Born in Nallapadu in Guntur district in 1925, Puranam Purushottama Sastri was a Carnatic vocalist known for his classicism.

He trained under his father Puranam Kanakayya Sastri, the asthana vidwan of Gadwal and the Yadagirigutta Devasthanam. Purushottama gave his maiden concert at the age of 12.

Sastri moved to Madras took a diploma in music from the Central College of Carnatic Music in 1952. Musiri Subramania Iyer was the principal and his guru for a decade.

Known for his rich vocal compass, manodharma, laya gnanam and gamaka pushti, Purushottama Sastri was an expert in singing pallavi. He tried to apply ragas to cure some diseases and to activate clouds during drought.

He was a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi award and "Hamsa Award" of the Government of Andhra Pradesh.