Veteran actress and singer Raavu Balasaraswathi Devi, widely celebrated as the first playback singer in Telugu cinema, passed away peacefully at her residence in Hyderabad at the age of 97. She occupies a unique place in Indian film history, having not only pioneered playback singing in Telugu films but also becoming the first ‘light music’ singer on All India Radio.
Her cinematic singing debut came with Bhagya Lakshmi (1943), where she lent her voice to actress Kamala Kotnis for the song “Thinne Meedha Sinnoda,” composed by Bhimavarapu Narasimha Rao. This marked a revolutionary moment in Telugu cinema, as it was the first instance of an actor’s on-screen song being performed by another singer, effectively ushering in the era of playback singing.
Balasaraswathi Devi began her artistic journey as a child actor, quickly catching the attention of renowned filmmaker K. Subramaniam, who introduced her to Tamil cinema. She appeared in several classic films, including Bhaktha Kuchela (1936), Balayogini (1937), and Thiruneelakantar (1939), and also played Tukaram’s daughter in the 1938 film Tukaram. In 1940, she starred opposite composer S. Rajeswara Rao in Illalu, directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam, further demonstrating her versatility as both an actress and a singer.
Over her long and illustrious career, Raavu Balasaraswathi Devi emerged as a trailblazer for women in South Indian cinema, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire generations of artists. Her contributions not only shaped Telugu cinema’s musical landscape but also paved the way for countless female performers in the industry.
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