 His lyrics got extremely positive reception and won him his seventh and eighth Nandi Award for Best Lyricist for the songs "Ardha Shatabdapu" ("Sindhooram") and "Devudu Karunistadani" ("Prema Katha").He started 2000s by writing lyrics for films such as "Murari", "Oh Chinadana", "Okkadu", "Nuvve Kavali", "Nuvvu Naaku Nachav", "Manmadhudu", "Ela Cheppanu", "Varsham", "Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana", "Chakram", and "Happy".Among these songs, "Hare Rama" ("Okkadu"), "Ekkada Unna" ("Nuvve Kavali"), "Aakasam Thakela" ("Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana") and "Jagamantha Kutumbam" ("Chakram") got exceptional reception with "Aakasam Thakela" winning him, his first Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Telugu and "Jagamantha Kutumbam" winning him his ninth Nandi Award for Best Lyricist.