Veteran Telugu playback singer V Ramakrishna, who sang many memorable songs for legendary N T Rama Rao and other top stars, succumbed to cancer on July 15 in Hyderabad.

He was in his late 60s.

He is survived by wife, a daughter and a son.

Ramakrishna, who sang about 5,000 songs in a career spanning nearly four decades, had huge hit songs to his credit in films like Andala Ramudu, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Mutyala Muggu.

His songs in N T Rama Rao's Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy Charitra were a runaway success.

He was also popular for a number of devotional songs that he sang.

Ramakrishna's son Sai Kiran is a popular film and television actor.

Several film personalities, including singer S P Sailaja, Sunita and music directors like R P Patnaik, paid homage to the departed soul.

Photograph: Kind courtesy V Ramakrishna page/Facebook