S. Rajeswara Rao

Saluri Rajeswara Rao
సాలూరి రాజేశ్వరరావు
Saluri Rajeswara Raoసాలూరి రాజేశ్వరరావు
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)
Genres	Indian film scores
Occupation	Composer
Instrument(s)	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

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

Rajeswara Rao's career in cinema began in 1934 when recording technician Mr. Huchins 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

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

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

Year	Film	Language	Director	Banner	Notes
1935	Sri Krishna Leelalu	Telugu	Ch. Narasimha Rao	Vel Pictures	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 T. A. Kalyanam
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
1942	Santha Bala Nagamma	Telugu	S. V. S. Rama Rao	Royal Pictures
1943	Chenchu Lakshmi	Telugu	S. Soundararajan	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	Nishaan	Hindi	Acharya	Gemini Studios	with M. D. Parthasarathy & R. Vaidyanathan
1950	Apoorva Sahodarulu	Telugu	Acharya	Gemini Studios	with M. D. Parthasarathy & R. Vaidyanathan
1950	Aahuti	Telugu	R. S. Junnarkar	Naveena Films
1950	Vali Sugreeva	Telugu	Jampana	Ashoka's	Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao, Master Venu, Ghantasala & Pendyala Nageswara Rao
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. Subba Rao	Zoya Films
1956	Bhale Ramudu	Telugu	Vedantam Raghavayya	Narasu Studios
1956	Prema Pasam	Tamil	Vedantam Raghavayya	Narasu Studios
1956	Charana Daasi	Telugu	T. Prakash Rao	Lalitha Films
1956	Mathar Kula Manickam	Tamil	T. Prakash Rao	Lalitha Films
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 Raghavayya	Narasu Studios	with S. Hanumantha Rao
1957	Iru Sagodharigal	Tamil	Vedantam Raghavayya	Narasu Studios
1957	Sati Savitri	Telugu	K. B. Nagabhushanam	Varalakshmi Pictures	M. Balamuralikrishna, Mallik, P. Suribabu, Babu Rao, J. Lakshminarayana, H. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Master Venu
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
1959	Illali Adrustame Intiki Bhagyamu	Telugu	T. S. Durairaj	Marakatha Pictures	with S. V. Venkatraman & Jeevan
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. Madhusudhana 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
1962	Pathi Gowravame Sathikanandam	Telugu	K. J. Mahadevan	Sudarsanam 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	B. A. S. Productions
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
1965	Veera Marthanda	Telugu	T. R. Raghunath & N. S. Ramadas	Jaya Bharat Productions
1966	Aatma Gowravam	Telugu	K. Viswanath	Annapurna Pictures
1966	Bhakta Potana	Telugu	Gutha Ramineedu	Bharat Films
1966	Bala Nagamma	Kannada	P. R. Kaundinya	Sanathana Kalamandira
1966	Chilaka Gorinka	Telugu	K. Pratyagatma	Aatma Arts
1966	Mohini Bhasmasura	Telugu	B. A. Subba Rao	B. A. S. Productions
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	Mulla Kireetam	Telugu	P. Subramanyam	Neela Productions	with K. Devadasu
1967	Rakhta Sindhooram	Telugu	C. Seetharam	Republic
1967	Vasantha Sena	Telugu	B. S. Ranga	Vikram Studios
1968	Veeranjaneya	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao	Maheeja Films
1969	Aatmiyulu	Telugu	V. Madhusudhana Rao	Saradhi Studios
1969	Aadarsa Kutumbam	Telugu	K. Pratyagatma	Prasad Art Pictures
1969	Bangaru Panjaram	Telugu	B. N. Reddy	Vijaya Vauhini Studios	with B. Gopalam
1969	Bhale Basava	Kannada	B. S. Ranga	Vikram Productions
1969	Dharma Patni	Telugu	B. A. Subba Rao	B. A. S. Productions
1969	Mamaku Thagga Kodalu	Telugu	C. S. Rao	Balaji Films
1970	Chitti Chellelu	Telugu	M. Krishnan Nair	AVM Productions
1970	Desamante Manushuloyi	Telugu	C. S. Rao	Filmkrafts
1970	Jai Jawan	Telugu	D. Yoganand	Navayuga Films
1971	Amaayakuraalu	Telugu	V. Madhusudhana Rao	Annapurna Pictures
1971	Bangaru Talli	Telugu	Tapi Chanakya	Babu Pictures
1971	Pavitra Bandham	Telugu	V. Madhusudhana Rao	Venus Pictures & Ashok Movies
1971	Ramalayam	Telugu	K. Babu Rao	Ramavijeta Films	with Ghantasala
1971	Sri Venkateswara Vaibhavam	Telugu	Lakshmi Films	P. D. Prasad
1972	Neeti-Nijayiti	Telugu	Singeetam Srinivasa Rao	Shri Sanjeevi Movies
1972	Bala Baratham	Tamil	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao	Venus Maheeja Films
1972	Bala Bharatha	Kannada	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao	Venus Maheeja Films
1972	Bala Bharatam	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao	Venus Maheeja Films
1972	Bal Mahabharat	Hindi	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao	Venus Maheeja Films
1972	Kalam Marindi	Telugu	K. Viswanath	Venus Pictures
1973	Mannina Magalu	Kannada	B. S. Ranga	Vikram Productions
1973	Neramu Siksha	Telugu	K. Viswanath	Amrita Films
1973	Nindu Kutumbam	Telugu	Parvataneni Sambasiva Rao	Seetharamanjaneya Movies
1973	Sri Kanakadurga Mahima	Telugu	Surati Durga Rao & P. D. Prasad	Sri Prabhu Pictures	with G. Aswathama
1974	Bangaaru Kalalu	Telugu	Adurthi Subba Rao	Annapurna Pictures
1974	Jeevithaasayam	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao	Saptagiri Productions
1974	Jeevitha Rangamu	Telugu	Lakshmi Films	P. D. Prasad
1974	Nitya Sumangali	Telugu	B.N.R	Nalinasree Productions
1974	Palle Paduchu	Telugu	K. Satyam	Mamta Combines
1974	Ram Raheem	Telugu	B. A. Subba Rao	Raja Lakshmi Combines
1974	Tatamma Kala	Telugu	N. T. Rama Rao	Ramakrishna Cine Studios
1975	Anna Thammulla Katha	Telugu	D. S. Prakash Rao	Amrita Films
1975	Bharathamlo Oka Ammayi	Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao	Vijayavelangani Pictures
1975	Challani Thalli	Telugu	K. S. Rami Reddy	Lalita Movies
1975	Yashoda Krishna	Telugu	C. S. Rao	Premier Studios
1976	Dasavatharamulu	Telugu	K. S. Gopalakrishnan	Karpagam Studios	with K. Chakravarthy
1976	Manchiki Maro Peru	Telugu	C. S. Rao	Sree Ramakrishna Films
1976	Manushulanta Okkate	Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao	Aditya Chitra
1976	Oka Deepam Veligindhi	Telugu	Singeetham Srinivasa Rao	Sivaprasad Movies
1977	Eenati Bandham Yenatido	Telugu	K. S. R. Doss	Amrita Films
1977	Idhekkadi Nyayam	Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao	Lalita Movies
1977	Kurukshetram	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao	Madhavi Padmalaya Combines
1978	Devadasu Malli Puttadu	Telugu	Dasari Narayana Rao	Devi Art Productions
1978	Prema Paga	Telugu	B. V. Prasad	Amruta Films
1978	Radhakrishna	Telugu	K. Raghavendra Rao	Annapurna Kala Niketan
1978	Sneha Sedu	Kannada	V. Madhusudhana Rao	Maheeja Films
1979	Indrudu Chandrudu	Telugu	T. Krishna	Sri Lakshmi Art Creations	with Saluri Babu
1979	Katha Marindi	Telugu	Madhu	Sricharita Chitra
1979	Namala Thathayya	Telugu	K. Hemambharadhara Rao
1979	Pacha Bottu	Telugu	B.N.R	Shri Nalini Combines
1979	Pavitra Prema	Telugu	D. S. Prakash Rao	Srilakshmi Art Pictures
1979	Sri Vinayaka Vijayamu	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao	Jaganmatha Arts
1980	Bapuji Bharatham	Telugu	Relangi Narasimha Rao	Jayashree Chitra
1980	Bommala Koluvu	Telugu	Kommineni Seshagiri Rao	Apsara Arts
1980	Chukkallo Chandrudu	Telugu	C. S. Rao	Sri Pragathi Pictures	with K. V. Mahadevan
1980	Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu	Kannada	V. Madhusudhana Rao	Maheeja Films
1980	Sri Vasavi Kanyakaa Parameswari Mahathyam	Telugu	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao	Mani Art Enterprises
1980	Rojulu Marali	Telugu	Devadas Kanakala
1980	Veedani Bandalu	Telugu	K. M. Reddy & V. Madhusudhana Rao
1982	Illalu Chulallu	Telugu
1982	Mummidivaram Balayogeswara Charitra	Telugu	Vijayaprakash
1982	Punnami Vennela	Telugu	P. Subramanyam	Vijayashanti Arts
1982	Sri Lakshmi Nilayam	Telugu	T. Krishna	Sudarshan Productions	with Saluri Babu
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
1987	America Abbayi	Telugu	Singeetam Srinivasa Rao	Jayalakshmi Movies
1991	Lambadolla Ramdasu	Telugu	K. Babu Rao
1995	Yadagiri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Mahatyam	Telugu	A. Venugopal		with S. Vittal Rao

Awards and honours

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]

References

^ M. L. Narasimham, "Trend-setter in Light Music" The Hindu, 12 March 1993.
^ "In a different league". The Hindu. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "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.

[tfmpage-1] M. L. Narasimham, "Trend-setter in Light Music" The Hindu, 12 March 1993.

[2] "In a different league". The Hindu. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2019.

[telugucinema-3] "A Tribute to (Ra)Saluri Rajeswara Rao". Telugucinema.com. 27 October 2007. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2011.

[4] "ర'సాలూరి'స్తూనే ఉన్న రాజేశ్వరరావు స్వరకల్పన!". NTV (in Telugu). 11 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2024.

[5] "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)

[6] "Vadophil Issue". Quarterly Bulletin of the Baroda Philatelic Society (157–158): 20. January 2019.

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