S. Rajeswara Rao
Background information
Also known asSaluri Rajeswara Rao
Born11 October 1922
Sivaramapuram, India
OriginSivaramapuram, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Died25 October 1999(1999-10-25) (aged 77)
GenresIndian film scores
Occupation(s)Composer
Instrument(s)Harmonium
Tabla
Dholak
Mrudangam
Flute
Electric Guitar
Piano
Violin
Years active1934–1986

Saluri Rajeswara Rao (11 October 1922 – 25 October 1999) was an Indian composer, multi instrumentalist, conductor, singer, and music producer known for his works predominantly in South Indian cinema.[1] Regarded as one of the finest music composers, Rajeswara Rao's works are noted for integrating Indian classical music in Telugu cinema for over half a century.[2]

In his recordings, Rajeswara Rao pioneered the use of light music in Telugu cinema. Rajeswara Rao's most rewarding assignments came from Gemini Studios, which he joined in 1940 and with which he remained for a decade.[3] During this period he scored block buster music for film Chandralekha (1948 film). After leaving Gemini, he received an offer to provide music for B. N. Reddy's Malliswari in 1950; the songs were a hit. Vipranarayana (1954), Missamma (1955) and a host of other musical hits – more than a hundred in Telugu most of which won the National Film Awards for best film(s), and Tamil and a few in Kannada – followed. When Vijaya's Missamma (originally a Telugu film) was remade as Miss Mary in Bollywood, the film's soundtrack retained one of Rajeswara Rao's compositions.[1]

Early career

Rajeswara Rao's introduction to cinema came unexpectedly, in the form of Mr. Huchins' (of the Huchins Recording Company) visit to Rajeswara Rao's home district of Vizianagaram in 1934. A child prodigy, Rajeswara Rao could identify the Carnatic music ragams at age four; by the time he was seven, he was giving stage performances. Huchins spotted young Rajeswara Rao's talent, and took him to Bangalore with his father; there, young Rao recorded "Bhagawat Gita". Film producers P. V. Das and Gudavalli Ramabramham visited Bangalore and, impressed by Rajeswara Rao's singing ability, brought him to Madras. They cast him as Lord Krishna in their production of Sri Krishna Leelalu in 1934. The film was released the next year (1935) and Rajeswara Rao became a household name all over Andhra Pradesh.

Rajeswara Rao went to Calcutta (now Kolkata) to act in Keechaka Vadha, and met such stalwarts as Kundan Lal Saigal and Pankaj Mullick.[3] He became a disciple of Saigal and studied Hindustani music for a year, learning to play the sitar and surbahar. Rajeswara Rao had already mastered playing the tabla, dholak, and mridangam; later instruments were piano, harmonium, mandolin and electric guitar. He learned orchestration, and how to mix the sounds of different instruments.

Music director

Returning to Madras in 1938, Rajeswara Rao formed his own music troupe. He worked as assistant to Jayaramayyar for a Tamil film, Vishnuleela, in which he also played the role of Balarama and sang his own songs. He became a full-fledged music director on the film Jayaprada. He continued acting in Bala Nagamma and Illalu (in which he played opposite his singing partner, R. Balasaraswathi Devi).

When Rajeswara Rao entered the industry, there was no playback system. The actors sang and acted at the same time as the orchestra played in the background, unseen by the camera. While he was making Illalu, the playback system became popular.[1]

Among the classical ragas, Rajeswara Rao liked "Mohanam" "Bhimpalasi / (Abheri)", "Sindhu Bhairavi", "Kafi", "Kalyani"/ "Yaman", "Pahad" , "Malkauns" , "Hindolam", which he used most frequently in his songs.

He not only integrated Indian Classical Music but also experimented with foreign music styles (Western,Persian, Arabic, Spanish) in his Chandralekha (1948 film) & Malliswari (1951 film).

People with love called him 'RA"SALURU"' (Juicy) Rajeswara Rao, as it was his compositions, which seems to have made people to feel like eating/drinking sweet juices while listening to them.In other words he is capable of illustrating NAVARASA's (Nine Moods/Emotional states) with his compositions. His songs "Narayana Nee Leela NAVARASA Bharitam" and "Manavude Mahaneeyudu" from 1972 film Bala Bharatam stands testimony for this.

Whether it was "Mrogindi Kalyana Veena" from Kurukshetram (1977 film) or "Abhinandana Mandara Maala" from Tandra Paparayudu (film) he always has shown authenticity in his mark compositions. His two assistants (for over four decades), Rajagopal and Krishnan – both well-versed in classical music – were an asset to him.

Never compromised with self respect, known for his sensitive nature, he walked away from many projects, similar to Daana Veera Soora Karna film.

At times, he only whispered saying " Vaari ki Vaare Kaavali, Memu Avasaramu Ledu". So much of depth in those words from this Bengali Ras Malai.It is Sour Curry time!. He was one of the music directors to make use of Persian music in Indian film compositions.

Personal life

Rao was born in the village of Sivaramapuram, near Salur in Vizianagaram district (formerly Srikakulam district), Andhra Pradesh, India. His father, Sanyasi Raju, was a famous mridangam player at concerts performed by Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu and also a lyricist.

Rajeswara Rao was married to Rajeswari Devi; the couple had five sons and four daughters. His eldest son, Saluri Ramalingeswara Rao, was a piano and electric-organ player in South India. His second son, Saluri Poornachandra Rao, was a guitarist. His third and fourth sons, Saluri Vasu Rao and Saluri Koteswara Rao (Koti), are also music directors in the Telugu film industry. Rajeswara Rao's youngest son, Saluri Koti Durga Prasad, is not associated with the film industry. His daughters are Ramadevi, Mangamma, Kousalya, and Vijayalakshmi. Rajeswara Rao's elder brother, Saluri Hanumantha Rao, was a music director in the Kannada and Telugu film industry.

Awards and honors

Travel

Rajeswara Rao visited the United States of America in 1981, performing at the Telugu Association of North America conference and the Telugu Literary and Cultural Association (TLCA).

Filmography

YearFilmLanguageDirectorBannerNotes
1935Sri Krishna LeelaluTeluguCh. Narasimha RaoVel PicturesActor
1936Maya BazarTeluguP. V. DasVel PicturesActor
1939JayapradaTeluguCh. Narasimha RaoSree Sarada Rayalaseema Films LtdActor and Music director
1940IllaluTeluguGudavalli RamabrahmamIndira Devi FilmsActor and Music director
1940JeevanmuktiTeluguT. V. NeelakantanGemini Studios
1941ApavaduTeluguGudavalli RamabrahmamKasturi Films
1941KamadhenuTamilNandalal JaswantalalThe Madras United Artists Corporationwith T. A. Kalyanam
1941Madana Kama RajanTamilB. N. RaoGemini Studioswith M. D. Parthasarathy
1942Bala NagammaTeluguC. PullaiahGemini Studioswith M. D. Parthasarathy
1942Bhaktha NaradarTamilS. SoundararajanTamil Nadu Talkies Background Score
1942NandanarTamilMurugadasaGemini Studioswith M. D. Parthasarathy
1942Shanta Bala NagammaTeluguS. V. S. Rama RaoRoyal Pictures
1943Chenchu LakshmiTeluguS. SoundararajanTamil Nadu Talkies
1943DhaasippenTamilEllis R. DunganDevi Filmswith Lalitha Venkatraman
1943Mangamma SabathamTamilAcharyaGemini Studioswith M. D. Parthasarathy
1944Dasi AparanjiTamilB. N. RaoGemini Studioswith M. D. Parthasarathy
1944BhishmaTeluguCh. Narayana MurthyBhavani Pictures
1945Paduka PattabhishekamTeluguK. B. NagabhushanamGemini Studios
1947Miss MaliniTamilKothamangalam SubbuGemini Studioswith Parur S. Anantharaman
1948ChandralekhaHindiS. S. VasanGemini Studioswith M. D. Parthasarathy
1948ChandralekhaTamilS. S. VasanGemini Studioswith M. D. Parthasarathy
1948Vindya RaniTeluguC. PullayyaVyjayanthi Pictureswith Emani Sankara Sastry
1949Apoorva SagodharargalTamilAcharyaGemini Studioswith M. D. Parthasarathy & R. Vaidyanathan
1949NishaanHindiAcharyaGemini Studioswith M. D. Parthasarathy & R. Vaidyanathan
1950Apoorva SahodaruluTeluguAcharyaGemini Studioswith M. D. Parthasarathy & R. Vaidyanathan
1950AahutiTeluguR. S. JunnarkarNaveena Films
1950Vali SugreevaTeluguJampanaAshoka'sGali Penchala Narasimha Rao, Master Venu, Ghantasala & Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1951MalliswariTeluguB. N. ReddyVauhini Studios
1951Mantra DandamTeluguK. S. Ramachandra RaoSri Gnanambika PicturesBackground Score
1952PriyuraluTeluguGopichandBharathalakshmi Productionswith Addepalli Rama Rao
1953Manam Pola MangalyamTamilP. PullayyaNarayanan and Company
1953Pempudu KodukuTeluguL. V. PrasadPrasad Art Pictures
1953Vayyari BhamaTeluguP. Subba RaoAjantha Pictures
1953Vazha PirandhavalTamilT. R. RamannaR. R. Pictureswith G. Ramanathan
1954Raju PedaTeluguB. A. Subba RaoB. A. S. Productions
1954Vipra NarayanaTeluguP. S. Ramakrishna RaoBharani Studios
1955MissammaTeluguL. V. PrasadVijaya Vauhini Studios
1955MissiammaTamilL. V. PrasadVijaya Vauhini Studios
1954Vipra NarayanaTamilP. S. Ramakrishna RaoBharani Studios
1956Balasanyasamma KathaTeluguP. Subba RaoZoya Films
1956Bhale RamuduTeluguVedantam RaghavayyaNarasu Studios
1956Prema PasamTamilVedantam RaghavayyaNarasu Studios
1956Charana DaasiTeluguT. Prakash RaoLalitha Films
1956Mathar Kula ManickamTamilT. Prakash RaoLalitha Films
1957Alladin Ka ChiragHindiT. R. RaghunathJai Sakthi Pictureswith S. Hanumantha Rao
1957Allauddin Adhbhuta DeepamTeluguT. R. RaghunathJai Sakthi Pictureswith S. Hanumantha Rao
1957Allavudeenum Arputha VilakkumTamilT. R. RaghunathJai Sakthi Pictureswith S. Hanumantha Rao
1957Bhale AmmayiluTeluguVedantam RaghavayyaNarasu Studioswith S. Hanumantha Rao
1957Iru SagodharigalTamilVedantam RaghavayyaNarasu Studios
1957Sati SavitriTeluguK. B. NagabhushanamVaralakshmi PicturesM. Balamuralikrishna, Mallik, P. Suribabu, Babu Rao, J. Lakshminarayana, H. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Master Venu
1957Sathiyavan SavithriTamilK. B. NagabhushanamVaralakshmi Pictureswith Babu Rao
1958Aada PettanamTeluguAdurthi Subba RaoPrabha Productionswith Master Venu
1958Chenchu LakshmiTamilB. A. Subba RaoNavayuga Films
1958Chenchu LakshmiTeluguB. A. Subba RaoNavayuga Films
1958Kadan Vaangi KalyaanamTamilL. V. PrasadVijaya Vauhini Studios
1958Paanai Pidithaval BhaagyasaaliTamilT. S. DurairajMarakatha Pictureswith S. V. Venkatraman
1959Appu Chesi Pappu KooduTeluguL. V. PrasadVijaya Vauhini Studios
1959Aval YaarTamilK. J. MahadevanSudarsanam Pictures
1959Illali Adrustame Intiki BhagyamuTeluguT. S. DurairajMarakatha Pictureswith S. V. Venkatraman & Jeevan
1960Nammina BantuTeluguAdurthi Subba RaoNavayuga Filmswith Master Venu
1960Pattaliyin VetriTamilAdurthi Subba RaoNavayuga Filmswith Master Venu
1960Petra ManamTamilA. BhimsinghNational Pictures
1960Rani RatnaprabhaTeluguB. A. Subba RaoB. A. S. Productions
1961Bhakta JayadevaTeluguP. V. Rama RaoLalitha Kala Nikethan
1961Iddaru MitruluTeluguAdurthi Subba RaoAnnapurna Pictures
1961Bharya BharthaluTeluguK. PratyagatmaPrasad Art Pictures
1962AradhanaTeluguV. Madhusudhana RaoJagapathi Art Productions
1962VikramaadhithanTamilT. R. Raghunath & N. S. RamadasJaya Bharat Productions
1962BhishmaTeluguB. A. Subba RaoB. A. S. Productions
1962Kula GothraluTeluguK. PratyagatmaPrasad Art Pictures
1962Pathi Gowravame SathikanandamTeluguK. J. MahadevanSudarsanam Pictures
1963Chaduvukunna AmmayiluTeluguAdurthi Subba RaoAnnapurna Pictures
1964Amara Shilpi JakkannaTeluguB. S. RangaVikram Studios
1964Amarashilpi JakanachariKannadaB. S. RangaVikram Studios
1964Bobbili YuddhamTeluguC. SeetaramRepublic Productions
1964Desa DrohuluTeluguBolla Subba RaoSri Rama Pictures
1964Doctor ChakravartiTeluguAdurthi Subba RaoAnnapurna Pictures
1964MahiravanaTeluguB. A. Subba RaoB. A. S. Productions
1964Manchi ManishiTeluguK. PratyagatmaChaya Chitrawith T. Chalapathi Rao
1964Pooja PhalamTeluguB. N. ReddySri Sambu Pictures
1964Sirpiyin SelvanTamilB. S. RangaVikram Studios
1965Aatma GowravamTeluguK. ViswanathAnnapurna Pictures
1965Dorikithe DongaluTeluguP. SubrahmanyamChandamama Films
1965Veera MarthandaTeluguT. R. Raghunath & N. S. RamadasJaya Bharat Productions
1966Aatma GowravamTeluguK. ViswanathAnnapurna Pictures
1966Bhakta PotanaTeluguGutha RamineeduBharat Films
1966Bala NagammaKannadaP. R. KaundinyaSanathana Kalamandira
1966Chilaka GorinkaTeluguK. PratyagatmaAatma Arts
1966Mohini BhasmasuraTeluguB. A. Subba RaoB. A. S. Productions
1966Palnati YudhamTeluguGutha RamineeduSri Anurupa Films
1966Rangula RatnamTeluguB. N. Reddywith B. Gopalam
1966Sangeeta LakshmiTeluguGiduturi SuryamSeetaramanjaneya Pictures
1967Bhakta PrahladaTamilChitrapu Narayana RaoAVM Productions
1967Bhakta PrahladaTeluguChitrapu Narayana RaoAVM Productions
1967GruhalakshmiTeluguP. S. Ramakrishna RaoBharani Studios
1967Pula RangaduTeluguAdurthi Subba RaoAnnapurna Pictures
1967Mulla KireetamTeluguP. SubramanyamNeela Productionswith K. Devadasu
1967Rakhta SindhooramTeluguC. SeetharamRepublic
1967Vasantha SenaTeluguB. S. RangaVikram Studios
1968VeeranjaneyaTeluguKamalakara Kameswara RaoMaheeja Films
1969AatmiyuluTeluguV. Madhusudhana RaoSaradhi Studios
1969Aadarsa KutumbamTeluguK. PratyagatmaPrasad Art Pictures
1969Bangaru PanjaramTeluguB. N. ReddyVijaya Vauhini Studioswith B. Gopalam
1969Bhale BasavaKannadaB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1969Dharma PatniTeluguB. A. Subba RaoB. A. S. Productions
1969Mamaku Thagga KodaluTeluguC. S. RaoBalaji Films
1970Chitti ChelleluTeluguM. Krishnan NairAVM Productions
1970Desamante ManushuloyiTeluguC. S. RaoFilmkrafts
1970Jai JawanTeluguD. YoganandNavayuga Films
1971AmaayakuraaluTeluguV. Madhusudhana RaoAnnapurna Pictures
1971Bangaru TalliTeluguTapi ChanakyaBabu Pictures
1971Pavitra BandhamTeluguV. Madhusudhana RaoVenus Pictures & Ashok Movies
1971RamalayamTeluguK. Babu RaoRamavijeta Filmswith Ghantasala
1971Sri Venkateswara VaibhavamTeluguLakshmi FilmsP. D. Prasad
1972Neeti-NijayitiTeluguSingeetam Srinivasa RaoShri Sanjeevi Movies
1972Bala BarathamTamilKamalakara Kameswara RaoVenus Maheeja Films
1972Bala BharathaKannadaKamalakara Kameswara RaoVenus Maheeja Films
1972Bala BharatamTeluguKamalakara Kameswara RaoVenus Maheeja Films
1972Bal MahabharatHindiKamalakara Kameswara RaoVenus Maheeja Films
1972Kalam MarindiTeluguK. ViswanathVenus Pictures
1973Mannina MagaluKannadaB. S. RangaVikram Productions
1973Neramu SikshaTeluguK. ViswanathAmrita Films
1973Nindu KutumbamTeluguParvataneni Sambasiva RaoSeetharamanjaneya Movies
1973Sri Kanakadurga MahimaTeluguSurati Durga Rao & P. D. PrasadSri Prabhu Pictureswith G. Aswathama
1974Bangaaru KalaluTeluguAdurthi Subba RaoAnnapurna Pictures
1974JeevithaasayamTeluguKamalakara Kameswara RaoSaptagiri Productions
1974Jeevitha RangamuTeluguLakshmi FilmsP. D. Prasad
1974Nitya SumangaliTeluguB.N.RNalinasree Productions
1974Palle PaduchuTeluguK. SatyamMamta Combines
1974Ram RaheemTeluguB. A. Subba RaoRaja Lakshmi Combines
1974Tatamma KalaTeluguN. T. Rama RaoRamakrishna Cine Studios
1975Anna Thammulla KathaTeluguD. S. Prakash RaoAmrita Films
1975Bharathamlo Oka AmmayiTeluguDasari Narayana RaoVijayavelangani Pictures
1975Challani ThalliTeluguK. S. Rami ReddyLalita Movies
1975Yashoda KrishnaTeluguC. S. RaoPremier Studios
1976DasavatharamuluTeluguK. S. GopalakrishnanKarpagam Studioswith K. Chakravarthy
1976Manchiki Maro PeruTeluguC. S. RaoSree Ramakrishna Films
1976Manushulanta OkkateTeluguDasari Narayana RaoAditya Chitra
1976Oka Deepam VeligindhiTeluguSingeetham Srinivasa RaoSivaprasad Movies
1977Eenati Bandham YenatidoTeluguK. S. R. DossAmrita Films
1977Idhekkadi NyayamTeluguDasari Narayana RaoLalita Movies
1977KurukshetramTeluguKamalakara Kameswara RaoMadhavi Padmalaya Combines
1978Devadasu Malli PuttaduTeluguDasari Narayana RaoDevi Art Productions
1978Prema PagaTeluguB. V. PrasadAmrita Films
1978RadhakrishnaTeluguK. Raghavendra RaoAnnapurna Kala Niketan
1978Sneha SeduKannadaV. Madhusudhana RaoMaheeja Films
1979Indrudu ChandruduTeluguT. KrishnaSri Lakshmi Art Creationswith Saluri Babu
1979Katha MarindiTeluguMadhuSricharita Chitra
1979Namala ThathayyaTeluguK. Hemambharadhara Rao
1979Pacha BottuTeluguB.N.RShri Nalini Combines
1979Pavitra PremaTeluguD. S. Prakash RaoSrilakshmi Art Pictures
1979Sri Vinayaka VijayamuTeluguKamalakara Kameswara RaoJaganmatha Arts
1980Bapuji BharathamTeluguRelangi Narasimha RaoJayashree Chitra
1980Bommala KoluvuTeluguKommineni Seshagiri RaoApsara Arts
1980Chukkallo ChandruduTeluguC. S. RaoSri Pragathi Pictureswith K. V. Mahadevan
1980Ondu Hennu Aaru KannuKannadaV. Madhusudhana RaoMaheeja Films
1980Sri Vasavi Kanyakaa Parameshwari MahathyamTeluguKamalakara Kameswara RaoMani Art Enterprises
1980Rojulu MaraliTeluguDevadas Kanakala
1980Veedani BandaluTeluguK. M. Reddy & V. Madhusudhana Rao
1982Illalu ChulalluTelugu
1982Mummidivaram Balayogeswara CharitraTeluguVijayaprakash
1982Punnami VennelaTeluguP. SubramanyamVijayashanti Arts
1982Sri Lakshmi NilayamTeluguT. KrishnaSudarshan Productionswith Saluri Babu
1983Muddula MoguduTeluguK. S. Prakash RaoMaheeja Films
1984AdarsavanthuduTeluguKodi RamakrishnaMaheeja Films
1986Tandra PaparayuduTeluguDasari Narayana RaoAnnapurna Studios & Padmalaya Studios
1987America AbbayiTeluguSingeetam Srinivasa RaoJayalakshmi Movies
1991Lambadolla RamdasuTeluguK. Babu Rao
1995Yadagiri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy MahatyamTeluguA. Venugopalwith S. Vittal Rao

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 M. L. Narasimham, "Trend-setter in Light Music" The Hindu, 12 March 1993.
  2. "In a different league". The Hindu. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  3. 1 2 "A Tribute to (Ra)Saluri Rajeshwara Rao". Telugucinema.com. 27 October 2007. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  4. "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)
  5. "Vadophil Issue". Quarterly Bulletin of the Baroda Philatelic Society (157–158): 20. January 2019.
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