Ramu Rathod: The Folk Singer Who Took Lambadi Music to Millions
Some artists chase fame. Ramu Rathod, it seems, stumbled into it while simply being himself. A Banjara Lambadi folk singer from rural Telangana, he turned the music of his community into a YouTube sensation and, in 2025, carried it into the Bigg Boss Telugu 9 house.
Quick Profile
- Name: Ramu Rathod
- Profession: Folk singer
- Age: Roughly 28 to 32 (exact birth date not public)
- Birthplace: Gopalpur, Bhutpur Mandal, Mahbubnagar district, Telangana
- Community: Banjara Lambadi
- Height: About 5 feet 5 inches
- Marital status: Married
- Best-known song: “Ranu Bombayi Ki Ranu”
Growing Up in Gopalpur
Ramu was born into a Banjara Lambadi family in a small village in Mahbubnagar. He is the youngest of five siblings, and his parents are Kishan Nayak and Kamalabai. Even as a child, he couldn’t sit still when music played. He would dance and sing along to cassette songs in front of his classmates, and school cultural events soon became his first stage.
He attended Vivekananda School in Bhutpur and later moved on to Mahbubnagar for further studies, where he kept juggling his coursework with a growing hunger for performance.
Where the Music Came From
Village festivals and traditional Lambadi gatherings shaped his taste more than any formal training. He also looked up to powerful voices like Gorati Venkanna and Gaddar, whose songs carried real social weight. That influence gave Ramu an idea: why keep folk music confined to oral tradition when it could live on screens, with visuals and a story attached?
The Song That Changed Everything
Ramu began blending old folk tunes with modern beats and colorful video production. Young city listeners and village audiences both responded.
Then came “Ranu Bombayi Ki Ranu.” Made on a modest budget of around ₹5 lakh, it exploded on YouTube and reportedly brought in over ₹1 crore. It’s a rare example of a small-budget regional track becoming a full cultural moment.
He followed it with several more crowd-pleasers:
- “Sommasilli Pothunnave O Chinni Ramulamma”
- “Sommasilli Pothunnave Part 2”
- “Mara Tangena Ghugari”
- “Pacha Bottu Bavaayo”
Each one keeps the earthy feel of village music while sounding fresh enough for a modern playlist.
Stepping Into Bigg Boss
In 2025, Ramu joined Bigg Boss Telugu Season 9, which premiered on September 7 on Star Maa and JioHotstar. His entry drew plenty of attention. Viewers were curious how a grounded, culture-proud folk artist would handle the pressure, strategy and drama of a reality show.
Why His Story Resonates
Ramu’s rise from school-stage performer to digital folk star feels genuine. He didn’t water down his roots to get noticed. He presented them boldly and let audiences come to him. In an industry that often rewards imitation, that confidence stands out.
Whatever comes next, whether new songs, film opportunities or more television, Ramu Rathod has already proven that a village voice can travel a very long way.
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