Upendra Kumar
Background information
Born(1941-07-18)18 July 1941
Madras, Madras Presidency, British India
OriginOrissa, India
Died24 January 2002(2002-01-24) (aged 60)
Bangalore, India
GenresFilm score, theatre
Occupation(s)Composer, music director, instrumentalist
Years active1966–2002
Spouse(s)H. P. Geetha

Upendra Kumar (18 July 1941 – 24 January 2002) was an Indian composer who predominantly worked in Kannada and Odia films. He was known for his strong association with Rajkumar and his family and scored some of his career best compositions for the films featuring Rajkumar and his sons. He had scored for 210 films including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Tulu films.[1]

Early life

Kumar originally hailed from Digapahandi, a town in the present-day Odisha State of India.[2] He was born in 1941 in Madras (now Chennai) in British India to a Telugu-speaking brahmin family.[3] His father, Lakshman Swamy was an astrologer. Kumar studied up to seventh Grade and shifted towards music learning with the help of his uncle, Apparao. He underwent rigorous training in Hindustani classical, Western instrumental and Indian string instruments. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Indian classical music, Odissi music and sitar from the Utkala College of Music and Dance. Upon completion of his graduation, he left for Madras looking for opportunities.[4]

Career

Kumar (right) with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (center) and Sangeetha Katti (left) during a recording.

Once in Madras, Kumar took music classes in vocals and the sitar. An impressed film director Y. R. Swamy, with his "teaching methodology and his flair for music", signed him to score for his 1966 film Katari Veera, which had Rajkumar playing the lead role. Two tracks from the soundtrack album, "Chengu Chengendu Haaruva" and "Haayaada Ee Sangama" became popular.[4]

As a composer, Kumar blended Odia folk music in Kannada film soundtrack. Songs from films for which he scored that became popular included Sipayi Ramu (1972), Premada Kanike (1976), Shankar Guru (1978), Dharmasere (1979), Ravichandra (1980), Kaamana Billu (1983), Ratha Sapthami (1986), Nanjundi Kalyana (1989), Hrudaya Haadithu (1991), and Jeevana Chaitra (1992). Kumar frequently collaborated with Rajkumar who playback-sung many songs for films that mostly starred himself, and picturised on him. Popular numbers of this combination included "Chinna Baalalli", "Love Me or Hate Me" and "Cheluveya Nota Chenna" from Shankar Guru, "Idhu Rama Mandira" from Ravichandra, "Indu Aananda" from Kaamana Billu, "Lakshmi Baaramma" and "Manavanaagi Huttidamele" from Jeevana Chaitra, "Naliyuthaa" from Hrudaya Haadithu and "Saptapadi Idu Saptapadi" from Saptapadi (1992). Other collaborations included with singers C. Aswath ("Negilahidida" from Kaamana Billu), Manjula Gururaj ("Olage Seridare Gundu" from Nanjundi Kalyana)[4] and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, who also sang many non-film devotional songs composed by Kumar.[5] "Naadamaya" from Jeevana Chaitra fetched Rajkumar the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer.[6] Lyrics for most tracks of the Upendra Kumar–Rajkumar combination were written by Chi. Udayashankar.[7]

The mandolin and the sitar were prominently used in Kumar's instrumentation, and he was particularly fond of Kafi raga with melodies deriving from that scale. "Idu Yaaru Bareda Katheyo" from Premada Kanike was based on this raga.

Kumar won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director three times (for Nanjundi Kalyana, Hrudaya Haadithu and Jeevana Chaitra) before he stopped composing for films in the mid- to late-1990s. His health deteriorated during this time and died in 2002 with the Kannada film Vishwamithra (2001) being his last work. Srikanth Srinivasa of Deccan Herald, in a tribute, wrote of Kumar's last days, "With the advent of new wave music directors, Upendra Kumar was relegated to the background and found himself out of work and forgotten by the Kannada film industry. Besides, he has scored music for Dharma Devathe which was released recently. He has also scored music for Dr Rajkumar's private devotional albums."[4]

Work in Odia films

Alongside Kannada, Kumar notably worked also in Odia films and scored for more than 25 films. They included Dharitri (1972), Mana Akasha (1974), Punarmilana (1977),"Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja"(1978) and Alibha Daga (1980). His music became very popular in Odisha. A book titled Sajala Smruti was released in 2009 in memory of Kumar's work in Odia films.[2]

Personal life

Kumar was married to H. P. Geetha, sister of Kannada film actress H. P. Saroja.[4]

Death

Upendra Kumar died on 24 January 2002 of jaundice in Bangalore, aged 60.[1]

Awards

Discography

Kannada

YearFilm TitleNotes
1966Katari VeeraDebut film as a composer
1967Muddu Meena
1969Ade Hrudaya Ade Mamathe
Chowkada Deepa
1970Hasiru Thorana
Namma Mane
Paropakari
1971Hennu Honnu Mannu
1972Sipayi Ramu
1973Thriveni
1975Namma Oora Devaru
Nanjunda Nakkaga
Aashirvada
1976Premada Kanike
1978Shankar Guru
Suli
Aathma Shakthi
1979Mangala
Dharmasere
1980Ravichandra
Hrudaya Deepa
Manjina There
Nyaya Neethi Dharma
1981Prachanda Putanigalu
Maha Prachandaru
Shreeman
1982Andada Aramane
Mareyalagada Kathe
Praya Praya Praya
1983Kaamana Billu
Gandharvagiri
1984Onti Dhwani
Hennina Sowbhagya
Apoorva Sangama
Ayyappa Sharanu
1985Nee Nakkaga
Pavithra Papi
Dhruva Thare
Thulasidala
1986Anuraga Aralithu
Aparadhi Nanalla
Ratha Sapthami
1987Manamecchida Hudugi
1988Devatha Manushya
Chiranjeevi Sudhakara
1989Kalabhimani
Nanjundi KalyanaKarnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director
Bala Hombale
Deva
Gajapathi Garvabhanga
1990Ranabheri
Aasegobba Meesegobba
Rudra Tandava
Pundara Ganda
Swarna Samsara
Mruthyunjaya
Challenge Gopalakrishna
Bhale Chatura
Raja Kempu Roja
Anukoolakkobba Ganda
Ivalentha Hendthi
1991Lion Jagapathi Rao
Prema Pareekshe
Hrudaya HaadithuKarnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director
Aralida Hoovugalu
Golmaal Part 2
Kitturina Huli
Thavarumane Udugore
C. B. I. Shiva
Rollcall Radhakrishna
Readymade Ganda
Gandu Sidigundu
Kalla Malla
Halli Rambhe Belli Bombe
Kalyana Mantapa
Gruhapravesha
Mathru Bhagya
Kollur Kala
1992Banni Ondsala Nodi
Bombat Hendthi
Amara Prema
Midida Shruthi
Hendtheere Hushar
Belli Modagalu
Sindhoora Thilaka
Goonda Rajya
Sapthapadi
Ravivarma
Kanasina Rani
Jeevana ChaitraKarnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director
Roshagara
Mana Mecchida Sose
Bharjari Gandu
Gharshane
1993Olavina Kanike
Chikki Chandrama
Dharmapeeta
Bhagawan Sri Saibaba
Naavibbaru Namagibbaru
1994Odahuttidavaru
Apoorva Samsara
Mandyada Gandu
Sagara Deepa
Hettha Karulu
1995Shravana Sanje
Thumbida Mane
Mana Midiyithu
1996Rambo Raja Revolver Rani
Samayakkondu Sullu
Muddina Sose
Rambha Rajyadalli Rowdy
1997Gandede Bhaira
Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda
1998Vajra
2002Dharma Devathe
Vishwamithra

Odia

  • Manika
  • Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja
  • Samarpana
  • Pipasha
  • Kula Chandrama
  • Ae Nuhen Kahani
  • Mana Akasha
  • Dharithri
  • Alibha Daga
  • Parivara
  • Palataka
  • Pati Patni
  • Punar Milana

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Another composer bids goodbye". The Music Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 January 2003. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Remembering Upendra Kumar". The New Indian Express. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  3. "Sandalwood Music Director Upendra Kumar Biography, News, Photos, Videos". nettv4u. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Srinivasa, Srikanth (3 February 2002). "Immortal in his melodies". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  5. Ramakrishnan, Deepa H. (26 September 2020). "Ever popular, the devotionals SPB sang". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  6. Vijayasarathy, R. G. (17 April 2006). "The best songs of Rajkumar". rediff.com. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  7. Deepak, S. N. (23 April 2016). "His voice lives on". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
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