Veteran actress and playback singer R. Balasaraswathi Devi, a pioneer in Telugu cinema, has passed away at 97. Her career, spanning over 2,000 songs and significant contributions to classical music in films, left an indelible mark. Leaders, including Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, mourned her loss, acknowledging her irreplaceable contribution to the arts.
Veteran Telugu and Tamil film actress and playback singer R. Balasaraswathi Devi passed away at her home on Wednesday due to old age issues. She was 97 years old, according to her family. “Her health had not been well for the last two-three days. She passed away peacefully at 8 am this morning,” family stated.
Balasaraswathi Devi’s singing career spanned over 2,000 songs
Balasaraswathi Devi’s singing career began with the film ‘Sathi Anasuya’. Later, she sang more than 2,000 songs in Telugu, Tamil, and other languages, melting the hearts of her fans. Balasaraswathi Devi, who debuted as the first playback singer in Telugu films, has made an unforgettable contribution to the art world. Her songs, with their heart-pounding music and emotional artistry, still resonate with fans.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy expresses grief
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan have expressed grief over the death of Balasaraswathi Devi. They have expressed their condolences to the family and consoled them in this painful situation. In a message issued through Telangana Chief Minister’s Office X (formerly Twitter), “The demise of Balasaraswathi Devi, the first playback singer to introduce classical music to the Telugu film industry, is an irreplaceable loss to the film industry,” it said.
Pawan Kalyan pays tribute Balasaraswathi Devi
Pawan Kalyan saidin his condolence message, “I am deeply saddened to learn about the demise of Balasaraswathi Devi, the leading singer and actress of my generation. Six decades ago, she acted in Telugu and Tamil films and won the hearts of her fans with his songs, earning her a unique place in classical music that is hard to miss. She sang many songs on All India Radio and gave them to the people,” he said.
