'''Venkateswara Rao Ghantasala (1923-74)'''''''''


Telugu and Tamil composer and also singer. Legendary name in popular Telugu music who sang over 10,000 songs in his career, and composed, apparently, for over 125 films. Born in Chautapelle, Gudivada Taluk, AP, the son of a musician. Orphaned as a child. Child actor, in near slavery conditions, in plays like Chintamani and Sant Sakkubai. Apprenticed to the school of Susarlu Krishna Brahma Sastry; graduated from the music school at Vijayanagar while earning a living as an itinerant singer and beggar. Received the title of Vidwan in 1941. Was arrested and imprisoned in the Alipore jail for singing patriotic songs during Gandhi’s Satyagraha agitations (1942). Went to Madras (1945); cast in small film roles, e.g. [[Balaramaiah]]’s Seeta Rama Jananam (1942) and [[Thyagayya]] (1946), while occasionally recording for AIR. Broke through in [[Swargaseema]] (1945), singing duets with [[Bhanumati]] to [[Nagaiah]]’s score. Turned composer for [[L.V. Prasad]]’s [[Mana Desam]]. Known mainly for love duets (recently released on cassette by HMV, titled Divyaprema). Combined native idioms with classical Carnatic styles, e.g. in compositions for Chiranjeevulu and Rahasyam, set to the lyrics of Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry. His work in these two films was, to V.A.K. Ranga Rao, his best film work although both films flopped. Also produced Paropakaram (1953). Made a rare screen appearance in the hit [[Shri Venkateswara Mahatyam]] (1960).


'''FILMOGRAPHY''' (* act only): 1949: Mana Desam; Keelugurram/Maya Kudhirai; 1950: Shavukaru; Lakshmamma; 1951: Nirdoshi/Niraparadhi; Patala Bhairavi; 1952: Palletooru; Pelli Chesi Choodu; 1953: Chandraharam; Paropakaram; Bratuku Theruvu; 1955: Kalvanin Kadhali; 1956: Chiranjeevulu; 1957: Maya Bazaar; Thodi Kodallu; Vinayaka Chaviti; 1958: Manchi Manushuku Manchi Roju; 1959: Shabash Ramudu; 1960: Shantinivasam; Shri Venkateswara Mahatyam*; 1961: Raktha Sambandham; 1962: Gundamma Katha; 1963: Lavakusa; Veera Kesari/Bandhipotu; Valmiki; Paruvu Pratishthalu; Anuragam; 1964: Satyanarayana Mahatyam; 1965: Simhachala Kshetram; Pandava Vanavasam; Madhuve Madi Nodu; CID; 1966: Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha; 1967: Peddakayya; Rahasyam; Punyavati; Nirdoshi; 1968: Veerapooja; Govula Gopanna; Pantalu Pattimpulu; 1969: Jarigina Katha; 1970: Nanna Thamma; 1971: Ramalayam; 1972: Menakodalu; Vamsodharakudu; 1973: Poola Mala; 1974: Ammayi Pelli; Tulasi; 1977: Sati Savitri; Vasthade Maa Bava.

[[Music]]