Balladeer, poet and social activist Vangapandu Prasada Rao is no more. The 77-year-old Communist singer succumbed to a terminal illness at his residence in Pedabondapalli, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, earlier today.

After establishing the Jananatya Mandali in 1972 to propagate his art, Vangapandu went on to become popular across parts of north Andhra because his songs would often mirror the lived realities of the poor in the villages.

Famous for the folk song 'Em Pillado Eldamostava', he was a recipient of the Kalaratna Award from the state government. 'Jajjenaka janare', 'Nampally station Kada', and 'Yentrametta nadusthuvundante' are some of his other well-known songs.

Condoling Vangapandu's demise, Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy said that he had known him as a dear one. "He breathed literary life into the Uttarandhra movement with his folk songs. My deepest condolences to the family of Vangapandu garu," Jagan tweeted.

వంగపండు ఇక లేరన్న వార్త ఎంతో బాధించింది. ఆయన వ్యక్తిగతంగా నాకు ఆప్తులు. జానపదాన్ని తన బాణీగా మార్చుకుని ‘‘పాముని పొడిచిన చీమలు’’న్నాయంటూ ఉత్తరాంధ్ర ఉద్యమానికి అక్షర సేనాధిపతిగా మారారు. వంగపండు కుటుంబానికి ప్రగాఢ సంతాపం తెలియజేస్తున్నాను.

— YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) August 4, 2020