| J. V. Raghavulu | |
| Birth Name: | Jetti Veera Raghavulu |
| Alias: | Raghavulu |
| Birth Date: | 1931 |
| Birth Place: | Ramachandrapuram, East Godavari district, India |
| Instrument: | Vocalist |
| Occupation: | Singer, Music composer |
| Years Active: | 1960–1990 |
Jetti Veera Raghavulu (1931 – 7 June 2013), better known as J. V. Raghavulu, was an eminent Indian music director and playback singer.[1] He started as playback singer and became a music director after the sudden death of Ghantasala. He made his screen debut in Drohi (1970), a film by Suresh Productions. He scored music to about 172 films.[2]
He belonged to an agricultural family in Ramachandrapuram, East Godavari district. His parents were Veeraswami Naidu and Adilaxmi. He was one of the six siblings. He learned acting and singing from Bhadracharyulu who used to organize Harischandra play. He gave him chance to act as Lohitasudu in the play. He used to study in the school and act in the plays touring different places. Famous poets Indraganti Hanumachastri and Vedula Satyanarayana Sastry were his school teachers. Their poems used to be broadcast in All India Radio, Vijayawada. They encouraged him to sing these poems. He tuned and voiced many songs written by them and other writers in "Geetavali" programme. In one of the recording sessions, popular singer Ghantasala heard him singing a light song. Impressed by his voice, he invited Raghavulu to the films. He completed S.S.L.C.
Leaving studies and without informing the parents, he left home, reached Madras and worked under Ghantasala for long time. He was there with him from early morning to late night learning the nuances of playback singing and composing music. Ghantasala used to look after him as his son. He sang "Baito Baito Pellikodaka" in Pelli Sandadi (1959) film for Chalam. He used to look after the composition of the songs for many films. He also worked with K. V. Mahadevan and M. S. Viswanathan for sometime.
Vadde Brothers (Sobhanadri, Ramesh (Father of Hero Vadde Naveen), Kishore) under "Vijaya Madhavi Pictures/Combines" banner as Production house made J. V. Raghavulu their "Aasthana Sangeeta Darshakudu" (Music Director of House) beginning with Aatmiyudu film in 1977 and continued through Katakataala Rudraiah, Rangoon Rowdy, Bebbuli till 1982 Bobbili Puli and further.
He 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 was married to Ramanamma. They had four sons (Venkateswar Rao, Bhaskar, Shyam Kumar and Ravi Kumar) and a daughter (Lakshmi). Ravi Raghav has also worked as a music composer, working for the low budget Tamil films, Villalan, Muthal Thagaval Arikkai and En Oviya.[3]
| Year | Film | Language | Song | Music Director | Co-Singer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Sonta Ooru | Telugu | Vennela Viruyunura | Jikki | ||
| 1957 | Sati Anasuya | Telugu | Ide Nyayama Ide Dharmama | Ghantasala & Madhavapeddi Satyam | ||
| 1958 | Sobha | Telugu | Le Le Le | S. Janaki | ||
| Velugeleni Eelokana | Jikki | |||||
| 1959 | Pelli Sandadi | Telugu | Baito Baito Pellikodakaa | Jikki | ||
| Vachina Kodalu Nachindi | ||||||
| 1960 | Abhimanam | Telugu | Mandhini Ninnu | Ghantasala | Madhavapeddi Satyam | |
| Bhakta Raghunath | Telugu | Rama Hare Krishna Hare | Ghantasala | |||
| Konda Meeda | Jikki | |||||
| Deepavali | Telugu | Poonivoi Tata | Ghantasala | A. P. Komala | ||
| Kadeddulu Ekaram Nela | Yaduntive Pilla | C. M. Raju | P. S. Vaidehi | |||
| 1961 | Jagadeka Veeruni Katha | |||||
| 1962 | Gaali Gopura | Kannada | Dhooliyayithu Gaali Gopura | |||
| Gaali Medalu | Telugu | Gaali Maeda Koolipoyera | ||||
| Tiger Ramudu | Telugu | Danpathulu | Ghantasala | |||
| 1963 | Lava Kusa | Kannada | Jaya Jaya Raam.... Sree Raamaa Parandhaamaa | Ghantasala | P. Leela, P. Susheela, K. Rani & P. S. Vaidehi | |
| Vallenolli Maavaa Neena Magalani | Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, Jikki & K. Rani | |||||
| Ashvamedha Yagaaikkeega Jayamu | Ghantasala, Madhavapeddi Satyam & P. S. Vaidhegi | |||||
| Tamil | Jeya Jeya Raam.... Sree Raamaa Parandhaamaa | P. Leela, P. Susheela, K. Rani & K. Jamuna Rani | ||||
| Vetri Murasu Olikka Seiyyum | ||||||
| Telugu | Jaya Jaya Raam.... Sree Raamaa Parandhaamaa | Ghantasala | P. Leela, P. Susheela, K. Rani & P. S. Vaidehi | |||
| Vollanori Maamaa Nee Pillani | Ghantasala, Jikki & K. Rani | |||||
| Ashvamedha Yagaaniki Jayamu | Ghantasala, Madhavapeddi Satyam & P. S. Vaidehi | |||||
| Valmiki | Telugu | Pothanantade | Ghantasala | A. P. Komala & Madhavapeddi Satyam | ||
| Tallalene Tallalene | A. P. Komala | |||||
| 1964 | Kai Kodutha Deivam | Tamil | Sindhu Nadhiyin Misai | T. M. Soundararajan & L. R. Eswari | ||
| Sri Satyanarayana Mahathyam | Telugu | Oho Oho Chandamama | Ghantasala | Swarnalatha | ||
| 1966 | Aggi Barata | Telugu | Cham Cham Gurram | Vijaya Krishna Murthy | L. R. Eswari & Basaweswar | |
| Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha | Telugu | Parama Gurudu Cheppinavadu | Ghantasala | Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, K. Chakravarthy, Bhadram & Krishna Murthy | ||
| Shakuntala | Telugu | Paathaa Kaalam Naati | Ghantasala | Madhavapeddi Satyam & Pithapuram Nageswara Rao | ||
| 1967 | Prana Mithrulu | Telugu | ||||
| Rahasyam | Telugu | Ghantasala | ||||
| Sri Krishnavataram | Telugu | |||||
| Stree Janma | Ghantasala | |||||
| 1968 | Govula Gopanna | Telugu | Ee Virithotala | Ghantasala | Ghantasala, P. Susheela & Bangalore Latha | |
| 1969 | Bandipotu Dongalu | O Kannayya Puttina Roju | Ghantasala & P. Susheela | |||
| 1970 | Sambarala Rambabu | Telugu | Vinnaaraa Vinnaaraa | P. Leela, Madhavapeddi Satyam, K. Jamuna Rani, K. Swarna & Pithapuram Nageswara Rao | ||
| 1971 | Neerum Neruppum | Tamil | Virundho Nalla Virundhu | K. Veeramani, Pattom Sadan, L. R. Eswari, T. A. Mothi & Pithapuram Nageswara Rao | ||
| Sampoorna Ramayanam | Telugu | |||||
| 1972 | Beedala Patlu | Telugu | Dabbu Lone Unnadira | Ghantasala & P. B. Sreenivas | ||
| 1973 | Andala Ramudu | Telugu | Maa Thalli Godavari | V. Ramakrishna | ||
| Chakirevu Baana Emandi | V. Ramakrishna | |||||
| 1977 | Manassakshi | Telugu | Vidhi Chesede Nirnayam | J. V. Raghavulu |