Moparthi Sitarama Rao

Moparthi Sitarama Rao, popularly known as M.S Rama Rao, was a renowned Telugu singer. He was born on 3rd July 1921, in Moparru, Tenali, Andhra Pradesh, India. He was the first playback singer in the Telugu entertainment industry. He was one of the most prominent singers and composers in the Telugu industry. He had a successful career spanning over four decades and was popularly known for his devotional songs, especially Sundara kanda and Hanuman Chalisa Hanuman Chalisa is aired on Bhakthi TV at 6:30 am >> Read More... . He completed his high school education at Nidubrolu High School and graduated from Hindu College, Guntur. Rama Rao started his musical journey as a singer in his college days. He got into the spotlight and grabbed the attention of several audiences during an Inter-college light music singing competition. He was praised for his melodious voice, and started performing at local functions and events.

Over the years, Rama Rao became known for his melodious voice and emotional renditions, and he worked with several renowned music directors. He made his debut song for the Cinema Devatha in 1941. He went on to contribute his voice as playback singer to Mega Stars such as Ch. Narayana Rao Story Soon >> Read More... , Gummadi Venkateswara Rao Gummadi Venkateswara Rao was a popular Telugu acto >> Read More... , Chitturu Vuppaladadiyam Nagaia, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, and many others. Rama Rao contributed his voice as playback singer in the Telugu film industry for two decades. Upon facing several hardships in the Telugu film industry, he decided to end his career as a playback singer in the Telugu film industry and shifted his family to Gundur. He then translated the Hanuman Chalisa into Telugu medium, and he became famous for his Telugu version of Hanuman Chalisa. In 1975 he again shifted his family to Hyderabad, where he debuted at World Telugu Conference held in Hyderabad in the same year. Rama Rao gained fame and immense popularity for his melodious singing.

He received several awards and acknowledgments for his singing. He was awarded the name of 'Sundara Dasu' in 1977 for singing devotional songs. A street in Hyderabad at Chikkadpally was named Sundara Kanda M S Rama Rao Lane in his honor in 2003. He passed away on 20th April 1992 in Hyderabad, India, leaving behind a rich legacy in the Telugu music industry. His melodious voice and emotional renditions inspire and captivate music lovers even a decade after his unfortunate death.