Pendyala Nageswara Rao (6 March 1917 – 31 August 1984), known mononymously by his surname Pendyala, was an Indian composer, multi-instrumentalist, conductor, music producer known for his works predominantly in

Telugu cinema Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Telugu cinema is based in Film Nagar, ...

along with

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

and

Kannada Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...

films.Nata Ratnalu, Mikkilineni Radhakrishna Murthy, Second edition, 2002; pp:582-4.

Early life and career

He was born at Vanukuru near Vijayawada and later shifted to Katur. He was closely associated with Mikkilineni as they were students of Kapilavai Ramanatha Sastry. His ancestors including his father Sitaramaiah were music exponents. Similarly Nageswara Rao also showed interest in music since childhood. He used to accompany his father playing

Harmonium The pump organ is a type of free-reed organ that generates sound as air flows past a vibrating piece of thin metal in a frame. The piece of metal is called a reed. Specific types of pump organ include the reed organ, harmonium, and melodeon. Th ...

for dramas and learned techniques to play with it since the age of 13 years. He acted for the first time as Jambavati in ''Krishna Tulabharam'' play. He later played Rukmini, Narada characters in Tulabaram play along with Jonnavitula Sheshagiri, Rshyendramani, Lakshmirajyam and got the applause of the viewers.https://sarasabharati.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/pendyala-nageswara-rao.pdf During that period

Kadaru Nagabhushanam Kadaru Nagabhushanam or K. B. Nagabhushanam (1902 – 18 October 1976) was an Indian film director and producer in the 1940s to 1960s, working in Telugu and Tamil cinema. He was the husband of P. Kannamba. They established Rajarajeshwari F ...

seeing his talents, invited to him to work in his orchestra for ''Talli Prema'' (1941) film. He went to Madras and joined Rajarajeswari Films and worked as assistant director to Dinakar Rao and S V Venkataraman for that film. With the beginning of

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

he returned home. Later he was invited by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam to work for ''

Mayalokam ''Mayalokam'' () is a 1945 Telugu-language film produced and directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam under the Sarathi Films banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and S. Varalakshmi, with music composed by Galipenchala Narasimha Rao. The film is ...

'' as Harmonist under

Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao ( te, గాలి పెంచల నరసింహారావు) (1903–1964), also known as Gali Penchalayya, was an Indian film music composer. He was a representative of the first generation of music directors ...

. K. S. Prakash Rao gave him the independent music director change for his film '' Drohi'', which brought him good fame. He has provided music for about 100 films some of them are memorable hits. Pendyala is "Bhinna Sangeeta Sampradaya Vishesha Praveenajnudu" (Expert in Natakam Padya,Gadya aalaapana(Drama Poetry singing),Hari Katha,Burra Katha,Janapada/Lok Sangeet)) in addition to traditional Hindustani and Carnatic music styles. Pendyala Composition for Kalidasa Poem "Manikya Veena Mupaalalayanti" in 1960 film

Mahakavi Kalidasu ''Mahakavi Kalidasu'' is a 1960 Indian Telugu-language biographical film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and written by Pingali. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Sriranjani Jr., with music composed by Pendyala. It was produced by K. Na ...

, and "Jayeebhava Vijayeebhava" from 1977 film

Daana Veera Soora Karna ''Daana Veera Soora Karna'' () is a 1977 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film co-written, produced and directed by N. T. Rama Rao under his banner, Ramakrishna Cine Studios. Based on the life of Karna from the ''Mahabharata'', ...

are few examples to measure his calibre. Pendyala composed "Shringar Ras" (Romantic Duet) "Chitram Hai Bhalare Vichitram" Song for Character Duryodhana from

film without hampering his Monarchy "Roudra Ras" for which he is known for. Rare combination made reality. Pendyala tune for "Evaro Vastaarani Edo Chestarani" song from film Bhoomi Kosam aimed at social message and equality philosophy,but in a different unique tone from regular mode. His Versatality is visible in song "Naa Peru Bikari Naa Daari Edaari" from 1976 film "Shri Rajeshwari Vilas Coffee Club" as with simple Harmonium he could elevate scene mood and character. Pendyala would always follow norms,rules of Raga's basis time and situation of song in his film compositions. Similar to song "San Sanna Sanna Sanna, Jao Re O Pavan" from film

Sampoorna Ramayana ''Sampoorna Ramayana'' () is a 1961 Indian Hindi-language Hindu mythological film directed by Babubhai Mistry, based on the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'' by Valmiki, starring Mahipal and Anita Guha as Rama and Sita respectively. The film was a box of ...

which was composed in Raga

chandrakauns Chandrakauns is a raga in Hindustani classical music. It is also used in tail pieces and lighter presentations of Carnatic music Carnatic music, known as or in the South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with ...

depicting isolation,loneliness (intended situation for Raga chandrakauns) of Sita at Ashoka vanam in Lanka, Pendyala always respected Raga Lakshanam (Properties) in his compositions. Always used appropriate Raga's for his tunes. His Composition "Sivasankari Sivanandalahari" from film

Jagadeka Veeruni Katha ''Jagadeka Veeruni Katha'' () is a 1961 Indian Telugu-language fantasy swashbuckler film, produced and directed by K. V. Reddy under the Vijaya Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi with music composed by Pendyala Nagesw ...

composed in Raga Darbari Kanada justifies time and situation for that raga which remained magnanimous all time hit in film compositions. Pendyala had kept faith in an Idiom "Raasi kante Vaasi mendu" (Reputation is important/better than numbers). People also had laid their belief in an Idiom "Gangi Govu Ksheeramu Garitadaina Chalunu" (Holy Cow Milk a Spoonful is Enough)

Filmography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Pendyala Nageswara Telugu film score composers Kannada film score composers 1917 births 1984 deaths Indian male film actors Tamil film score composers Telugu playback singers 20th-century Indian male actors Film musicians from Andhra Pradesh 20th-century Indian composers 20th-century Indian singers Indian male film score composers 20th-century Indian male singers