna spiderman (Stalin), Ninne ninne (Desamuduru), Manasa (Munna), You are my chocobar (Chirutha) and One more time (Temper). His last film was Srikanth-starrer Kothala Rayudu.

Condoling his death, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao said that Kandikonda through his lyrics highlighted the culture of the artisans and brought film music closer to the people.

"The Telangana government's efforts to save Dr Kandikonda were unsuccessful and his death was an irreparable loss to the Telangana literary world. I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members in these difficult times," said Rao in a statement.