Praveen D Rao is a noted Indian Music director and a lyricist for Kannada

Kannada language

Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...

 language Songs with an International Reputation based in Bangalore

Bangalore

Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...

, Karnataka

Karnataka

Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. He is also a multi-instrumentalist. He plays Keyboard, Tabla and many more instruments. He was trained by Pt. R. V. Sheshadri Gavai of Aravinda Sangeetha and Tabla Maestro Pandit Ravindra Yavagal. Praveen has composed music for many theatre works, ballet, films, television and various Jingles.

Music Direction

Some of his serials are:

• SANGHATANE - directed by veteran film director Sri Bhargava
• 67 HARRIS ROAD
• VASANTHA GAANA
• NIGHUDA JAGATTHU - directed by Sri Amardev
• SRI RAMAKRISHNA PARAMAHAMSA - directed by Sri Praveen Nayak
• CHANDAMAMA CHAKKULIMAMA
• CHANDRABIMBA
• SAHANA
• BELADINGALAGI BAA
• LAALI - directed by Sri A.G. Sheshadri
• ASARE
• ANTHARAGANGE
• SANJE MALLIGE
• MUKTHA (telefilm) - directed by Srinivas Prabhu
• ARDHASATHYA
• GODHULI
• TULASI - directed by Sunil Kumar Singh
•KAPINIPATI
• VENKATA RAMANA GOVINDA
• BADUKU - for Nagendra Shah
• SEETE - directed by Ashok Kashyap
•GUPTAGAAMINI - directed by Ramesh Kumar
• RED BOX
• MAATAGAATHI
• SANTHELI MANE
• AADIMANASSILLADA MARGA
•KACHERI KANDA
• TUNTURU
• ANKURA
• SHIKARA
• SHIVA LEELAAMRUTHA
• SHIVA CHARITHAAMRUTHA
• GANGOTRI
• LAKUMI
•GAALIPATA
• KALYANA REKHE
• BOMBEYAATAVAYYA

Some of his films are:

• Z - for Praveen Nayak
• SUMANGALI - A.G.Seshadri
• NANAGE NEENU NINAGE NAANU -for Anitha Subramanya
• STUMBLE - for Prakash Belawadi.(won the National Award for Best English Feature Film of the year 2002)
• KANAKAMBARI - for Dinesh Babu
• CHITRA VICHITRA - for Sushma, Akanksha Combines
• Dildaara directed by Amar

Performances

Praveen D. Rao has performed at various National and International music and dance festivals like PATTADAKAL FESTIVAL, NAVARASPUR FESTIVAL, LORD MAYOR'S CULTURAL EVENT 1994 (BIRMINGHAM), WORLD VEERASHAIVA CONFERENCE 1997 (U.S.A.), WORLD KONKANI CONFERENCE 2002(TEXAS), SOORYA FESTIVAL, NISHAGANDHI FESTIVAL etc. He has toured all over India and abroad performing and conducting workshops. CANADA - with Smt. Maya Rao (1992).- with Sampradaya Dance Creations, Toronto(2005)
UNITED KINGDOM - with Chitraleka Dance Company:
• JANAPADA (1993)
• PANCHATANTRA (1994)
• KAISHIKI (1995)
• STORY OF 'C' (2003–2004)
• TEARS OF FIRE (2006)-with Moby Duck Theatre company:
• MAZE MAKER (Mar 2004),
• BOPOLUCHI (Nov 2004),
• FIRE GIRL (Jan 2005),
• BLOODHANDS (Aug 2005)
• GRANNY VAMPIRE (Aug 2006)
U S A - with Smt. Beena Badami (1997).
- with Sri. Puttur Narasimha Nayak (2002)

Lyricist

He has written many songs for albums and has also penned beautiful songs for films.
His recent lyrics for the 'The Guiness World Record' and 'The Limca Book Of Record' movie Police Story 3 (2011 film)

Police Story 3 (2011 film)

Police Story 3 is an Indian Kannada language film starring actor Sudeep in the lead and directed by 6 directors Thriller Manju, Sadhu Kokila, Vasu, J G Krishna, Anand P Raju, Shankar. The music is composed by noted music composer Sagar...

–Manassina Kavyada for Music Director Sagar S's composition was critically acclaimed. He is also penning songs for a few more films.

Other Activities

He is the founder of an event management NGO 'Prakruthi', that believes in working towards a greener INDIA by bringing people out of their self-centric hibernation into its lush green parks. Prakruthi also believes in working towards creating awareness among people about the Kannada literature and the culture of Karnataka through music. The Prakruthi Team organizes musical programs all over the state.

Felicitations and Awards

• ARYABHATTA AWARD - 1998
• ARYABHATTA AWARD - 2000
• ARYABHATTA AWARD - 2010
• SWARAMANDARA AWARD (HOMBALE) - 1998
• SWARAMANDARA AWARD (HOMBALE) - 2000
• G.V.ATHRI AWARD(UPASANA) - 2000
• SILICON JAYCEES AWARD - 2003
• Best music director award for ‘Guptagamini’, an Etv Kannada Tele Serial

Other Works

As a composer, Praveen has created a style of his own in creative music. Over the last fifteen years he has composed scores for theatre, ballet, film and television. Praveen Rao scored the music to noted film maker Sri M. S. Sathyu's short film NAMAK KI KANKARI in the year 1996. As an arranger, he is known for his creativity in fusing Hindusthani music, Carnatic music with western techniques and has arranged background scores for various films for acclaimed music directors like Vid. Lalgudi G.Jayaraman, Vid. L.Vaidyanathan, C.Ashwath etc. He has also had the privilege to work with great theatre personalities like Sri A. S. Murthy, Sri B. V. Karanth, B. Jayashri etc.
Praveen has been involved in the Physical theatre scenario in various capabilities. He has been a musician, composer, actor and also directed loads of plays. He has acted in quite a few daily soaps on Television like Asare, Tulasi, Manvantara, Muktha etc. to name a few.