Playback singer Ramakrishna dead

• Sang over 5000 songs
• Carved a niche for himself in post-Ghantasala era
• He is nephew of P Suseela
• YS Jagan, harikrishna, Talasani mourn his death

In a shocking incident, eminent playback singer and well-known film personality Ramakrishna passed away late on Wednesday night. He has not been keeping well for quite sometime and the end came at his residence in Venkatagiri Colony in the Jubilee Hills.

Ramakrishna was born on August 20, 1947 at Vizianagaram and began his singing career with Yuvavani of All India Radio. He soon became a film playback singer and helped fill the void created by doyen of playback singing Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao. His songs in Mutyala Muggu, Bhakta Kannappa, Sri Madvirata Potuluri Veerabrahmam gari Jeevitha Charitra, Dana Veera Sura Karna, Tata Manavadu, Alluri Seetarama Raju and others were hugely popular. He sang over 5000 songs for over 200 films.

Ramakrishna is a close relative of another legendary playback singer P Suseela. His son Saikiran is a film actor and animal lover.

Telangana cinematography minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav condoled his death and recalled his services to the film world. YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy mourned Ramakrishna’s death and said he had carved out a niche for himself in playback singing. He said he had made a significant contribution to the film world through his songs. NTR’s scion and former MP Nandamuri Harikrishna also mourned Ramakrishna’s death.