Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry, the popular Telugu cinema lyricist and acclaimed poet, is no more. KIMS Hospital, in its bulletin on Tuesday evening, said that he was battling Pneumonia. "He breathed his last at 4:07 pm. He died of lung cancer-related complications. Sastry garu was put on ECMO to support his lungs in the ICU. He was under close observation," the hospital said. 

A winner of eleven state Nandi Awards and four Filmfare Awards South, Sastry was known for penning songs of a variety of genres. He wrote 3000 songs until 2020. A recipient of the Padma Shri, he was born on 20 May 1955 at Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh.

Sastry shot to fame with 'Sirivennela', the 1986 movie. He won the Nandi Award for Best Lyricist for the song 'Aadi Bhikshuvu'. The likes of Sreemani, Chandrabose, Ananth Sreeram and Rama Jogayyasastry have mentioned Sastry's name in their interviews from time to time. A whole generation of lyricists was inspired by his acumen and poetic lyrics.  

IndiaGlitz joins millions of Sastry's fans to mourn his passing away. May his soul attain Sadgati!