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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]

S. Rajeswara Rao
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(1999-10-25) (aged 77)
Genres	Indian film scores
Occupation(s)	Composer
Instrument(s)	Harmonium Tabla Dholak Mrudangam Flute Electric Guitar Piano Violin
Years active	1934–1986

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]

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, Raavu Balasaraswathi).^{[citation needed]}

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" "Bhimplas (Abheri)", "Sindhu Bhairavi", "Kafi", "Kalyani", "Pahad" and "Malkauns (Hindolam)", which he used most frequently in his songs.

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

People with love called him 'RA"SALURU"' (Juicy) Rajeswara Rao, as it was his compositions, which seemed 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.^{[citation needed]}

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. ^{[citation needed]}

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

• Honorary doctorate Kalaprapoorna in 1979 by Andhra University
• Asthana Vidwan of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, during which time he composed music for Annamacharya Keerthanas.
• Kalaimamani award from Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram
• Raghupathi Venkaiah Award from the Andhra Pradesh for his outstanding contribution to Telugu cinema in 1992
• Nandi Award for Best Music Director in 1980 for Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari Mahathmyam[4]
• On 10 October 2018, Indian Post issued a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Saluri Rajeswara Rao.[5]

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

Year	Film	Language	Director	Banner	Notes
1935	Sri Krishna Leelalu	Telugu	Ch. Narasimha Rao		Actor
1936	Maya Bazar	Telugu	P. V. Das	Vel Pictures	Actor
1939	Jayaprada	Telugu	Ch. Narasimha Rao	Sree Sarada Rayalaseema Films Ltd	Actor and Music director
1940	Illalu	Telugu	Gudavalli Ramabrahmam	Indira Devi Films	Actor and Music director
1940	Jeevanmukti	Telugu	T. V. Neelakantan	Gemini Studios
1941	Apavadu	Telugu	Gudavalli Ramabrahmam	Kasturi Films
1941	Kamadhenu	Tamil	Nandalal Jaswantalal	The Madras United Artists Corporation	with Kalyanaraman
1941	Madana Kama Rajan	Tamil	B. N. Rao	Gemini Studios	with M. D. Parthasarathy
1942	Bala Nagamma	Telugu	C. Pullaiah	Gemini Studios	with M. D. Parthasarathy
1942	Bhaktha Naradar	Tamil	S. Soundararajan	Tamil Nadu Talkies	Background Score
1942	Nandanar	Tamil	Murugadasa	Gemini Studios	with M. D. Parthasarathy
1943	Chenchu Lakshmi	Telugu	S. Saundara Rajan	Tamil Nadu Talkies
1943	Dhaasippen	Tamil	Ellis R. Dungan	Devi Films	with Lalitha Venkatraman
1943	Mangamma Sabatham	Tamil	Acharya	Gemini Studios	with M. D. Parthasarathy
1944	Dasi Aparanji	Tamil	B. N. Rao	Gemini Studios	with M. D. Parthasarathy
1944	Bhishma	Telugu	Ch. Narayana Murthy	Bhavani Pictures
1945	Paduka Pattabhishekam	Telugu	K. B. Nagabhushanam	Gemini Studios
1947	Miss Malini	Tamil	Kothamangalam Subbu	Gemini Studios	with Parur S. Anantharaman
1948	Chandralekha	Hindi	S. S. Vasan	Gemini Studios	with M. D. Parthasarathy
1948	Chandralekha	Tamil	S. S. Vasan	Gemini Studios	with M. D. Parthasarathy
1948	Vindya Rani	Telugu	C. Pullayya	Vyjayanthi Pictures	with Emani Sankara Sastry
1949	Apoorva Sagodharargal	Tamil	Acharya	Gemini Studios	with M. D. Parthasarathy & R. Vaidyanathan
1949	Apoorva Sahodarulu	Telugu	Acharya	Gemini Studios	with M. D. Parthasarathy & R. Vaidyanathan
1949	Nishaan	Hindi	Acharya	Gemini Studios	with M. D. Parthasarathy & R. Vaidyanathan
1950	Aahuti	Telugu	R. S. Junnarkar	Naveena Films
1951	Malliswari	Telugu	B. N. Reddy	Vauhini Studios
1951	Mantra Dandam	Telugu	K. S. Ramachandra Rao	Sri Gnanambika Pictures	Background Score
1952	Priyuralu	Telugu	Gopichand	Bharathalakshmi Productions	with Addepalli Rama Rao
1953	Manam Pola Mangalyam	Tamil	P. Pullayya	Narayanan and Company
1953	Pempudu Koduku	Telugu	L. V. Prasad	Prasad Art Pictures
1953	Vayyari Bhama	Telugu	P. Subba Rao	Ajantha Pictures
1953	Vazha Pirandhaval	Tamil	T. R. Ramanna	R. R. Pictures	with G. Ramanathan
1954	Raju Peda	Telugu	B. A. Subba Rao	B. A. S. Productions
1954	Vipra Narayana	Telugu	P. S. Ramakrishna Rao	Bharani Studios
1955	Missamma	Telugu	L. V. Prasad	Vijaya Vauhini Studios
1955	Missiamma	Tamil	L. V. Prasad	Vijaya Vauhini Studios
1954	Vipra Narayana	Tamil	P. S. Ramakrishna Rao	Bharani Studios
1956	Balasanyasamma Katha	Telugu	P. Subbarao
1956	Bhale Ramudu	Telugu	Vedantam Raghavaiah	Narasu Studios
1956	Prema Pasam	Tamil	Vedantam Raghavaiah	Narasu Studios
1956	Charana Daasi	Telugu	T. Prakash Rao	Lalitha Films
1956	Mathar Kula Manickam	Tamil	T. Prakash Rao	Lalitha Films
1957	Aandi Petra Selvan	Tamil	B. A. Subba Rao	B. A. S. Productions
1957	Alladin Ka Chirag	Hindi	T. R. Raghunath	Jai Sakthi Pictures	with S. Hanumantha Rao
1957	Allauddin Adhbhuta Deepam	Telugu	T. R. Raghunath	Jai Sakthi Pictures	with S. Hanumantha Rao
1957	Allavudeenum Arputha Vilakkum	Tamil	T. R. Raghunath	Jai Sakthi Pictures	with S. Hanumantha Rao
1957	Bhale Ammayilu	Telugu	Vedantam Raghavaiah	Narasu Studios
1957	Iru Sagodharigal	Tamil	Vedantam Raghavaiah	Narasu Studios
1957	Sathiyavan Savithri	Tamil	K. B. Nagabhushanam	Varalakshmi Pictures	with Babu Rao
1958	Aada Pettanam	Telugu	Adurthi Subba Rao	Prabha Productions	with Master Venu
1958	Chenchu Lakshmi	Tamil	B. A. Subba Rao	Navayuga Films
1958	Chenchu Lakshmi	Telugu	B. A. Subba Rao	Navayuga Films
1958	Kadan Vaangi Kalyaanam	Tamil	L. V. Prasad	Vijaya Vauhini Studios
1958	Paanai Pidithaval Bhaagyasaali	Tamil	T. S. Durairaj	Marakatha Pictures	with S. V. Venkatraman
1959	Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu	Telugu	L. V. Prasad	Vijaya Vauhini Studios
1959	Aval Yaar	Tamil	K. J. Mahadevan	Sudarsanam Pictures
1960	Nammina Bantu	Telugu	Adurthi Subba Rao	Navayuga Films	with Master Venu
1960	Pattaliyin Vetri	Tamil	Adurthi Subba Rao	Navayuga Films	with Master Venu
1960	Petra Manam	Tamil	A. Bhimsingh	National Pictures
1960	Rani Ratnaprabha	Telugu	B. A. Subba Rao	B. A. S. Productions
1961	Bhakta Jayadeva	Telugu	P. V. Rama Rao	Lalitha Kala Nikethan
1961	Iddaru Mitrulu	Telugu	Adurthi Subba Rao	Annapurna Pictures
1961	Bharya Bharthalu	Telugu	K. Pratyagatma	Prasad Art Pictures
1962	Aradhana	Telugu	V. Madhusudhan Rao	Jagapathi Art Productions
1962	Vikramaadhithan	Tamil	T. R. Raghunath & N. S. Ramadas	Jaya Bharat Productions
1962	Bhishma	Telugu	B. A. Subba Rao	B. A. S. Productions
1962	Kula Gothralu	Telugu	K. Pratyagatma	Prasad Art Pictures
1963	Chaduvukunna Ammayilu	Telugu	Adurthi Subba Rao	Annapurna Pictures
1964	Amara Shilpi Jakkanna	Telugu	B. S. Ranga	Vikram Studios
1964	Amarashilpi Jakanachari	Kannada	B. S. Ranga	Vikram Studios
1964	Bobbili Yuddham	Telugu	C. Seetaram	Republic Productions
1964	Desa Drohulu	Telugu	Bolla Subba Rao	Sri Rama Pictures
1964	Doctor Chakravarti	Telugu	Adurthi Subba Rao	Annapurna Pictures
1964	Mahiravana	Telugu	B. A. Subba Rao
1964	Manchi Manishi	Telugu	K. Pratyagatma	Chaya Chitra	with T. Chalapathi Rao
1964	Pooja Phalam	Telugu	B. N. Reddy	Sri Sambu Pictures
1964	Sirpiyin Selvan	Tamil	B. S. Ranga	Vikram Studios
1965	Aatma Gowravam	Telugu	K. Viswanath	Annapurna Pictures
1965	Dorikithe Dongalu	Telugu	P. Subrahmanyam	Chandamama Films
1966	Aatma Gowravam	Telugu	K. Viswanath	Annapurna Pictures
1966	Bala Nagamma	Kannada	P. R. Kaundinya	Sanathana Kalamandira
1966	Chilaka Gorinka	Telugu	K. Pratyagatma
1966	Palnati Yudham	Telugu	Gutha Ramineedu	Sri Anurupa Films
1966	Rangula Ratnam	Telugu	B. N. Reddy		with B. Gopalam
1966	Sangeeta Lakshmi	Telugu	Giduturi Suryam	Seetaramanjaneya Pictures
1967	Bhakta Prahlada	Tamil	Chitrapu Narayana Rao	AVM Productions
1967	Bhakta Prahlada	Telugu	Chitrapu Narayana Rao	AVM Productions
1967	Gruhalakshmi	Telugu	P. S. Ramakrishna Rao	Bharani Studios
1967	Pula Rangadu	Telugu	Adurthi Subba Rao	Annapurna Pictures
1967	Vasantha Sena	Telugu	B. S. Ranga	Vikram Studios
1968	Bangaru Panjaram	Telugu	B. N. Reddy	Vijaya Vauhini Studios	with B. Gopalam
1968	Veeranjaneya	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
1969	Aatmiyulu	Telugu	V. Madhusudhan Rao	Saradhi Studios
1969	Aadarsa Kutumbam	Telugu	K. Pratyagatma	Prasad Art Pictures
1969	Bhale Basava	Kannada	B. S. Ranga	Vikram Productions
1970	Chitti Chellelu	Telugu	M. Krishnan Nair	AVM Productions
1970	Desamante Manushuloyi	Telugu	C. S. Rao
1970	Jai Jawan	Telugu	D. Yoganand	Navayuga Films
1971	Amaayakuraalu	Telugu	V. Madhusudhan Rao	Annapurna Pictures
1971	Pavitra Bandham	Telugu	V. Madhusudhan Rao	Venus Pictures & Ashok Movies
1971	Ramalayam	Telugu	K. Babu Rao		with Ghantasala
1972	Neeti-Nijayiti	Telugu	Singeetam Srinivasa Rao
1972	Bala Baratham	Tamil	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
1972	Bala Bharatha	Kannada	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
1972	Bala Bharatam	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
1972	Bal Mahabharat	Hindi	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
1972	Kalam Marindi	Telugu	K. Viswanath	Venus Pictures
1973	Mannina Magalu	Kannada	B. S. Ranga	Vikram Productions
1973	Neramu Siksha	Telugu	K. Viswanath
1974	Bangaaru Kalalu	Telugu	Adurthi Subba Rao	Annapurna Pictures
1974	Ram Raheem	Telugu	B. A. Subba Rao	Raja Lakshmi Combines
1974	Tatamma Kala	Telugu	N. T. Rama Rao	Ramakrishna Cine Studios
1975	Manushulanta Okkate	Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao	Aditya Chitra
1975	Yashoda Krishna	Telugu	C. S. Rao	Premier Studios
1976	Dasavatharam	Tamil	K. S. Gopalakrishnan	Karpagam Studios
1976	Manchiki Maro Peru	Telugu	C. S. Rao	Sree Ramakrishna Films
1976	Manushulanta Okkate	Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao	Aditya Chitra
1977	Kurukshetram	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao	Madhavi Padmalaya Combines
1977	Radhakrishna	Telugu
1978	Devadasu Malli Puttadu	Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao	Devi Art Productions
1978	Sneha Sedu	Kannada	V. Madhusudhan Rao	Maheeja Films
1980	Sri Vinayaka Vijayamu	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao	Jaganmatha Arts
1980	Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu	Kannada	V. Madhusudhan Rao	Maheeja Films
1983	Muddula Mogudu	Telugu	K. S. Prakash Rao	Maheeja Films
1984	Adarsavanthudu	Telugu	Kodi Ramakrishna	Maheeja Films
1986	Tandra Paparayudu	Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao	Annapurna Studios & Padmalaya Studios

See also

• Raghupathi Venkaiah Award

References

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