Denied chance to pen song for Khaidi 150: Suddala

Admits that State bifurcation affected his career, with less scope for churning out songs

​Bhadrachalam: Noted Telugu lyricist Suddala Ashok Teja, who bagged several State and national awards during his career span of 22 years, writing 2,204 songs for 1,254 films so far, has been selected as a brand ambassador for the Swachh Bharat campaign.

Teja made the announcement here on Tuesday on the sidelines of Telugu Natakotsavalu, in which he is going to take part. He admitted that the State bifurcation has had an effect on his career, with less scope for churning out songs as in the past. The lyricist stated that he had bagged the national award for his song in ‘Tagore’.

“Although the situation suited my style of song in Chiranjeevi’s latest ‘Khaidi 150’, the same director VV Vinayak did not give me an opportunity,” he said, describing the denial of chance as behind-the-scene politics. At the same time, he asserted that he would not plead with anyone for a chance to pen songs.

Referring to the statement of Cinematography Minister T Srinivas Yadav that henceforth five shows would be allowed to ensure survival of the small cinema, Teja stated that it needed clarification. He said if the morning show was screened from 10 am to noon it would amount to giving a boost to the small film segment.

He said if the Telangana film industry was to thrive there is a need for setting up a film institute on the lines of Pune Film Institute by artistes in the State. Such institute will help hone the skills of actors, directors and technicians. “I am ready to become a people’s representative if Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao chooses me in the nominated category,” he said.

“I also had the chance of writing a song on Amaravati in Vijayawada. Recently I wrote a song on KCR’s separate State agitation. Also, AP Chief Whip Kalva Srinivas made me write many songs for Pushkaralu, Haritha Haram.

So far, 400 albums written by me have been released,” he said. The song writer recalled attending the audio function in Bhadrachalam of ‘Sriramadasu’ along with veteran actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna and director K Raghavendra Rao, who travelled in a train.

“I can’t forget the ride in the train which was like ‘Ramaradham’. I spent quality time with ANR that is etched in my memory,” he recalled. He quipped that, “My journey of 22 years so far during which I could pen 2,204 songs for 1,254 films has been totally satisfying.

Of them 1,500 are close to my heart and through them I served society. With the blessings of Lord Rama, I have been able to bag two Nandi awards from the State government and the national best lyricist award.

He recalled receiving an honorary doctorate from Gitam University in 2014 (after the State division). “Now I am happy to be selected as the brand ambassador for Swachh Bharat,” he said.