Chakri (composer)
Chakri | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Chakri in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gilla Chakradhar |
| Born | 15 June 1974 Kambalapalli, Mahabubabad district, Andhra Pradesh (now in Telangana), India |
| Died | 15 December 2014 (aged 40) Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Genres | Film score |
| Occupation(s) | Film score composer, singer |
| Years active | 2000–2014 |
Gilla Chakradhar (15 June 1974 – 15 December 2014), known professionally as Chakri, was an Indian music composer and singer who worked in Telugu cinema. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Telugu for Satyam (2003) and the Nandi Award for Best Music Director for Simha (2010).
Early life
[edit]Chakradhar was born on 15 June 1974 in Kambalapalli, a village of the Mahabubabad district, Telangana.[1]
Career
[edit]Chakradhar was known for composing music. He worked as a music director in around 85 movies. He started his career as the music director of the 2000 film Bachi, directed by Puri Jagannadh. Chakri is a self-made musician with no background or contacts in the movie industry. He humbly began his journey as a music enthusiast with a goal to publish a music album which he did through Aditya Music. Eventually, he got the opportunity through a friend to meet with Puri Jagannadh who liked his work and promised to work together. The duo later on went on to become a sensation with hits like 'Itlu Sravani Subramanyam', 'Idiot', 'Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammayi'. Chakri also grabbed the opportunity to work with veteran director Vamsi who is known for his great taste for music and for his long term collaboration with Maestro Ilayaraja. Chakri's magical compositions in 'Avunu vallidaru istapaddaru' did the impossible of substituting the Maestro Ilayaraja - an indisputable testimonial to his musical genius. His orchestration, chorus and the nuances in his composition were pleasantly surprising to the Telugu audience. Chakri composed a record number of 18 movies in a single year although he got very few chances to work with established heroes despite producing great music for small budget movies.
He won the best singer award for Satyam in the Tollywood Filmfare Awards and a Nandi Award for Simha. He created many musical hits for Ravi Teja and director Puri Jagannadh, working on nine films with the former and ten films with the latter.[2]
Besides his soulful music, Chakri is known for his benevolent and generous nature as expressed by every technician whom he worked with. A very simple, easy going man, always down to earth and cared for the people around. He encouraged many new comers and his long term collaboration with Singer Kousalya was a sensational hit. It is reflected in his own interviews on TV shows that he wanted to be remembered for the good than anything else. A popular opinion is that his lack of boundaries with friendships and being generous caused him personal losses.[3][4][5][6][7]
Personal life
[edit]Chakradhar married Sravani in 2004, shortly after he divorced his first wife.[8] He has a brother and three sisters.[9]
Death
[edit]Chakradhar died in his sleep on 15 December, 2014.[10] His wife Sravani took him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at around 7:45 AM. Chakradhar had developed obesity-related comorbidities.[11]
Controversies
[edit]In 2013, a molestation case was filed against Chakradhar and producer Paruchuri Prasad on the grounds of allegedly harassing a 36-year-old woman during a party. It is later clarified that Chakri was made accountable as the host of the party but was not involved in the harassment himself as clarified in the police complaint lodged by the victim[12] [13]
Filmography
[edit]Telugu films
[edit]Kannada films
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Veera Kannadiga | Simultaneously shot with Andhrawala |
| 2005 | Giri | |
| 2010 | Gandedhe | |
| 2011 | Kanteerava | |
| Smuggler | [14] | |
| 2013 | Neenandre Ishta Kano | Remake of Ammayilu Abbayilu |
Other language films
[edit]| Year | Title | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Shakti | Bengali | Remake of Satyam |
| 2011 | Pillaiyar Theru Kadaisi Veedu | Tamil | Reused one song from Gopi Gopika Godavari |
References
[edit]- ^ "మళ్లీ కూయవా గువ్వ.. | Telangana Magazine". Telangana Magazine. 8 January 2015. Archived from the original on 7 December 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "ప్రముఖ సంగీత దర్శకులు చక్రి ఇక లేరు". Janam Sakshi - Telugu Daily News Portal. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Goreti Venkanna's tribute to Chakri". YouTube. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "Jhummandi Naadam-Chakri's last interview". YouTube. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "Koti's tributes to Chakri". YouTube. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "Ravi Varma's tributes to Chakri". YouTube. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "Open heart with RK". YouTube. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "Relatives fight over Chakri's property". The Times of India. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- ^ "Melody king Chakri dies of heart attack". The Hindu. 15 December 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ "Veteran Music Director No More". Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ "Music director Chakri dies of heart attack". The Hindu. 15 December 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ "Telugu music composer Chakri and producer Paruchuri Prasad booked for molestation". DNA India. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- ^ "exact police complaint". YouTube. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- ^ "Action oriented film Smuggler launched". The Times of India. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
