Renowned Telugu lyricist and writer Koduri Siva Shakthi Datta, father of music composer M.M.Keeravani, passed away on July 7, 2025, at the age of 92 in Hyderabad.
Born as Koduri Subba Rao in Kovvur, Andhra Pradesh, on October 8, 1932, Datta showed earlyinterest in the arts. He moved to Mumbai to study painting at the Sir J.J. School of Art, andinitially pursued a career as a painter under the pen name Kamalesh. Deeply influenced byliterature, music, and classical Sanskrit, he gradually transitioned into cinema through writingand lyrical composition.
A multi-talented artist—lyricist, screenwriter, director, painter, and Sanskrit scholar—Datta left alasting legacy in Telugu cinema through his poetic contributions. As a lyricist, he pennedmemorable songs like “Mamathala Thalli” and “Saahore Baahubali” in Baahubali: TheBeginning, “Raamam Raghavam” in RRR, “Anjanadri Theme Song” in Hanu-Man, “AmmaAvani” in Rajanna, “Nalla Nallani Kalla” in Sye, and “Agni Skalana”, “Mannela Thintivira” inChatrapathi. He was also known for his mythological depth in films like Magadheera and SriRamadasu. Earlier in his career, he co-wrote the screenplay for Janaki Ramudu (1988) and laterdirected the film Chandrahas (2007).
Datta is also part of a film family—brother to V. Vijayendra Prasad, uncle to director S.S.Rajamouli.
