Veteran lyricist and MM Keeravani’s father Siva Shakti Datta passes away at the age of 92

On Monday evening, the 92-year-old veteran lyricist Siva Shakthi Datta passed away at his home in Manikonda, Hyderabad. Beyond his work as a lyricist, he was also a screenwriter, painter, director, and producer in Telugu cinema. His son is composer MM Keeravani, who composed the music for the 'Baahubali' films and all other films directed by SS Rajamouli.

Siva Shakthi Datta was the elder brother of writer Vijayendra Prasad, who is the father of SS Rajamouli. Further details about the funeral are still pending. Since the announcement, fans and industry colleagues have been expressing their condolences.

Megastar Chiranjeevi offered his condolences and paid tribute, which can be roughly translated as, "The news that Sri Shiva Shakti Datta, a painter, scholar of the Sanskrit language, writer, storyteller, and multifaceted genius, attained divine union and it has left me deeply shocked. Praying to the Almighty that his soul finds peace... I express my profound condolences to my friend Keeravani garu and his family members (sic)."

Originally named Koduri Subbarao, Siva Shakthi Datta, hailing from Kovur, Andhra Pradesh, left his college in Eluru for Mumbai. He pursued fine arts at JJ School of Art, eventually returning home with a diploma. It's worth noting that Siva Shakthi Dutta began his career as a painter, known as Kamalesh.

Besides being a painter, Datta was also a self-taught musician, proficient in playing instruments such as the guitar, sitar, and harmonium.

Siva Shakti Datta wrote lyrics for numerous films by Rajamouli and M.M. Keeravani, such as 'Sai', 'Chatrapati', 'Magadheera', 'Baahubali', 'RRR', and 'Hanu-Man'. In the past, he also directed a film called 'Chandrahasa'. It's interesting to note that Siva Shakti Datta was born in 1932 as Koduri Subbarao.

Additionally, he helmed two films: "Ardhangi" in 1996, with his brother, and "Chandrahas" in 2007, featuring Krishna. Unfortunately, both movies didn't perform well financially.