Telangana Mourns Loss of Beloved Poet Ande Sri, State Anthem Composer

Telangana is mourning the loss of one of its most celebrated literary figures, poet and lyricist Ande Sri, who passed away on November 7, 2025 at the age of 64. Ande Sri, whose original name was Ande Yellanna, was best known for penning the 12-stanza composition "Jaya Jayahe Telangana, Janani Jaya Kethanam," which became the rallying cry of millions during the movement for separate statehood and has since been adopted as the official state anthem.

Born in 1961 in Rebarthi village of Siddipet district, Ande Sri's journey to becoming one of the most revered figures in Telugu literature was marked by adversity. Despite growing up as an orphan with no formal education, he went on to compose thousands of poems and lyrics, earning critical acclaim and prestigious accolades, including a Nandi Award for Best Lyricist in 2006.

In recognition of his monumental contributions to the Telangana movement and literature, Kakatiya University conferred an honorary doctorate upon him, and the Telangana government honored him with a cash award of Rs 1 crore during the state Formation Day celebrations in June 2025. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has described Ande Sri's passing as the loss of a "towering figure of Telangana literature," whose iconic state song stood as the voice of crores of people in the achievement of a separate state.