Telugu music director Chakri passes away

Popular Telugu music director Chakri died of heart attack here today. He was 40.
Chakri, who was suffering from obesity and other ailments, was taken to a private hospital in the morning following the heart attack, but he could not be saved, film industry sources said.
In a career spanning about 15 years, Chakri, whose real name was Chakradhar, composed music for about 80 films, many of which were huge hits.
His music in films like 'Idiot', 'Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammayi', 'Chakram', 'Simha' and 'Desamuduru' brought him laurels. He also received several awards, including the prestigious Nandi award of Andhra Pradesh government, for his work.

Top-ranking Telugu hero and TDP MLA N Balakrishna and a number of film personalities paid homage to the departed soul and recalled their association with him.
Balakrishna, brother-in-law of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, described himself as a fan of Chakri.

The music director composed music for Balakrishna's blockbuster 'Simha'.
The body of Chakri, who was born in Warangal district of Telangana, was kept at the film chamber office here to enable his friends and fans to pay their last respects.
His cremation would take place in the evening.
Many political leaders, including Telangana Finance Minister E Rajender, opposition leader in Telangana Assembly K Jana Reddy (Congress), Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy, his AP counterpart and MP K Haribabu, Telangana Congress president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Telangana TDP president L Ramana, YSR Congress leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and several film personalities condoled the death of Chakri.