S.Rajeswara Rao--a retrospective

[Oldposts]

Topic started by Udhaya (udhayak@yahoo.com) (@ 205.218.142.217) on Thu Apr 1 21:17:53 EST 1999.


Did music first for "Mathana Kaamarajan". Some of the memorable films for which he composed music are: "Vikramathithan", "Premapaasam", "Paanai Pidithaval Pagyasali", "Amaradevi", "Iru Sagotharagal", "Aval Yaar" besides "Chadralehka". Tamil-Telugu bilinguals: "Allauddin Arbhutha Deepam", "Mangamma Sabatham", "Apoorva Sagotharaagal", "Maya bazaar", "Missiamma", and "Chakradhari". Later for many movies including "Nanthanaar","Mangammaa sapatham", "Kadan vaangi kalyaanam", etc. He was the MD for about 200 movies.

This is what I gathered from the TFM page on MDs, but it doesn't give much information on his TFM contribution. I would like to explore this musician's contribution to TFM.

[Oldposts]

I may be wrong as usual :-), but did nt he score music for adutha vittu peen and also the hubby of
actress anjali devi.

hari

[Oldposts]

e.hari: That was Adhi Narayana Rao. Some of his popular movies were Kanavane Kan Kanda Dheivam, Manalane Mangaiyin Bhagyam ( Thesulavudhe, Jagadheeswara, Azhaikkadhe etc. )

Udhaya: S. Rajeswara Rao did the music for many Gemini movies. But if you see the titles, it will always be Music: M.P. Parthasaradhi and S. Rajeswara Rao and Orchestra: Gemini Vadhyak Kuzhu. I am not sure about the individual part s played by Parthasaradhi and Rajeswara Rao wrt this. Mangamma Sabadam, Chandralekha, Aboorva Sagodargal ( I think ) fall in this category.

Rajeswara Raos best contribution was of course Missiamma. Unbeleivable music that makes one hanker for more despite a dozen songs in that movie.

[Oldposts]

Udhaya; Maya Bazar was Ghantasala.

[Oldposts]

yes, bhoori is right. SRS didn't score for maaya bazaar. i think he acted in it and sang.

[Oldposts]

k, thanks boori. stand corrected :-)
hari

[Oldposts]

bb: SRS acted in a movie! Thats news to me! That too in M. Bazaar? What role did he play?

[Oldposts]

Trend-setter in Light Music


An article on S.Rajeshwara Rao from The Hindu, Friday March 12, 1993

By M.L.Narasimham


Remember "Chandraleka", a magnum opus even by today's standards and its famous
drum dance and the music that enriched it. The creator of that enchanting music was
none other than this year's Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram's "Kalaimaamani"
award winner, Saluri Rajeshwara Rao, a pioneer of light music in South Indian films.

"It took us one year to compose music for Chandralekha. Much of the time was taken for
the drum dance sequence. As the dancers performed, we used to rehearse and
compose the music. It was done with incredibly few instruments. We used a piano, ten
double bass violins and drums from Africa, Egypt, and Persia which we have acquired
from an African War troupe." reminisces Rajeshwara Rao, who will be completing six
decades of film career next year.

His tryst with cinema came unexpectedly in the form of a talent-scouting Huchins
Recording Company to his native Vizianagaram in 1934. A child prodigy, he could identify
the ragas at the tender age of four and by the time he was seven, he started giving stage
performances. His father, Sanyasi Raju, was a famous miridangam player for the
concerts of Dwaram Venkatasamy Naidu and was also a lyricist. Huchins spotted
"master" Rajeshwara Rao and took him to Bangalore along with his father.

"I was 13 then. Since then I have stayed put in the field of film music and records,"
recalls Rajeshwara Rao.

Huchins recorded "Bagavat Gita" in Rajeawara Rao's voice. Soon word spread about his
melliflous voice and producers P.V.Das and Gudavalli Ramabramham, visted Bangalore,
and impressed by his singing ability, brought him to Madras. Finding that young
Rajeshwara Rao had stage experience too, they cast him as Lord Krishna in their "Sri
Krishna Leelau" in 1934. The film was released the next year and Rajeshwara Rao
became a household name all over Andhra. Later for the same team he played the role
of "Abhimanyu" in "Maya Bazar"(1936). The next year he went to Calcutta to act in
"Keechaka Vadha".

Though he won appreciation as a singer-actor, the urge to prove himself as a musician
was stronger in him. In Calcutta he met such stalwarts as Kundan Lal Saigal and Pankaj
Mullick, and got exposed to Hindustani music. He became a disciple of Saigal and
learned Hindustani music for a year. He also learnt to play the sitar and the surbahar. He
had already mastered playing the tabla, dholak, and miridangam without the help of a
guru. Later he learnt the piano, harmonium, mandolin and the electric guitar too. By this
time he had acquired the knowledge of orchestration, of how to mix the sounds of
different instruments.

Rajeshwara Rao returned to Madras in 1938 and formed his own music troupe, became
an assistant to Jeyaramayyer for a Tamil film "Vishnuleela" in which he also played the
role of Balarama and sang his own songs. The film was directed by Raja Sandow. This
was the only film for which Rajeshwara Rao worked as a music assistant. Later he
tuned a few songs for a Kanada film, "Vasantha Sena" (1939) for which R.Sudharsanam
provided the music. The same year he became a full-fledged music director with
"Jeyaprada" (Pururava) which Chitrapu Narashima Rao directed. Alongside, he
continued with his acting in "Balanagamma" and "illalu" in which he acted opposite his
famous singing partner, Rao Balasarawati Devi. Bala Saraswati incidently had acted in
"Sri Krishna Leelalu" too.

By the time "Illalu" was commissioned Rajeswara Rao was no more interested in acting.
His mind was set on film music. Even his father felt his son would shine as a music
director. He approached Ramambrahmam. The director was sceptical at first as it was a
social film and doubted whether Rajeshwara Rao could do justice to it. Moreover
Bhimavarapu Narashima Rao (BNR) was his permanenet music director. After much
persuasion and when BNR himself told the director to give the boy a try, Rajeshwara
Rao was given a cradle song as an experiment. He composed the music and rendered
the song much to the delight of Director as well as the original music director of the film.
Rajeshwara Rao got the job he wanted. He also acted in the movie, which was his last
as an actor.

"When I entered the industry there was no playback system. We used to sing and act at
the same time with the orchestra in the background unseen by the camera. But by the
time I was doing "Illalu" the playback system had come into vogue," recalls the veteran.

When the Telugu film song was evolving from stage poetry to modern lyric, Rajeshwara
Rao showed thru his private records how light music should be. "Thummeda Oka saari",
"Kopamela Radha", "Podarintilona", "Rave Rave Koyila", "Challo Gaalilo" "Paata Paduma
Krishna" all of which his father has written.

Rajeshwara Rao, through these songs, set a new trend in light music in Telugu.

Rajeshwara Rao's most rewarding assignments came from Gemini, which he joined in
1940. "I joined Jemini on a salary of Rs. 600 as a music director and by the time
"Chandraleka" was made, it rose to Rs. 1500. My association with Gemini continued for
a decade and "Apoorva Sagotharagal"(1950) was my last film for them." "Jeevan
mukthi", "Balanagamma", "Mangamma Sabatham", and "Chandrelekha" were some of
the movies for which he created music while in Gemini. In those days when there were
hardly any modern technical equipment he created in "Balanagamma" re-recording
effects "on par with any Hollywood film". "And in "Chandreleka" simply because I mixed
western music to local taste it was appreciated both within the country and abroad. For
music there are no barriers. There is nothing wrong in making use of western tunes,
moulding them carefully to our taste and to our form. I have done that for some of my
songs in later films like "Iddaru Mithurulu" and "Bharya Bharthalu" during the seventies.
Though I have made use of western tunes, no one can say that I have blindly copied
them. But today the scene is different. Western tunes are being used as they are in our
films. This is very unfortunate" says Rajeshwara Rao.

After leaving Gemini, he got an offer to provide music for B.N.Reddy's "Malleswari"
(1950). It was a sensational music hit. Then came "Vipranarayana", "Missiamma" and a
host of other musical hits, more than a hundred of them in Tamil and Telugu and a few in
Kannada. Some of the films might have failed in the box office, but his music has never
let down cinegoers. When Vijaya's "Missiamma" was made into "Miss Mary" - producers
AVM in Hindi, Hemantha Kumar provided the music. He changed all the tunes, but
retained one - "Brindavanamum Nandakumaranum" which Hemantha liked so much that
he took permission to retain it in the Hindi version - an instance of one master's tribute to
another.

Among the classical ragas, Rajeswara Rao likes Bhimplas, Sindhu Bairavi, Kafi, Kalyani,
Pahad, and Malkauns, which he has used most in his songs. "Generally songs set in
these ragas become popular with the audience" feels Rajeshwara Rao.

Some of the memorable films for which he composed music are: "Vikramathithan",
"PremapAsam", "Paanai Pidithaval Pagyasali", "Amaradevi", "Iru Sagotharagal", "Aval
Yaar" besides "Chadralehka". Tamil-Telugu bilinguals: "Allauddin Adbhutha Deepam",
"Mangamma Sabatham", "Apoorva Sagotharaagal", "Missiamma", and "Chakradhari".
Telugu: "Chenchu Lakshmi", "Bheesma", "BhaleRamudu", "Iddaru Mithurulu",
"Kulagothralu", "Baktha Jeyadeva", "Amarasilpi Jakkannachari", "Baktha Pragalatha",
"Rangula Ratnam", "Vipranarayana", "Dr Chakravarthy", and "Chitti Chellue". Hindi:
"Chandrelehka" and "Nishan".

Rajeshwara Rao's two assistants for over four decades Rajagopal and Krishnan, both
well versed in classical music have proved an asset to him.

Music flows in Rajeshawara Rao's family. His elder brother S. Hanumantha Rao was a
music director in his own right in the Kannada & Telugu field. Rajeshwara Rao's eldest
son, Ramalingeswara Rao is well known piano and electric organ player in the South.
His second son, Poornachandra Rao, is a popular guitarist while his third and fourth
sons, Vasu Rao and Koteswara Rao are well-known music directors today. Vasu Rao
has preferred to go it alone on the lines of his father's melody, but Koti has formed a
team with Somaraju (son of veteran music director T.V.Raju) as Raj-Koti and the duo is
the most popular team in Telugu film music today.

On the quality of today's film music, Rajeshwara Rao blames he producers and
directors. "It is not the audience, but the producers and directors, who are to be blamed.
Today film making and music are like fast food," he says. Among the directors he rates
Singgetham Srinivasa Rao , who learnt Carnatic vocal under Rajeshwara Rao, as a man
with music knowledge.

Rajeshwara Rao was awarded the honorary doctorate "Kalaprapoorna" in 1979 by the
Andhra University. He was appointed "Asthana Vidwan" by Tirumala Tirupathi
Devasthanams, during which period he composed music for Annamacharya Keerthanas
sung by Ghantasala.

His success formula for film music: "In every film as far as possible there should be a
classical song, a folk song, a rock-n-role type of song to appeal to the tastes of different
viewers. Variety is important in film music."

[Oldposts]

haha suri, that article is already there in PPP!!

bhoori: yes, he started out as a singer-actor, and then went on to become a MD. i remember reading somewhere that SSV wanted him to act later in his career again.

[Oldposts]

Vipranarayana was released in tamil as well - dubbed perhaps? A couple lovely AM Raja solos: yOgamathE ezhilaai kannan yOgamathE ezhilaai, aathavan ezhunthaan and a duet w/ Bhanumati: malarin maduvellaam vandinam thaanE....

[Oldposts]

SRS passed away today. he was 82.
http://www.dinakaran.com/daily/oct1999/27/cinema/direct.html (http://www.dinakaran.com/daily/oct1999/27/cinema/direct.html
)

[Oldposts]

RAJESWARARAO DID COMPOSE SONGS FOR MAYABAZAAR.BUT BEFORE HE DID THE RERECORDING THERE WEA SOME MISUNDERSTANDING BETN HIM AND THE PRODUCER.THAT IS WHY THE PROJECT WENT TO GHANTASALA.SO MANY SONGS OF MAYABAZAAR WAS COMPOSED BY RAJESWARA RAO HIMSELF.SPB ONCEMENTOINED THAT RAJESWARARAO WAS AN UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC BY HIMSELF

[Oldposts]

Hi,
S.Rajeswara Rao is also called Swarala Rajeswara Rao in Telugu Film Industry.The melodies which this great MD has given in Telugu is outstanding.He has given such great no's for films directed by Adurti Subba Rao such as Dr Chakravarthy,
Chaduvukunna Amayeelu,AtmaGowravam etc.
Almost all his songs were hits.
He was the leading MD in Telugu until early seventies though not much in Tamil.
P.Suseela's contribution to Telugu Film world along with this legend is really noteworthy and perhaps the best.
I feel these few lines are not sufficient to pay my tributes to the great legend.
<a name="last"></a>

[sivaramakrishnanG]

S.Rajeswararao isai amaitha paadalkalil Ilangai Vaanoliyil antha naalil athigamaaha oliparappappatta paadalkal

1. ariyaa paruvamadaa madhanaa......( Missiammaa)
2,therinthu kollanum pEnnE.... (.. - )
3.pazhaha theriya vEnum ulahil.........
4.sEladum neerOdai meedhu thEn...(Alavudheenum arputha viLakkum)
5.ThaayE un seyallallavO... (Iru sahOtharigaL)
6.pOdhum undhan jaalamE.... (Kadan vaangi kalyaanam)

7,kayyum kayyum kalandhida vaa.. do..
8.purushan veetil vaazha pOhum pEnnE(Paanai pidithavaL bAgyasali)
9.aahaa inba nilavinilE OohO...( Maaya bazaar)

[tfmlover]

http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab272/1tfml/MGR/vannam.jpg

மக்கள் திலகம் பத்மினி பி எஸ் வீரப்பா தங்கவேலு ஸ்ரீரஞ்சனி ராகினி
மற்றும் பலர் நடிப்பில்
இசையமைப்பாளர் ராஜேஸ்வர ராவ் இசைவண்ணத்தில் உருவான
விக்கிரமாதித்தன் படப்பாடல்கள்
அதிகம் பிரபலமாகாத பாடல்கள் போல் தெரிந்ததன
மற்றைய மக்கள் திலகம் படப்பாடல்களோடு ஒப்பிடும்போது
விசாரித்துப் பார்த்ததில் றேடியோ சிலோன் வானொலியில்
வெண்ணிலவே கொஞ்ச நேரம் நில்லு .. மட்டும்
இடை விடாமல் ஒலித்ததாம் அதுவும் மகளிர் அழுகை விருப்பமாக
வண்ணம் பாடுதேயும் . .கன்னிப் பெண்ணின் ரோஜாவும்
நெஞ்சில் நிறைந்தவையில் அவ்வப்போது வருமாம்
பலதரப்பட்ட பாடலாசிரியர்கள் டைட்டிலில் இடப் பிடித்து இருக்கிறார்கள்
எழுதியவர் பெயரை பிழையாக ஊகம் செய்ய விளையாமல்
விபரம் தெரிந்து கொள்ளும் வகையில் சின்ன இமேஜ்
இணைத்து இருக்கிறேன்

http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab272/1tfml/MGR/32.jpg

ஏகப்பட்ட பாடல்களை சலிக்காமல் நிறைவேற்றி இருக்கிறார்
S ராஜேஸ்வர ராவ்
ஆடல் டூயட் தெருக்கூத்து சோகம் என்று அந்நாளைய வரிசைப்படி
மக்கள் திலகத்தோடு நாட்டியப் பேரொளி நடிப்புச்சுடர் பத்மினிக்காக
இனிமையான பி சுஷீலாவோடு கம்பீரமான டி எம் எஸ் இணையும்
..வண்ணம் பாடுதே
வான் என்னும் நீல ஓடை
தன்னில் நீந்தும் வெண்ணிலா
எளிமையான வரிகள்
மென்மையான உணர்வுகளை இதமாக ரம்மியமாக வெளிப்படுத்தும்
சூழலில் அழகான இருகுரலிசை !

கேட்டு ரசிக்கவும் கண்டு களிக்கவும் :


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xj4lof_vannam-paaduthe_creation

Regards

[tfmlover]

http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab272/1tfml/MGR/V.jpg

Kannip Pennin rOja PS for Padmini !


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xj50ai_kannip-pennin-roja_creation

Regards

[tfmlover]

http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab272/1tfml/MGR/MGR32.jpg

தீர்மானம் சரியாக ஆடாவிட்டால் ......TMS .


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xj5elr_theermaanam-sariyaaga-aadaavittaal_creation

Regards

[s ramaswamy]

Hi TFM Lover,

Tks once again for providing us with rare gems like Vikramadithan songs. I don't recall any TV channel telecasting them. Can you provide us audio links of these songs for downloads?

S Rajeswar Rao was Gemini's asthana MD in those days similar to what R Sudarsanam was for AVM, was he not? His magnum opus in Tamil was easily "Missiamma", in which AM Raja was at his best.

A digression here. Gemini used non-Tamil MDs like Rajeswar Rao (Chandraleka, Mangamma Sabatham etc.) and C Ramachandra (Vanjikkottai Valiban) mostly. Did he ever opt for GR? Also when VR came on the scene Gemini Vasan had no alternative but to engage the duo who was creating waves and signed them up for his "Vazhkai Padagu" and what an album the duo came up with!

Also, I take the opportunity to request you to post videos of Veda's best album "Parthiban Kanavu", especially the enchanting AMR-PS duet "Idayavanin Udaya Nilave" which, I consider, as amohg the topmost duets in TFM history.

Anbudan

Ramaswamy

[madhu]

Ramaswamyji..

idhaya vaanin is available in youtube. link idho ..
http://youtu.be/9zYvS4MYrVg

[sivaramakrishnanG]

அன்புள்ள ராமசாமி அவர்களே,


யாராவது videolink கொடுத்தால் அதை mp3 ஆக நீங்களே மாற்றிவிடலாம்.அதற்கு எந்த சாப்ட் வேறும் வேண்டாம்.
அதற்கு இதை பயன்படுத்துங்கள்


ஒளிக் காட்சியை ஒலியாய் மாற்ற (http://www.video2mp3pro.com/)


என்றும் அன்புடன்,
சிவா.G

[s ramaswamy]

அன்புள்ள சிவா G அவர்களே,

நன்றிகள் நீங்கள் வீடியோ-mp3 changover கொடுத்ததற்கு. அதை டவுன்லோட் செய்து விட்டேன். இது மிக helpful ஆக இருக்கும் என்று நினைக்கிறேன்.

தேங்க்ஸ்

ராமஸ்வாமி

[baroque]

yeas.....வெண் முகிலே கொஞ்ச நேரம் நில்லு
என் கண்ணீரின் கதை கேட்டு செல்லு ......
சுஷீலா's pathos .

பாடல் வரிகள் கண்ணதாசன்.
பெற்ற மனம்------1960 -----நேஷனல் pictures
There is a MLV composition சிந்தனை செய்யடா.....with சிவாஜி கணேசன்'s வசனங்கள் by this composer.