Jetti Veera Raghavulu, popularly known as JV Raghavulu, film music director and playback singer passed away at his Mangalavarapupeta residence in Rajahmundry, East Godavari district early morning on Friday.

He is survived by wife, four sons and a daughter. Raghavulu is not well for the past two months and breathed his last at 3 am on Friday.

Raghavulu is born at Ramachandrapuram in East Godavari district. He scored music for about 172 films. He started his film career as a playback singer and became a music director after the demise of Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, singer and music director.

Belonging to a farming family, Raghavulu is one among six children of Veeraswamy Naidu and Adilaxmi. He entered into the stage with support from Bhadracharyulu as singer and actor. He played the role of Lohitasudu, son of Harichandra on the stage. With interest in acting, Raghavulu left home and reached Madras without informing his parents.

He worked as musician under Ghantasala for a long time. He also worked with music directors K V Mahadevan and M S Viswanathan. He has composed thousands of songs. His memorable songs include Janani Janmabhoomischa (Bobbili Puli), Veena Naadi Teega Needi Teegachatu Raagamundi, Tarangini O Tarangini, Ee Jeevana Tarangalalo (Jeevana Tarangalu) and many others.

He made music composition for the first time for ‘Drohi’ in 1970. He scored music for popular films like:

1973 Jeevana Tarangalu

1978 Katakatala Rudraiah

1979 Evvadabba Sommu

1979 Naa Illu Naa Vaalu

1979 Rangoon Rowdy

1980 Samsara Bandam

1980 Mogudu Kaavali

1982 Intlo Ramayya Veedilo Krishnayya

1983 Police Venkataswamy

1983 Simhapuri Simham

1984 Bharatamlo Sankharavam