HYDERABAD/AMARAVATI, 10 Nov

Renowned poet and lyricist Ande Sri, the author of Telangana’s iconic state song ‘Jaya Jaya He Telangana’, passed away at 64 in Hyderabad on Monday.

Officials said Ande Sri, whose real name was Ande Yellaiah, was found lying on the ground at his residence early in the morning. He was rushed to the state-run Gandhi Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. A heart attack is suspected to be the cause of death.

Known to be hypertensive, the poet had reportedly experienced an episode of sweating two days ago.

Ande Sri rose to prominence during the Telangana statehood movement, with his songs becoming anthems of identity and pride. His ‘Jaya Jaya He Telangana’ was officially declared the state song by the Congress government after it assumed office in December 2023.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy described his demise as a “huge loss to the literary world” and directed officials to ensure the funeral is conducted with full state honours. Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy, state BJP president N Ramchander Rao, and BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao also expressed grief.

Leaders from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, including Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and state Congress president YS Sharmila, joined in condoling the poet’s passing.

Naidu called Ande Sri “a remarkable poet who gave Telangana its state song” and termed his death an “irreparable loss” to the Telugu literary world. Sharmila remembered him as a “people’s poet who awakened society through his words” and prayed for strength to his family.