Ramu Rathod (రాము రాథోడ్) is a celebrated Telangana Banjara Lambadi folk singer, songwriter, and dancer from Gopalapur (Khurd) Tanda, Bhutpur Mandal, Mahabubnagar district, Telangana. The fifth child of farmer Kishan Naik (Kishan Nayak) and Kamalamma, he grew up in modest village circumstances but developed a deep connection with folk rhythms from childhood, encouraged by his father's love of music. He studied at Vivekananda School, Bhutpur Mandal, and completed his degree in Mahabubnagar. During the COVID-19 lockdown, he began writing and recording folk songs. His track Sommasilli Pothunnave O Chinna Ramulamma became an early viral success. In January 2025, he released Ranu Bombai Ki Ranu — a humorous folk song about resisting the temptations of city life — co-performed with Prabha and filmed in villages like Vemulawada and Jagtial. It amassed over 500 million YouTube views, earned him an estimated ₹1 crore, and won the GAMA Best Folk Song of the Year award. He has released 50+ songs on YouTube. In 2025, he entered Bigg Boss Telugu Season 9 and voluntarily walked out in Week 9 due to missing his family, finishing eleventh overall.
Viral folk song 'Ranu Bombai Ki Ranu' (2025, 500 million+ YouTube views); 'Sommasilli Pothunnave O Chinna Ramulamma'; GAMA Best Folk Song of the Year award; representing Telangana's Banjara Lambadi tribal folk tradition.