One of the most popular musicians, singers and composers of Tollywood, Chakradhar Gilla, popularly known as Chakri, died during his sleep on Monday morning.
According to family sources, when Chakri did not wake up in the morning, his wife Sravani rushed him to a corporate hospital where doctors declared him dead at about 7:45 am.
He was suffering from obesity and related ailments. He is suspected to have suffered a massive heart attack during his sleep.
Born on June 15, 1974, in Mahabubabad of the Warangal district, Chakri made his debut with "Bachi" directed by Puri Jagannadh in the year 2000. He composed music for about 85 films in short span of 14 years.
He also won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer - Telugu for the film Satyam in 2003. His song "O Maguva Nee Sneham Kosam" from the movie "Satyam" ranks amongst the most popular hits of all time.
He also got a Nandi for his work in the Nandamuri Balakrishna-starrer
Simha.
Chakri also gave popular songs in hugely successful films like
Chakram,
Devadasu, Simha,
Desamuduru,
Idiot,
Jai Bolo Telangana and Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammayi. His latest film was Dasari Narayana Rao's
Erra Bus, and his music will be heard in the yet-to-be-released Rey.
Chakri's sudden death has cast a pall of gloom over the Telugu film industry. (INN)