The Potti Sri Ramulu Telugu University will honour Raavu Balasaraswathi Devi, the graceful grand old lady of Telugu music industry, with the special 'Visishta Purasakaram'.
The award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a citation, will be presented to the legendary first generation singer on December 2nd which also happens to be the 26th year of the Foundation Day of the university.
Born in Venkatagiri in 1921, she has many glories to her credit and happens to be the first singer to record a song for HMV, besides being the first playback singer to record light music songs for All India Radio.
She was just four years old when she made her debut as a singer and six years when her first solo recording was done for HMV. Known for her light music and swinging voice laced with melody, Balasaraswathi, the multi-faceted woman has also acted in early Telegu and Tamil films, but later retired from acting and continued as a singer after marriage.
She began her acting career as a child artiste in early 1930s, and scripted a golden chapter in the Telugu film industry by lending her voice (playback) for Kamala Kotnis in the film 'Bhagyalakshmi' by Chittoot V. Nagaiah. She has enthralled music lovers for over seven decades, starting from 1940, and even in her retirement days, she was always ready to sing light music and private numbers.