Vangapandu Prasada Rao
Vangapandu Prasada Rao (Telugu: వంగపండు ప్రసాదరావు) is an Indian poet, lyricist and actor. He is better known as ‘Vangapandu’ in the North coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. He actively participates in Communist lead agitations. He is well known for his multiple talents of composing, singing, dancing, and acting. His revolutionary songs yantrametta nadustumdantee, Jajjenaka janare, eem pillado eldamostavaa, ooda nuv vellipoke etc. are very popular.
Early life
He was born in 1943 pedabondappali (village),parvathipuram(MD),to Jagannadham and Chinathalli in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.
Career
Vangapandu,Gaddar and B.Narsing Rao founded the Jana Natya Mandali, the cultural wing of the People's War Group in 1972. He has written over 400 songs in the past three decades.[1] Of these 12 have been translated into 10 Indian languages like Tamil, Bengali, Kannada and Hindi besides all the tribal dialects. His song Yentrametta Nadusthuvundante was translated by a professor into English and was admired both in the United States and in England.
He performs on the invitation of various peoples' organisations. He gave over 2,000 performances not in Andhra Pradesh but also in other parts of the country. He also trains youth to sing and dance to the songs.
In 2010, he has remixed acclaimed revolutionary song "em pillado" by praising late Y.S Rajashekhar Reddy, which drew heavy criticism from leftist circles.[2]
Personal life
Vangapandu is married and has a daughter, Vangapandu Usha, also a popular ballad singer. She is now cultural wing secretary in YSR Congress party.
Popular songs
- Emi pilloi yeldamosthava
- Jajjenaka janare
- Nampally station Kada (this song is written by adrusta deepak
- Yentrametta nadusthuvundante
Awards
In 2008, he was presented with the Bollimantha Sivarama Krishna Memorial Award in Tenali.[3]