J. V. Raghavulu

Jetti Veera Raghavulu, known better as J V Raghavulu, was a veteran music composer and playback singer, who had had his works released predominantly in the Telugu music industry.

Raghavulu was born in 1931 in Ramachandrapuram, East Godavari district, to an agricultural family. His parents, Veeraswami Naidu and Adilaxmi, had six children. Raghavulu had a deep inclination towards acting and singing from a very young age. Bhadracharyulu, who organized Harischandra play, would give him the opportunity to act as Lohitasudu. A young Raghavulu, who was deeply impressed by the craft, became a part of the school group that would tour around different places and perform plays. Indraganti Hanumachastri and Vedula Satyanarayana Sastry happened to be his school teachers, who inculcated in him a love for poetry and music. They prompted him to sing their poems that were, broadcasted on All India Radio, Vijayawada. He had also gotten opportunities to tune many of their lyrics, and those of other poets as well, in the ‘Geetavali’ program. This was an early inspiration he got in his life that paved the way for him picking up his career years later. Once, the ever-famous singer ‘ Ghantasala Ghantasala, whose full name is Ghantasala Venkates >> Read More... ’ happened to hear him sing a song in one of the recording sessions. Quite impressed by the boy’s talent, he invited Raghavulu over to pursue a career in playback singing in films.

Raghavulu was not at all skeptical about leaving everything behind, even his studies, for a career in films. He left his home and parents to leave for Madras, where he saw his future shining bright and colorful. ‘Ghantasala’ had a fatherly affection towards Raghavulu, and took care of him all throughout his initial career years. Raghavulu was a determined soul who used to work day and night, learning the nuances of music composition and playback singing so as to perfect his craft.

His career as a playback singer began in 1956 with ‘Vennela Viruyunura’ for the film ‘Sonta Ooru,’ for which Ghantasala was the music director. In 1959, he got a chance to sing for the popular actor of that time, ‘ Chalam Chalam was a popular Telugu actor who got a promin >> Read More... ,’ for the movie ‘ Pelli Sandadi Click to look into! >> Read More... .’ Along with his singing career, he had gotten innumerable chances to compose songs for movies. He went on to sing and compose thousands of songs since then. He had worked with some very famous music directors of that time, like ‘K. V. Mahadevan’ and ‘M. S. Viswanathan.’ Some of his much-recognized songs include Janani Janmabhoomischa, Tarangini O Tarangini, Veena Naadi Teega Needi Teegachatu Raagamundi, and many more. He also worked as assistant music director for the 1971 Telugu film ‘Prem Nagar’. He also got an opportunity to brush up his skill in acting by his screen debut in a 1970 film called ‘ Drohi Click to look into! >> Read More... ’ by Suresh Productions. He had composed music for over 170 films.

Raghavulu was married to Ramanamma and had four sons and a daughter. He had contributed to the music industry for over 30 years and was active till 1990. He died on 7 June, 2013 in Rajahmundry, at the age of 82.