Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Encyclopedia
Pendyala Nageswara Rao (6 March 1917 - 31 August 1984) was a popular drama actor, singer and music director
in Telugu Film Industry
for over 25 years from early 1950s to late 1970s. He has composed music for many successful Telugu movies during that period.
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
for dramas and learned techniques to play with it since the age of 13 years. He acted for the first time as Jambavathi in Krishna Tulabaram play. He later played Rukmini, Narada characters in Tulabaram play along with Jonnavithula Seshagiri, Rushyendramani, Lakshmirajyam and got the applause of the viewers.
During that period Kadaru Nagabhushanam
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. Venkat Raman for that film. With the beginning of Second World War he returned home. Later he was invited by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam to work for Mayalokam
as Harmonist under Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao
. 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.
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
in Telugu Film Industry
Telugu cinema
The Cinema of Andhra Pradesh, also referred to as Telugu Cinema or Tollywood, is the Telugu film industry in India. The Telugu language film industry is known for being one of the three largest in terms of no.of films produced yearly in India. The Prasads IMAX theatre in Hyderabad is one of the...
for over 25 years from early 1950s to late 1970s. He has composed music for many successful Telugu movies during that period.
Early life
He was born at Vanukuru near Vijayawada and later shifted to Katur. He was closely associated with Mikkilineni Radhakrishna Murthy as they were students of Kapilavai Ramanatha Sastry. They learned acting as well as singing poems from him.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
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
for dramas and learned techniques to play with it since the age of 13 years. He acted for the first time as Jambavathi in Krishna Tulabaram play. He later played Rukmini, Narada characters in Tulabaram play along with Jonnavithula Seshagiri, Rushyendramani, Lakshmirajyam and got the applause of the viewers.
During that period Kadaru Nagabhushanam
Kadaru Nagabhushanam
Kadaru Nagabhushanam or K. B. Nagabhushanam was a Telugu and Tamil film director and producer in the 1940s to 1960s. He was the husband of Pasupuleti Kannamba. They established Rajarajeshwari Films and produced many mythological films starring Kannamba in the lead role including Harischandra...
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. Venkat Raman for that film. With the beginning of Second World War he returned home. Later he was invited by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam to work for Mayalokam
Mayalokam
Maya Lokam or Mayalokam is a 1945 Telugu film directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam.It is debut film for veteran actor and producer B. Padmanabham.-Cast:* Chilakalapudi Seetha Rama Anjaneyulu * Kannamba...
as Harmonist under Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao
Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao
Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao was the first generation of Music directors in Indian cinema. He is also known as Gali Penchalaiah.He has debuted with the Telugu version of Seetha Kalyanam in 1934....
. K. S. Prakash Rao gave him the independent Music Director change for his film Drohi
Drohi
Drohi has appeared as the title of several films.* Drohi , Telugu film by L. V. Prasad* Drohi , 1970 Telugu film directed by K. Bapaiah.* Drohi , Hindi film by Ram Gopal Varma...
, which brought him good fame. He has provided music for about 100 films some of them are memorable hits.
Filmography
This is partial list of films contributed by him:| Year | Film | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Drohi Drohi (1948 film) Drohi is a 1948 Telugu drama film directed by L. V. Prasad. This is debut film for Pendyala Nageswara Rao as Music director.-The plot:... |
Telugu | Debut film |
| 1950 | Modati Rathri | Telugu | |
| Vali Sugriva | Telugu | ||
| 1951 | Deeksha | Telugu | |
| 1953 | Kanna Talli Kanna Talli Kanna Talli or Kannatalli is a 1953 Telugu Drama film directed and produced by K. S. Prakash Rao. It is simultaneously released in Tamil with title Petrathai. G. Varalakshmi played the title role of the Mother . This is the debut film for Telugu popular singer P. Susheela and actress Rajasulochana... |
Telugu | Introduced P. Susheela P. Susheela Pulapaka Susheela is an Indian playback singer. In a career spanning more than four decades, she has recorded songs in many Indian languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Sanskrit, Tulu, Badaga and Sinhalese.-Personal life:She is the daughter of Pulapaka... |
| Petrathai | Tamil | Tamil Remake of Kanna Talli Kanna Talli Kanna Talli or Kannatalli is a 1953 Telugu Drama film directed and produced by K. S. Prakash Rao. It is simultaneously released in Tamil with title Petrathai. G. Varalakshmi played the title role of the Mother . This is the debut film for Telugu popular singer P. Susheela and actress Rajasulochana... |
|
| 1954 | Jyoti | Telugu | |
| Menarikam | Telugu | ||
| 1955 | Ante Kavali | Telugu | |
| Donga Ramudu Donga Ramudu Donga Ramudu is a 1955 Telugu Drama film directed by Kadiri Venkata Reddy and produced by D. Madhusudhana Rao of Annapoorna Pictures. Lyrics are penned by Samudrala Raghavacharya including the Bhale Tatha Mana Bapuji song on Mahatma Gandhi.-The plot:Ramu and Lakshmi are siblings. Ramu used to... |
Telugu | Film by K. V. Reddy | |
| 1956 | Melukolupu | Telugu | |
| Muddu Bidda Muddu Bidda Muddu Bidda is a 1956 Telugu Drama film directed and produced by K. B. Tilak. It is debut film for Tilak under the banner Anupama Films.It is remade into Hindi language as Chhoti Bahu in 1971 directed by K. B. Tilak himself.-Cast:... |
Telugu | Film by K. B. Tilak K. B. Tilak K. B. Tilak is a Indian independence activist, film director and producer. His complete name is Korlipara Balagangadhara Tilak.-Early life:... |
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| Penki Pellam | Telugu | ||
| 1957 | Bhagya Rekha Bhagya Rekha Bhagya Rekha or Bhagyarekha is a 1957 Telugu film directed by B. N. Reddi and produced by Ponnaluri brothers.The popular Devotional song Neevundeda Kondapai Naasaami Nenundedee Nelapai by P. Susheela is in this film... |
Telugu | |
| M.L.A. M.L.A. (film) M.L.A. is a sociopolitical Telugu film directed and produced by K. B. Tilak.-Cast:*Kongara Jaggayya ... Dasu*Savitri ... Nirmala*Gummadi Venkateswara Rao ... Damodaram*J. V... |
Telugu | Film by K. B. Tilak K. B. Tilak K. B. Tilak is a Indian independence activist, film director and producer. His complete name is Korlipara Balagangadhara Tilak.-Early life:... |
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| Saubhagyavati | Telugu | ||
| 1958 | Atha Okinti Kodale | Telugu | |
| Ganga Gauri Samvadam | Telugu | ||
| Shri Krishna Garadi | Kannada | ||
| Shri Krishna Garadi | Telugu | ||
| 1959 | Jayabheri Jayabheri Jayabheri is a 1959 Telugu musical hit film directed by P. Pullaiah and starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi in lead roles. The film is based on the 1947 production by V. Shantaram, titled Lokshahir Ram Joshi in Marathi and Matwala Shayar Ram Joshi in Hindi.-The plot:The story setting... |
Telugu | Musical film Musical film The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate... |
| 1960 | Bhakta Shabari | Telugu, Tamil and Kannada | |
| Bhatti Vikramarka Bhatti Vikramarka Bhatti Vikramarka is a 1960 Telugu film directed by Jampana Chandrasekhara Rao and produced by Polisetty Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Murthy. It is a commercial hit film ran for 100-days.-The plot:... |
Telugu | ||
| Mahakavi Kalidasu Mahakavi Kalidasu Mahakavi Kalidasu is a 1960 Telugu Biographical film based on the life of the great Sanskrit poet Kalidas. It is directed by Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao. Akkineni Nageswara Rao played the role of Kalidas. Some poems of Kalidas including Shyamala dandakam by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao is... |
Telugu | Film by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao | |
| Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam is a 1960 Magnum opus Telugu Musical film produced and directed by P. Pullaiah and starring N. T. Rama Rao. The story is based on the story of Lord Venkateswara .-The Story:Evil forces dominates the world... |
Telugu | Silver Jubilee Silver Jubilee A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark... Musical film Musical film The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate... |
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| 1961 | Jagadeka Veeruni Katha Jagadeka Veeruni Katha Jagadeka Veeruni Katha is a 1961 Telugu Drama film directed and produced by Kadiri Venkata Reddy under the banner of Vijaya Pictures. It is subsequently dubbed into Tamil language entitled Jagathala Prathapan and Kannada, Bengali, Oriya and Hindi languages.It is a Musical film with music score... |
Telugu | Film by K. V. Reddy |
| Krishna Prema | Telugu | ||
| Vagdanam Vagdanam Vagdanam is a 1961 Telugu Drama film written, produced and directed by famous writer Acharya Atreya. The story is loosely based on the Novel Datta by Bengali writer Saratchandra Chatterjee.... |
Telugu | Film by Aathreya Aathreya Aacharya Aathreya born Kilambi Venkata Narasimhacharyulu was a versatile playwright, lyric writer and story writer in Telugu cinema.-Life:... |
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| 1962 | Chitti Tammudu Chitti Tammudu Chitti Tammudu is a 1962 Telugu Drama film directed by K. B. Tilak.The film is based on the English novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.-The plot:... |
Telugu | Film based on Oliver Twist Oliver Twist Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, published by Richard Bentley in 1838. The story is about an orphan Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to... |
| Mahamantri Timmarusu Mahamantri Timmarusu (film) Mahamantri Timmarusu is a 1962 Telugu historical film directed by Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao. Versatile character actor Gummadi Venkateswara Rao played the key role, while N.T. Rama Rao the role of Krishnadevaraya.-The Plot:... |
Telugu | Film by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao | |
| Kula Gothralu Kula Gothralu Kula Gothralu or Kulagothralu is a 1962 Telugu Drama film directed by Kotayya Pratyagatma and produced by Anumolu Venkata Subba Rao under Prasad Art Pictures.It is a musical hit with music score composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao... |
Telugu | ||
| 1963 | Anuragam | Telugu | |
| Paruvu Prathishta | Telugu | ||
| Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham is a 1962 film in Telugu and Tamil languages directed by Kadiri Venkata Reddy. It stars N. T... |
Telugu | Film by K. V. Reddy | |
| Karna Karna Karna or Radheya is one of the central characters in the epic Mahābhārata, from ancient India. He was the King of Anga... |
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| Karnan Kärnan Kärnan is a medieval tower in Helsingborg, Scania, in southern Sweden. It is the only part remaining of a larger Danish fortress which, along with the fortress Kronborg on the opposite of Oresund, controlled the entranceway to the Baltic Sea.-History:... |
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| 1964 | Ramudu Bheemudu Ramudu Bheemudu Ramudu Bheemudu is a 1964 Telugu film directed by Tapi Chanakya. It was the first movie of D. Rama Naidu as a producer. N.T. Rama Rao played the dual role as "Ramudu" and "Bheemudu". It was remade into Tamil as Enga Veettu Pillai With M. G... |
Telugu | Film by Suresh Productions Suresh Productions Suresh Productions is a film production company founded by Dr. D. Ramanaidu. The production house of the company is Ramanaidu Studios which is located at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. Suresh Productions, is one of India’s largest film production companies with over 50 years of contribution to... |
| Velugu Needalu Velugu Needalu Velugu Needalu is a 1961 Telugu film directed by Adurthi Subba Rao and produced by Dukkipati Madhusudhana Rao of Annapurna Pictures. Tamil version of the film was called Tuya Ulam.-The plot:... |
Telugu | Film by Adurthi Subba Rao Adurthi Subba Rao Adurthi Subba Rao is a prominent old-time director of Telugu & Hindi Films. He also produced few films.-Early life:... |
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| 1965 | Prachanda Bhairavi | Telugu | |
| Satya Harishchandra Satya Harishchandra (Telugu film) Satya Harishchandra is a Telugu mythological film, based on the story of Raja Harishchandra who was renowned for upholding truth under any circumstance. Mahatma Gandhi's life was very much influenced by Raja Satya Harishchandra stories... |
Kannada | ||
| Satya Harishchandra Satya Harishchandra (Telugu film) Satya Harishchandra is a Telugu mythological film, based on the story of Raja Harishchandra who was renowned for upholding truth under any circumstance. Mahatma Gandhi's life was very much influenced by Raja Satya Harishchandra stories... |
Telugu | Film by K. V. Reddy | |
| Uyyala Jampala | Telugu | ||
| 1966 | Shri Krishna Tulabharam | Telugu | |
| Sri Srikakula Andhra Mahavishnuvu Katha | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Bandipotu Dongalu Bandipotu Dongalu Bandipotu Dongalu is a 1968 Telugu Drama film written and directed by K. S. Prakash Rao. The film is starring S. V. Ranga Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Kongara Jaggayya in key roles. It is also a Musical film with some Melodious songs rendered by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao... |
Telugu | |
| Bhagyachakram | Telugu | ||
| Gramadevathalu | Telugu | ||
| Papakosam | Telugu | ||
| Umachandi Gauri Shankarula Katha | Telugu | ||
| 1970 | Maa Nanna Nirdoshi | Telugu | |
| Manasu Mangalyam | Telugu | ||
| Shri Krishna Vijayam | Telugu | ||
| 1971 | Anand Nilayam | Telugu | |
| Naa Thammudu | Telugu | ||
| Sri Krishna Satya Sri Krishna Satya -Cast:* Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao ... Lord Rama, Ravana and Lord Krishna* J. Jayalalitha ... Chandra Sena and Satyabahama* Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao ... Narada* S. V. Ranga Rao .... Myravana, Duryodhana... |
Telugu | Film by K. V. Reddy | |
| 1972 | Mathru Murthi | Telugu | |
| 1974 | Bhoomikosam | Telugu | |
| Deeksha | Telugu | ||
| Kode Naagu | Telugu | ||
| 1976 | Shri Rajeshwari Vilas Coffee Club | Telugu | |
| Suprabhatam Suprabhatam Suprabhātam , literally auspicious dawn is a Sanskrit poem of the Suprabhātakāvya genre. It is a collection of hymns or verses recited early morning to awaken the deity in Hinduism. The metre chosen for a Suprabhātam poem is usually Vasantatilakā.... |
Telugu | ||
| 1977 | Daana Veera Soora Karna Daana Veera Soora Karna Daana Veera Soora Karna is a 1977 Telugu Hindu movie produced and directed by N. T. Rama Rao. He played three pivotal roles Karna, Duryodhana, and Krishna. One of his sons, Balakrishna played a short role of Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna, who in the later years became one of the popular movie actors... |
Telugu | Film by N. T. Rama Rao N. T. Rama Rao Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao , also known as NTR and fondly referred to as Anna Garu, was an Indian film actor, director, producer, and a politician... |
| Chanakya Chandragupta Chanakya Chandragupta -Cast:-Soundtrack:* Chirunavvula Tholakarilo Sirimallela Chinukulalo * Evaro Aa Chandrudevaro Aa Veera Chandrudu Evaro... |
Telugu | ||
| 1978 | Shri Rama Pattabhishekham | Telugu | |
| 1979 | Priya Bandhavi | Telugu | |
| Shri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam | Telugu |