R Balasaraswathi Devi, a famous Telugu and Tamil actress and playback singer, died at her home in Hyderabad on Wednesday morning from age-related health problems. She was the first playback singer in Telugu cinema. She was 97 years old.
Family members say that the veteran artist had not been well for a few days and died peacefully around 8 a.m.
Balasaraswathi Devi, who is fondly remembered as one of the pioneers who shaped South Indian film music, started her famous singing career with the movie Sati Anasuya. She sang more than 2,000 songs in Telugu, Tamil, and other languages over the years. Her work set the stage for playback singing in South Indian movies, which combined classical elements with movie style.
The Chief Minister of Telangana, A. Revanth Reddy, and the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Pawan Kalyan, both said they were very sad about her death and called it a huge loss for the Indian film industry.
The Telangana Chief Minister's Office posted an official statement on X (formerly Twitter):
"The death of Balasaraswathi Devi, who was the first playback singer in the South and brought classical music to the Telugu film industry, is a huge loss for the film industry."
In his message of condolence, Pawan Kalyan said he was sad to hear of the death of a true pioneer.
"Balasaraswathi Devi, who acted in Telugu and Tamil movies eight decades ago, also sang and made her voice heard by the audience." "She had a special place in classical music and sang a lot of great songs on All India Radio," he said.
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Balasaraswathi Devi's artistic journey took place during the golden age of South Indian cinema, when her voice became known for its grace and tradition. Her ability to combine classical technique with popular appeal opened the door for many playback singers who came after her.
R Balasaraswathi Devi's legacy lives on as the film and music industries mourn her death. She was the voice that brought playback singing to life in Telugu cinema.
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