S. Rajeswara Rao
Saluri Rajeswara Rao సాలూరి రాజేశ్వరరావు | |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Saluri Rajeswara Rao |
| Born | 11 October 1922 Sivaramapuram, India |
| Origin | Sivaramapuram, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Died | 25 October 1999 (aged 77) |
| Genre | Indian film scores |
| Occupation | Composer |
| Instruments | Harmonium Tabla Dholak Mrudangam Flute Electric guitar Piano Violin |
| Years active | 1934–1986 |
Saluri Rajeswara Rao (11 October 1922 – 25 October 1999) was an Indian composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and music producer, known for his work in Telugu cinema.[1] Rajeswara Rao is noted for integrating Indian classical music into Telugu cinema for over five decades. His innovative compositions and mastery of classical and folk music earned him widespread recognition.[2]
Early life
[edit]Rajeswara Rao was born in 1922 in the village of Sivaramapuram near Salur in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh.[3] His father, Sanyasi Raju, was a mrudangam player in the troupe of the renowned violinist Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu. Rajeswara Rao was recognized as a child prodigy and began performing on stage at the age of four.[4] Under his father's guidance, he trained with Venkataswamy Naidu in tabla and harmonium.[3]
Career
[edit]Rajeswara Rao's career in cinema began in 1934 when recording technician Mr. Hutchins discovered him and took him to Bangalore to record the "Bhagavad Gita". He later traveled to Calcutta and was cast as Lord Krishna in the Telugu film Sri Krishna Leelalu (1935). Subsequently, he did films like Keechaka Vadha and Uttara Gograhanam and met musical legends such as Kundan Lal Saigal and Pankaj Mullick, from whom he learned Hindustani music.[3]
Rajeswara Rao's first role as a music director came with the film Jayaprada (1939). He went on to score music for a number of successful films in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. Some of his notable films include Malliswari (1951), Missamma (1955), and Chandralekha (1948). He was known for his use of Indian classical ragas and experimentation with foreign musical styles, including Western, Persian, and Arabic influences.
Rajeswara Rao was associated with Gemini Studios in the 1940s and composed music for many of their major films. He is credited with helping popularize light music in Telugu cinema. He was also known for his collaborations with directors like B. N. Reddy and Vijaya Productions.
Musical style
[edit]Rajeswara Rao's compositions were known for their classical underpinnings, particularly his use of ragas such as "Mohanam", "Abheri", "Kalyani", and "Sindhu Bhairavi". He blended Indian classical music with other styles, creating scores that captured a wide range of emotions. His works in films like Kurukshetram (1977) and Tandra Paparayudu (1986) demonstrated his mastery over classical compositions. He was also among the first to incorporate Persian musical elements in Indian film scores.
Personal life
[edit]Rajeswara Rao was married to Rajeswari Devi, with whom he had five sons and four daughters. His sons, Saluri Ramalingeswara Rao, Saluri Poornachandra Rao, Saluri Vasu Rao, and Saluri Koteswara Rao (Koti), followed in his footsteps as musicians in the Telugu film industry. His elder brother, Saluri Hanumantha Rao, was also a music director in Kannada and Telugu cinema.[3]
Filmography
[edit]Awards and honours
[edit]Rajeswara Rao was the recipient of numerous awards and honours for his contributions to Indian cinema, including:
- Honorary doctorate Kalaprapoorna from Andhra University in 1979
- Asthana Vidwan of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
- Kalaimamani award from the Government of Tamil Nadu
- Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 1992 for his outstanding contribution to Telugu cinema
- Nandi Award for Best Music Director for Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari Mahathmyam in 1980[5]
- Commemorative postage stamp issued by India Post in 2018 in his honour[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ M. L. Narasimham, "Trend-setter in Light Music" Archived 1 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine The Hindu, 12 March 1993.
- ↑ "In a different league". The Hindu. 21 April 2014. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 "A Tribute to (Ra)Saluri Rajeswara Rao". Telugucinema.com. 27 October 2007. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
- ↑ "ర'సాలూరి'స్తూనే ఉన్న రాజేశ్వరరావు స్వరకల్పన!". NTV (in Telugu). 11 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ↑ "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)
- ↑ "Vadophil Issue". Quarterly Bulletin of the Baroda Philatelic Society (157–158): 20. January 2019.
| Authority control databases: Artists |
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- 1922 births
- 1999 deaths
- Indian male film actors
- Telugu film score composers
- Tamil film score composers
- Kannada film score composers
- Telugu-language playback singers
- 20th-century Indian male actors
- 20th-century Indian composers
- 20th-century Indian male composers
- People from Vizianagaram district
- Film musicians from Andhra Pradesh
- Indian male film score composers
- 20th-century Indian male singers