Mallemala Sundara Rami Reddy (MS Reddy), veteran Telugu film producer and noted lyricist popularly known as Mallemala, passed away today at his residence in Film Nagar in Hyderabad due to prolonged illness at the age of 87.

A Gandhian, Reddy was born on August 15, 1924 near Nellore. As a Sahaja Kavi known for his lyrical simplicity in penning poems, Mallemala wrote more than 5,000 lyrics and played a vital role in the shifting the Telugu film industry from Chennai to Hyderabad.

Mr Reddy produced several films, including a mega production Bala Ramayanam with 3,000 child artistes, which bagged Best Children’s Film Award. He portrayed the role of chief minister in one of his films Ankusham. He also produced films like Aagraham and Ammoru.

Reddy had served as president of Telugu Film Producers Council, South Indian Film Writers Association, Film Nagar Cooperative Housing Society and chairman of AP Film Development Corporation. Reddy’s son Shyam Prasad Reddy, is also a film producer well known for his runaway hit film Arundhathi.

He released his autobiography ‘Idi Naa Katha’ last year. Download link

Read The Hindu article on Mallemala