Wish I had his talent to compose a verse to describe the acute sense of loss I'm feeling on hearing about the demise today of one of my favourite lyricists, Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry garu. He left an indelible impression on my mind in my teenage years - I remember seeing the movie Gaayam four times just to hear his song, నిగ్గదీసి అడుగు ఈ సిగ్గు లేని జనాన్ని [Niggadeesi adugu ee siggu leni janaanni (haul up this shameless society and ask directly)], with searing, memorable lines like మారదు లోకం మారదు కాలం, రామబాణం ఆపిందా రావణ కాష్ఠం, కృష్ణగీత ఆపిందా నిత్య కురుక్షేత్రం [Maaradu lokam maaradu kaalam, (The world does not change, time does not change) Raama baanam aapindaa raavana kaashtham (Did Lord Rama's arrow stop Ravana's destruction?), Krishna geeta aapindaa nitya kurukshetram (Did Lord Krishna's Geeta Upadesam stop Kurushetra battle?)].
I was so delighted to meet him in person when I was working as an associate director for Krishna Vamsi garu for the film Sasirekha Parinayam (Seeetharama Sastry garu wrote a couple of songs for the movie). As I muse about his powerful lyrics, I know that so many of my favourite songs over the years have been written by him. His passing away is a loss not only for his family but also for the entire Telugu film industry. May his soul rest in peace.