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rajesh rao

S. Rajeshwara Rao

Saluri Rajeswara Rao was born at Sivaramapuram Village of Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh on 11th of October 1922.His father Saluri Sanyasi Raju was a very good mridangam player.He followed his father and learnt all Ragas at an early age.He developed interest in music. He was also a Singer.At a very early age he started giving stage performances.He was introduced to Telugu Cinema as an actor.He played the role of Sri Krishna in the film “Srikrishna Leelalu(1935) directed by Chitrapu Narasimha Rao.With this he became popular in the Industry.He became a disciple of Kundanlal Saigal at Calcutta and learnt Hindusthani Music from him.Later he made his own music troupe and gave stage performances.He became an independent music director for the film Jayaprada released in the year 1939.Then he provided music for the film “Malleeswari” directed by B N reddy released in the year 1951 for which he has provided melodious tunes with this film he cemented his position in Tollywood as a Music director.Rajeswara raos sons Vasu Rao and Koti are also Music directors. At present Koti is one of the most popular music directors in Telugu Cinema.

He has jointly provided music for the film “Manchi Manishi along with music director T Chalapathi Rao.

He has introduced singer T R Jayadev with the film “Chilaka Gorinka”(actor Krishnam Raju’s first film)

He made Hindi actress Nutan as playback singer with the movie”Chilaka Gorinka”

For B N Reddy’s film Rangularatnam he scored music along with B Gopalam.

Following are few of the lyrics of film songs created by Saluri Rajeswara Rao :-

“Manasuna mallela mala loogene Kannula vennela dolaloogene Yentha haayi ee reyi nindenoYenni nallaki brathuku pandeno”(film:-Malleswari…Lyrics by Devulapalli Venkata Krishna Sastry)

“Endukoyi thotamalee anthuleni yathana indukena neevu chese poojalnni tapothana”(film:-Vipranarayana)

“Savirahe thava deenaa Radha”(film:-Vipranarayana)

“Brundavanamadi andaridee govindudu andari vadele enduke radha eesanusooyalu andamulandari aanandamule”(film:-Missamma)

“Ravoyi chandamama maa vintha gaadha vinuma”(film:-Missamma)

“O meghamala andala meghamala…challaga ravelaa mela mellaga ravela….vineela meghamala..niddurapoye ramachiluka bediripothundi kala chedari pothundi”(film:-Bhale Ramudu)

“Palakadalipai seshathalpamuna pavvalincheva deva”(film:-Chenchulakshmi)

“Kaaseeki poyanu ramahari ganga theerthamu thecchanu ramahari”(film:-Appuchesi Pappukoodu)

“Hallo hallo o ammayi patha rojulu marayi aadapilla aliginacho vedukonadu abbayi”(film:Iddarumithrulu) 

“naa hrydayamulo nidurinche cheli…kalalone kavvinche sakhi..mayoorivai vayyarivai need natanamadi neeve nannu dochi nave”(film:-Aradhana(ANR’s)

“Chigurulu vesina kalalanni sigalo pooluga marinavi manasuna pongina allalanni mamathala theeram cherinavi(film:-Poolarangadu…Introduced singer K B K Mohan Raju with this song)

“inthera ee jeevitham thirige rangula ratnamu kalimi nilavadu lemi miguladu kalakalam oka reethi gadavadu Navvina kale chemmagillava vadina brathuke pacchagillada”(film:-Rangularatnam….Provided music along with music director B Gopalam…actorChandramohans first film)

“Nadireyi ye jamulo swamy mamu chera digi vacchuno thirumala sikharalu digi vacchuno(film:-Rangularatnam)

“Muthyala chemma chekka rathanala chemma cheeka o cheli muripemuga aadudama gajulu gala gala lada”(film:-Bobbili Yuddham)

“Manasuna manasai brathukuna brathukai thodokarundina ade bhagyamu ade swargamu(film:-Dr.Chakravarthi)

“Gattu kada yevaro mavi chettuneeda yevaro nalla kanula nadaswaramu vooderu yevaro”(film:-Bangarupanjaram….Lyrics by Devulapalli Krishna Sastry)

“Chillara rallaku mrokkuthu vunte chedipoduvura ore ore okkadaina aa parameswarunaku mrokki choodara hare hare (film:-Poolarangadu (ANR’s)

“Vennelaloni vikasame veligincheda nee kanula”(film:-Aradhana) 

Awards received by S.Rajeswara Rao:-

Honorary doctorate and kalaprapoorna by Andhra University,Visakhapatnam in the year 1979.

Nandi award 1980 as best music director for the film “Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari Mahathyam”

Recipient of Raghupathi Venkaiah award in the year 1992 by Govt. of A P for his contribution toTelugu cinema music.

List of Films of S.Rajeswara Rao as Music Director:-

  1. Jayaprada(1939)
  2. Illalu(1940)
  3. Balanagamma(1942)
  4. Bheeshma(1944)
  5. Malleeswari(1951)
  6. Raju Peda(1954)
  7. Vipranarayana(1954)
  8. Missamma(1955)
  9. Bhaleramudu(1956)
  10. Charanadaasi(1956)
  11. Chenchulakshmi(1958)
  12. Appuchesi Pappukoodu(1959)
  13. Bhakthajayadeva(1961)
  14. Iddarumithrulu(1961)
  15. Bharyabharthalu(1961)
  16. Aradhna(1962)
  17. Bheeshma(1962)
  18. Chaduvukunna Ammayilu(1963)
  19. Amarasilpijakkanna(1964)
  20. Bobbiliyuddham(1964)
  21. Desadhroholu(1964)
  22. Poojaphalam(1964)
  23. Dr.Chakravarthi(1965)
  24. Manchimanishi(1965)
  25. Dorikithe Dongalu(1965)
  26. Athmagowravam(1966)
  27. Chilka Gorinka(1966)
  28. Sangeetha Lakshmi(1967)
  29. Poolarangadu(1967-ANR)
  30. Bhakthaprahlada(1967)(Rojaramani as Prahlada…her first movie as child artiste)
  31. Rangularatnam(1968)
  32. Bangarupanjaram(1968)
  33. Athmeeyulu(1969)
  34. Chitti Chellelu(1970)
  35. Amayakuralu(1971)
  36. Bala Bharatham(1972)
  37. Kalammarindi(1972)
  38. Neramu Siksha(1973)
  39. Yasodakrishna(1975)
  40. Chakradhari(1976)

His son Koti as a music director is continuing from where his father left with many melodious tunes in Telugu cinema.

This great music director of early Tollywood died on 22nd of October 1999 at Chennai.

Business of Tollywood Salutes this Great music personality on his 89th Birth anniversary.