Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao (Telugu: ఘంటసాల వెంకటేశ్వర రావు) (1922–1974) was a popular South Indian singer and music composer of Telugu films and many other languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi. He is the recipient of the Padmashree award, India's fourth highest civilian award. For nearly a quarter of a century, he was the voice of Telugu films. He was one of Telugu cinema's first playback singers. He sang in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi. He composed music for more than 100 movies. He sang the Bhagavad Gita just before his death in 1974, a rendition which became highly popular. On February 11, 2003, a stamp was released in honor of Ghantasala at Telugu Lalita Kala Toranam, Public Gardens, Hyderabad.
| Ghantasala ఘంటసాల వెంకటేశ్వర రావు | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao |
| Also known as | Ghantasala |
| Born | December 4, 1922 Choutapalli, Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Died | 11 February 1974 (aged 52) |
| Genres | Film music (playback singing), Indian classical music |
| Occupations | Singer, composer |
| Instruments | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1942–1974 |
Early life
Ghantasala was born to Soorayya, who was a local singer, in a traditional Telugu Brahmin Niyogi family in 1922. During his childhood, Ghantasala used to dance to his father's Tarangams. He lost his father when he was a child, and was brought up by his maternal uncle Ryali Pitchi Ramaiah. He took formal music training from Patrayani Sitarama Sastry, also known as Saluru China Guruvu Garu, and he joined Maharajah's Government College of Music and Dance in Vijayanagram without informing his family. He went through a number of hardships to learn music and went on to become a "Sangeeta Vidhwan".
The Illustrious Career of 3 decades
Ghantasala participated in the Quit India Movement of 1942, for which he was arrested and imprisoned for 18 months at the Alipore (Allipura) Jail, Bellary. After coming out of jail, he met "Senior Samudrala", who advised him to try his luck in the film industry as a singer. Upon release from prison, he got married to Savitri of Pedapulivarru. It was in this village that he met Samudrala Raghavacharya, who inducted him into the film industry in Madras.Before Ghantasala found himself in the spotlight of public attention, through the media of films and gramophone records, he was an accomplished singer with impeccable training in Carnatic music.
Ghantasala got his first break as a singer from All India Radio. Later on, Peketi Siva Ram from HMV studios recorded his private songs. Ghantasala debuted as a chorus singer and for a character role in Seeta Rama Jananam by Pratibha Films. After this, he worked with famous music directors like Gali Penchala and C. R. Subbaraman. His first movie as a music director was Laxmamma. He introduced the technique of changing the voice pitch and diction to suit the actor singing the songs on the screen. People were so enamoured by this that they started imagining the actor singing on the screen. He was considered a master of padyam renderings, a unique genre in the Telugu films.
His way with the Telugu padyam (verse) was incomparable. Padyam was a part of the performing arts of Andhra, mostly through mythological dramas, for 50 years. The intent was primarily musical- with what intricate curlicues, what breath control the singer managed being more important than characterisation or serving the needs of the moment in the play. Ghantasala changed all this with his sophisticated interpretation (not on stage but on 78 rpm gramophone records) of the author's intent, the character's intent, the character's turmoil being at once musical and accessible. These verses were rendered without tala (rhythm) as before but he generally had a short, metrical musical interlude doing what background music does in films, setting the stage and emphasising the mental stage of the character. Poets Karunasri and Jashuva enjoyed great regard amongst the literatteurs, but it was Ghantasala who rendered their songs and introduced their work to the man on the street.Long before singers got on to the TTD/Annamacharya bandwagon, Ghantasala recorded at least a dozen sides singing the praise of Venkateswara (not through Annamayya though, only the US LP had Kolani dopariki, alas the pallavi wrongly split!) Ashtapadi-s on a Super Seven disc, Bhagavad Gita on an LP were the other assets he created.
Producer Krishnaveni gave him first chance as full music director for her film Mana Desam, which incidentally was N. T. Rama Rao's first film & which established him once for all as a composer-cum-singer, the most prolific till the mid seventies in Telugu cinema.
He later composed music for many popular Telugu movies like Patala Bhairavi, Gundamma Katha, Paramanandayya Shishyula Katha, Pelli Chesi Chudu, Mayabazar and Lava Kusa. He lent his voice to many popular heroes of the Telugu film industry at that time and has sung over 10,000 songs in Telugu, Tamil & kannada films.
He also served as the Aaasthana Gaayaka (court musician) for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. The famous & much acclaimed renderings of Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao include private albums, like Bhagawad Gita, Patriotic Songs, Padyalu (a unique genre of Telugu - singing the verses in dramatic style), Pushpa Vilapam and folk songs. His recording of "Bhagawad Gita" can now be heard daily in the Tirumala temple.
Gifted with what V. A. K. Ranga Rao called "the most majestic voice", he helped Telugu film music develop its own distinct character. He won the "best singer award" in the Telugu film industry every year for three decades, a feat perhaps unachieved by any other playback singer.
He has given performances in America, England, and Germany, and had the distinction of performing for the United Nations Organisation. The government of Andhra Pradesh felicitated him on the occasion of 25 years of his film career as Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Ghantasala in Hyderabad on February 1, 1970. More than 30,000 people attended the function celebrated at the Lal Bahadur Stadium, Hyderabad.
His illustrious & successful career came to end on 11 February 1974, the day he passed away.
On the occasion of function for stamp release in his name on 11 February 2003, "The Hindu" carried a article showering praise on him as the "Melody king - reigns supreme" & as well highlighting his genius skills - "Ghantasala's blending of classical improvisations to the art of light music combined with his virtuosity and sensitivity puts him a class apart, above all others in the field". Ghantasala has such divine talent, that with his songs, he could move the hearts of the people. Human emotions and music were never in such perfect harmony as was during his reign as playback singer. Even after three decades of his demise, he continues to hold sway over millions of music lovers, crossing generation barriers, with the mellifluous magic spell of his golden voice. Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao strode like a colossus in the Telugu film music world for nearly 30 years and his contribution to Telugu film music remains unparalleled. He is the first movie singer-composer of the South in whose memory a stamp and first day cover was released in 2003.
The Indian express dt. 14 February 1974 paid a glorious tribute to ghantasala on his death stating that : Tributes paid to Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, on his death, praise his "Melodious Voice", but these not only sound inadequate, but also fail to grasp the truth of the matter, since he was "no mere singer" but a "true poet" who could comprehend and did give expression to the deepest feelings of love, pity, joy, suffering, piety, happiness and bitterness in a manner no one else could, or did. One cannot help feeling that it would have been hardly possible for him to sing on all those varied themes with such intensity of fervor and likeness to reality, and precision in apprehension, had he not himself lived and experienced these basic emotions inwardly, in as great a manner as any of the great poets ever had.
The Legendary Ghantasala continues to be as popular as ever. His statutes have been installed across Andhra Pradesh. No other cine/film singer enjoys such honour. Every year his birth/death anniversaries are celebrated with great importance, in Andhra pradesh, India as well as overseas countries
Various Awards after his name are given every year to various musical artists viz., "Ghantasala melody king award" - Popular artists who are recipients of this award include K J Yesudas, Playback singer ; P Suseela, playback singer, Indian Idol Sri Ramachandra etc.
Ghantasala Arts Academy has instituted the "Ghantasala National Award" and the first award was given to S P Balasubrahmanyam, playback singer
Personal life
Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao was married to Savithri. Ghantasala had FIVE children: TWO sons (Vijaya Kumar, Ratna Kumar) and 3 daughters (Shyamala, Suguna and Shanti).
Filmography
Playback singer and music director
Alibaba 40 Dongalu, 1970
Thalli Thandrulu, 1970
Rahasyam, 1967
Paramanandayya Shishyula Katha, 1966
C.I.D., 1965
Gudi Gantalu, 1965
Pandava Vanavasam, 1965
Veera Kesari, 1963
Lavakusa, 1963
Raktha Sambandham, 1962
Gundamma Katha, 1962
Sati Sulochana, 1961
Sabash Raja, 1961
Bhakta Raghunath, 1960
Deepavali, 1960
Shantinivasam, 1960
Pelli Sandadi, 1959
Sabhash Ramudu 1959
Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu, 1958
Pelli Naati Pramanalu, 1958
Mayabazar, 1957
Bhale Bava, 1957
Sarangadhara, 1957
Vinayaka Chaviti, 1957
Chiranjeevulu, 1956
Jayam Manade, 1956
Kanakatara, 1956
Kanyasulkam, 1955
Vadina Gari Gajulu, 1955
Chandraharam, 1954
Bratuku Theruvu, 1953
Palletooru, 1952
Pelli Chesi Choodu, 1952
Patala Bhairavi, 1951
Nirdoshi, 1951
Shavukaru, 1950
Vali Sugriva, 1950
Mana Desam, 1949
Keelugurram, 1949
Playback singer
Devadasu
Atmabalam
Bangaru Babu (1973)
Bhakta Tukaram (1973)
Badi Panthulu (1972)
Jeevitha Chakram (1971)
Prem Nagar (1971)
Bandhavyalu (1968)
Manchi Kutumbam (1965)
Sri Simhachala Kshetra Mahima (1965)
Dr. Chakravarthi (1964)
Devatha (1964)
Mooga Manasulu (1963)
Aradhana (1962)
Bhishma (1962)
Manchi Manasulu (1962)
Bhakta Jayadeva (1961)
Iddaru Mitrulu (1961)
Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961)
Mahakavi Kalidasu (1960)
Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960)
Illarikam (1959)
Jayabheri (1959)
Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1958)
Panduranga Mahatyam (1957)
Thodi Kodallu (1957)
Kanyasulkam (1955)
Donga Ramudu (1955)
Private albums
Pushpa Vilapam
Patriotic Songs
Bhagawad Gita
Devotional Songs
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