Saluri Rajeswara Rao - The Legend

Author: Vicky Iyengar

A Diversion - Taste of Nectar from a Composer - Saluri Rajeswara Rao

REMEMBERING SALURI!

                                                                  

Listen to These Two Great Masterpieces in the Composer's Voice!

"Challa Galilo Yamuna Thatipai Syamasundaruni Murali" & "Paata Paduma Krishna" - The Master of Swaras

Acclaimed Telugu Film Composer S Rajeswara Rao Garu's Sahithyam. A child prodigy like Susarla Dakshinamurthy, he could identify the Carnatic music ragams at the tender age of four and by the time he was seven, he started giving stage performances. He met such stalwarts as Kundan Lal Saigal (Actor/Singer) and Pankaj Mullick (Composer for New Theatres, Calcultta) and became a disciple of Kundan Lal Saigal (K L Saigal) and learned Classical Hindustani music for a few months. Among the classical ragas, Bhimplas (Abheri), Karaharapriya, Sindhu Bhairavi, Kafi, Kalyani, Pahadi, and Malkauns, which influenced many of his compositions. Both Suswara Ragini Ma Saraswathi Susheelamma & Saluri Rajeswara Rao are the recipients of the prestigious "Raghupathi Venkaiah Award" by the Government of Andhra Pradesh for their outstanding contribution to Telugu Cinema.

The year 1939 saw Saluri become a full-fledged music composer for film "Jeyaprada" which was directed by Chitrapu Narasimha Rao. In the 1940's these are called "Private Paatas" or "Private Recordings" and the stage poetry was metamorphasizing into modern lyric. Apart from the mentioned song, "Thummeda Oka saari", "Kopamela Radha", "Podarintilona", "Rave Rave Koyila", "Paata Paduma Krishna" all of which were written by his father Sanyasi Raju.

From the 60's they are also called "Lalitha Sangeetham". This immortal recording showcases the composer's vocal throw and his astute grasp of the Bhavams, Swarams and Sangadhis and this training he imparted to Mata Saraswathi Susheelamma that shaped her renditions in Telugu Cinema and hence became immortal.

Look at the Bhrigas "Yamunaaa..Thatipai"...It is ethereal. His Alaaps (Challa Gaalilo...) & "Murali..." in Preludes and interludes transports you to another galaxy. In this song you can find the influence of the Great "K L Saigal" in Saluri's rendering.

In "Paata Paduma Krishna" you melt in "Bhakthi Rasa", after listening to this bhakthi laden evocative piece. It stabilized my mental equilibrium and redeemed my moral compass. When he crooned "Paata Paaduma....", the Alaap had such an spiritual impact on me, I kept listening to it again and again and I guess you will too.

"paata paadumaa krishna paluku tene lolukunatula maatalaadumaa mukunda manasu teeragaa"

(Oh Krishna! Sing a song like Sweetness of Nectar (amruth) flows. Talk to Me O Mukunda till my heart satisfies)

Listen to the ending - flute infused harmonium - piece in lower volume before he commences the phrase......

"Sama veda saaramu..Sangeethamu..Sahithyamegha...continuing with alaap landing" what can I say, my ears are blessed to listen to these immortal works by Saluri Garu. All I ask of this audience is to forget this "Vicious Cycle of Maya", close your eyes , immerse yourself in the "Ocean of Divinity", as Saluri takes you to the "Deliverer". Compare this with another "Private Paatu" Raavu Balasaraswathi rendition "Thalapu Theeyu" in the same meter.

Many are aware that Suswara Ragini Mata Saraswathi Susheelamma & S Rajeswara Rao Garu collaborated to produce very many immortal melodies in the Telugu Cine Prapancham. Some of the memorable films for which he composed music are: "Vikramathithan", "PremapAsam", "Paanai Pidithaval Bhagyasali", "Amaradevi", "Iru Sagotharagal", "Aval Yaar" besides "Chadralehka", "Allauddin Adbhutha Deepam", "Mangamma Sabatham", "Apoorva Sagotharaagal", "Missiamma", "Chakradhari", "Chenchu Lakshmi", "Bheesma", "BhaleRamudu", "Iddaru Mithurulu", "Kulagothralu", "Baktha Jeyadeva", "Amarasilpi Jakkannachari", "Baktha Prahalatha", "Rangula Ratnam", "Vipranarayana", "Dr Chakravarthy", and "Chitti Chellalu", "Chandrelekha" and "Nishan" (Aboorva Sahodarargal).
Saluri was a trendsetter of light music in Telugu. Some Immortal Compositions in Saluri - Mata Saraswathi Susheelamma's collaboration are - "Niluvuma Niluvuma" (Amara Silpi Jakkana), "Paadavela Radhika (Iddaru Mitrulu), Ee Musi Musi Navvula (Iddaru Mitralu), "Kila Kila Navvula (Chaduvukunna Ammayilu), "Amma Bangaru Talli ( Palnati Yuddham), "Andala Rupamu" (Bhale Ammiyulu), 'Balanura Madana" (Missamma), "Ekkada Dachavoi" (Rani Ratnaprabha), "Palakadalipai" (Chenchulakshmi), "Chelikadu Ninne" (Kulagothralu), "Kalam Kani Kalamlo" (Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu), "Mahadeva Shambo" (Bheeshma) to name a few.

Note: After leaving Gemini as its Resident Composer (Mangamma Sapatham,Chandralekha, Aboorva Sahodarargal), he did unite for a Telugu Classic with B Nagi Reddy (Vijaya -Vauhini) titled "Malleswari" (1951) starring N T Rama Rao & P Bhanumathi. It was a sensational musical chartbuster. Especially listen to "Pilichina Bhiguvatara" which was crooned by Paluvayi Bhanumathi. Then came "Vipranarayana", "Missiamma" and other musical hits, in 100s - Tamil and Telugu and a few in Kannada. Some of the films might have failed at the box office, but his music has never let down cine-goers and it lingered in their thoughts well after their departure and such was the impact that his compositions had on laymen. When "Missiamma" was made into "Miss Mary" - in Hindi, Hemanth Kumar was brought in as the composer. He composed mostly original tunes for the Hindi flick, but retained one - "Brindavanamum Nandakumaranum" which Hemanth liked so much that Saluri magnanimously let Hemanth retain it in the Hindi version.

Enjoy!