Saluri Rajeswara Rao (11 October 1922 – 25 October 1999) was an Indian composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and music producer, known for his work in Telugu cinema.M. L. Narasimham, "Trend-setter in Light Music" The Hindu, 12 March 1993. Rajeswara Rao is noted for integrating Indian classical music into Telugu cinema for over five decades. His innovative compositions and mastery of classical and folk music earned him widespread recognition.
Early life Rajeswara Rao was born in 1922 in the village of Sivaramapuram near Salur in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh. His father, Sanyasi Raju, was a mrudangam player in the troupe of the renowned violinist Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu. Rajeswara Rao was recognized as a child prodigy and began performing on stage at the age of four. Under his father's guidance, he trained with Venkataswamy Naidu in tabla and harmonium.
Career Rajeswara Rao's career in cinema began in 1934 when recording technician Mr. Hutchins discovered him and took him to Bangalore to record the "Bhagavad Gita". He later traveled to Calcutta and was cast as Lord Krishna in the Telugu film Sri Krishna Leelalu (1935). Subsequently, he did films like Keechaka Vadha and Uttara Gograhanam and met musical legends such as Kundan Lal Saigal and Pankaj Mullick, from whom he learned Hindustani music.
Rajeswara Rao's first role as a music director came with the film Jayaprada (1939). He went on to score music for a number of successful films in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. Some of his notable films include Malliswari (1951), Missamma (1955), and Chandralekha (1948). He was known for his use of Indian classical ragas and experimentation with foreign musical styles, including Western, Persian, and Arabic influences.
Rajeswara Rao was associated with Gemini Studios in the 1940s and composed music for many of their major films. He is credited with helping popularize light music in Telugu cinema. He was also known for his collaborations with directors like B. N. Reddy and Vijaya Productions.
Musical style Rajeswara Rao's compositions were known for their classical underpinnings, particularly his use of ragas such as "Mohanam", "Abheri", "Kalyani", and "Sindhu Bhairavi". He blended Indian classical music with other styles, creating scores that captured a wide range of emotions. His works in films like Kurukshetram (1977) and Tandra Paparayudu (1986) demonstrated his mastery over classical compositions. He was also among the first to incorporate Persian musical elements in Indian film scores.
Personal life Rajeswara Rao was married to Rajeswari Devi, with whom he had five sons and four daughters. His sons, Saluri Ramalingeswara Rao, Saluri Poornachandra Rao, Saluri Vasu Rao, and Saluri Koteswara Rao (Koti), followed in his footsteps as musicians in the Telugu film industry. His elder brother, Saluri Hanumantha Rao, was also a music director in Kannada and Telugu cinema.
Filmography Year Film Language Director Notes 1935 Sri Krishna Leelalu Telugu Ch. Narasimha Rao Actor 1936 Maya Bazar Telugu P. V. Das Actor 1939 Jayaprada Telugu Ch. Narasimha Rao Actor and Music director 1940 Illalu Telugu Gudavalli Ramabrahmam Actor and Music director 1940 Jeevanmukti Telugu T. V. Neelakantan 1941 Apavadu Telugu Gudavalli Ramabrahmam 1941 Kamadhenu Tamil Nandalal Jaswantalal with T. A. Kalyanam 1941 Madana Kama Rajan Tamil B. N. Rao with M. D. Parthasarathy 1942 Bala Nagamma Telugu C. Pullaiah with M. D. Parthasarathy 1942 Bhaktha Naradar Tamil S. Soundararajan Background Score 1942 Nandanar Tamil Murugadasa with M. D. Parthasarathy 1942 Santha Bala Nagamma Telugu S. V. S. Rama Rao 1943 Chenchu Lakshmi Telugu S. Soundararajan 1943 Dhaasippen Tamil Ellis R. Dungan with Lalitha Venkatraman 1943 Mangamma Sabatham Tamil Acharya with M. D. Parthasarathy 1944 Dasi Aparanji Tamil B. N. Rao with M. D. Parthasarathy 1944 Bhishma Telugu Ch. Narayana Murthy 1945 Paduka Pattabhishekam Telugu K. B. Nagabhushanam 1947 Miss Malini Tamil Kothamangalam Subbu with Parur S. Anantharaman 1948 Chandralekha Hindi S. S. Vasan with M. D. Parthasarathy 1948 Chandralekha Tamil S. S. Vasan with M. D. Parthasarathy 1948 Vindya Rani Telugu C. Pullayya with Emani Sankara Sastry 1949 Apoorva Sagodharargal Tamil Acharya with M. D. Parthasarathy & R. Vaidyanathan 1949 Nishaan Hindi Acharya with M. D. Parthasarathy & R. Vaidyanathan 1950 Apoorva Sahodarulu Telugu Acharya with M. D. Parthasarathy & R. Vaidyanathan 1950 Aahuti Telugu R. S. Junnarkar 1950 Vali Sugreeva Telugu Jampana Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao, Master Venu, Ghantasala & Pendyala Nageswara Rao 1951 Malliswari Telugu B. N. Reddy 1951 Mantra Dandam Telugu K. S. Ramachandra Rao Background Score 1952 Priyuralu Telugu Gopichand with Addepalli Rama Rao 1953 Manam Pola Mangalyam Tamil P. Pullayya 1953 Pempudu Koduku Telugu L. V. Prasad 1953 Vayyari Bhama Telugu P. Subba Rao 1953 Vazha Pirandhaval Tamil T. R. Ramanna with G. Ramanathan 1954 Raju Peda Telugu B. A. Subba Rao 1954 Vipra Narayana Telugu P. S. Ramakrishna Rao 1955 Missamma Telugu L. V. Prasad 1955 Missiamma Tamil L. V. Prasad 1954 Vipra Narayana Tamil P. S. Ramakrishna Rao 1956 Balasanyasamma Katha Telugu P. Subba Rao 1956 Bhale Ramudu Telugu Vedantam Raghavayya 1956 Prema Pasam Tamil Vedantam Raghavayya 1956 Charana Daasi Telugu T. Prakash Rao 1956 Mathar Kula Manickam Tamil T. Prakash Rao 1957 Alladin Ka Chirag Hindi T. R. Raghunath with S. Hanumantha Rao 1957 Allauddin Adhbhuta Deepam Telugu T. R. Raghunath with S. Hanumantha Rao 1957 Allavudeenum Arputha Vilakkum Tamil T. R. Raghunath with S. Hanumantha Rao 1957 Bhale Ammayilu Telugu Vedantam Raghavayya with S. Hanumantha Rao 1957 Iru Sagodharigal Tamil Vedantam Raghavayya 1957 Sati Savitri Telugu K. B. Nagabhushanam M. Balamuralikrishna, Mallik, P. Suribabu, Babu Rao, J. Lakshminarayana, H. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Master Venu 1957 Sathiyavan Savithri Tamil K. B. Nagabhushanam with Babu Rao 1958 Aada Pettanam Telugu Adurthi Subba Rao with Master Venu 1958 Chenchu Lakshmi Tamil B. A. Subba Rao 1958 Chenchu Lakshmi Telugu B. A. Subba Rao 1958 Kadan Vaangi Kalyaanam Tamil L. V. Prasad 1958 Paanai Pidithaval Bhaagyasaali Tamil T. S. Durairaj with S. V. Venkatraman 1959 Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu Telugu L. V. Prasad 1959 Aval Yaar Tamil K. J. Mahadevan 1959 Illali Adrustame Intiki Bhagyamu Telugu T. S. Durairaj with S. V. Venkatraman & Jeevan 1960 Nammina Bantu Telugu Adurthi Subba Rao with Master Venu 1960 Pattaliyin Vetri Tamil Adurthi Subba Rao with Master Venu 1960 Petra Manam Tamil A. Bhimsingh 1960 Rani Ratnaprabha Telugu B. A. Subba Rao 1961 Bhakta Jayadeva Telugu P. V. Rama Rao 1961 Iddaru Mitrulu Telugu Adurthi Subba Rao 1961 Bharya Bharthalu Telugu K. Pratyagatma 1962 Aradhana Telugu V. Madhusudhana Rao 1962 Vikramaadhithan Tamil T. R. Raghunath & N. S. Ramadas 1962 Bhishma Telugu B. A. Subba Rao 1962 Kula Gothralu Telugu K. Pratyagatma 1962 Pathi Gowravame Sathikanandam Telugu K. J. Mahadevan 1963 Chaduvukunna Ammayilu Telugu Adurthi Subba Rao 1964 Amara Shilpi Jakkanna Telugu B. S. Ranga 1964 Amarashilpi Jakanachari Kannada B. S. Ranga 1964 Bobbili Yuddham Telugu C. Seetaram 1964 Desa Drohulu Telugu Bolla Subba Rao 1964 Doctor Chakravarti Telugu Adurthi Subba Rao 1964 Mahiravana Telugu B. A. Subba Rao 1964 Manchi Manishi Telugu K. Pratyagatma with T. Chalapathi Rao 1964 Pooja Phalam Telugu B. N. Reddy 1964 Sirpiyin Selvan Tamil B. S. Ranga 1965 Aatma Gowravam Telugu K. Viswanath 1965 Dorikithe Dongalu Telugu P. Subrahmanyam 1965 Veera Marthanda Telugu T. R. Raghunath & N. S. Ramadas 1966 Aatma Gowravam Telugu K. Viswanath 1966 Bhakta Potana Telugu Gutha Ramineedu 1966 Bala Nagamma Kannada P. R. Kaundinya 1966 Chilaka Gorinka Telugu K. Pratyagatma 1966 Mohini Bhasmasura Telugu B. A. Subba Rao 1966 Palnati Yudham Telugu Gutha Ramineedu 1966 Rangula Ratnam Telugu B. N. Reddy with B. Gopalam 1966 Sangeeta Lakshmi Telugu Giduturi Suryam 1967 Bhakta Prahlada Tamil Chitrapu Narayana Rao 1967 Bhakta Prahlada Telugu Chitrapu Narayana Rao 1967 Gruhalakshmi Telugu P. S. Ramakrishna Rao 1967 Pula Rangadu Telugu Adurthi Subba Rao 1967 Mulla Kireetam Telugu P. Subramanyam with K. Devadasu 1967 Rakhta Sindhooram Telugu C. Seetharam 1967 Vasantha Sena Telugu B. S. Ranga 1968 Veeranjaneya Telugu Kamalakara Kameswara Rao 1969 Aatmiyulu Telugu V. Madhusudhana Rao 1969 Aadarsa Kutumbam Telugu K. Pratyagatma 1969 Bangaru Panjaram Telugu B. N. Reddy with B. Gopalam 1969 Bhale Basava Kannada B. S. Ranga 1969 Dharma Patni Telugu B. A. Subba Rao 1969 Mamaku Thagga Kodalu Telugu C. S. Rao 1970 Chitti Chellelu Telugu M. Krishnan Nair 1970 Desamante Manushuloyi Telugu C. S. Rao 1970 Jai Jawan Telugu D. Yoganand 1971 Amaayakuraalu Telugu V. Madhusudhana Rao 1971 Bangaru Talli Telugu Tapi Chanakya 1971 Pavitra Bandham Telugu V. Madhusudhana Rao 1971 Ramalayam Telugu K. Babu Rao with Ghantasala 1971 Sri Venkateswara Vaibhavam Telugu Lakshmi Films 1972 Neeti-Nijayiti Telugu Singeetam Srinivasa Rao 1972 Bala Baratham Tamil Kamalakara Kameswara Rao 1972 Bala Bharatha Kannada Kamalakara Kameswara Rao 1972 Bala Bharatam Telugu Kamalakara Kameswara Rao 1972 Bal Mahabharat Hindi Kamalakara Kameswara Rao 1972 Kalam Marindi Telugu K. Viswanath 1973 Mannina Magalu Kannada B. S. Ranga 1973 Neramu Siksha Telugu K. Viswanath 1973 Nindu Kutumbam Telugu Parvataneni Sambasiva Rao 1973 Sri Kanakadurga Mahima Telugu Surati Durga Rao & P. D. Prasad with G. Aswathama 1974 Bangaaru Kalalu Telugu Adurthi Subba Rao 1974 Jeevithaasayam Telugu Kamalakara Kameswara Rao 1974 Jeevitha Rangamu Telugu Lakshmi Films 1974 Nitya Sumangali Telugu B.N.R 1974 Palle Paduchu Telugu K. Satyam 1974 Ram Raheem Telugu B. A. Subba Rao 1974 Tatamma Kala Telugu N. T. Rama Rao 1975 Anna Thammulla Katha Telugu D. S. Prakash Rao 1975 Bharathamlo Oka Ammayi Telugu Dasari Narayana Rao 1975 Challani Thalli Telugu K. S. Rami Reddy 1975 Yashoda Krishna Telugu C. S. Rao 1976 Dasavatharam Tamil K. S. Gopalakrishnan 1976 Dasavatharamulu Telugu K. S. Gopalakrishnan with K. Chakravarthy 1976 Manchiki Maro Peru Telugu C. S. Rao 1976 Manushulanta Okkate Telugu Dasari Narayana Rao 1976 Oka Deepam Veligindhi Telugu Singeetham Srinivasa Rao 1977 Eenati Bandham Yenatido Telugu K. S. R. Doss 1977 Idhekkadi Nyayam Telugu Dasari Narayana Rao 1977 Kurukshetram Telugu Kamalakara Kameswara Rao 1978 Devadasu Malli Puttadu Telugu Dasari Narayana Rao 1978 Prema Paga Telugu B. V. Prasad 1978 Radhakrishna Telugu K. Raghavendra Rao 1978 Sneha Sedu Kannada V. Madhusudhana Rao 1979 Indrudu Chandrudu Telugu T. Krishna with Saluri Babu 1979 Katha Marindi Telugu Madhu 1979 Namala Thathayya Telugu K. Hemambharadhara Rao 1979 Pacha Bottu Telugu B.N.R 1979 Pavitra Prema Telugu D. S. Prakash Rao 1979 Sri Vinayaka Vijayamu Telugu Kamalakara Kameswara Rao 1980 Bapuji Bharatham Telugu Relangi Narasimha Rao 1980 Bommala Koluvu Telugu Kommineni Seshagiri Rao 1980 Chukkallo Chandrudu Telugu C. S. Rao with K. V. Mahadevan 1980 Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu Kannada V. Madhusudhana Rao 1980 Sri Vasavi Kanyakaa Parameswari Mahathyam Telugu Kamalakara Kameswara Rao 1980 Rojulu Marali Telugu Devadas Kanakala 1980 Veedani Bandalu Telugu K. M. Reddy & V. Madhusudhana Rao 1982 Illalu Chulallu Telugu 1982 Mummidivaram Balayogeswara Charitra Telugu Vijayaprakash 1982 Punnami Vennela Telugu P. Subramanyam 1982 Sri Lakshmi Nilayam Telugu T. Krishna with Saluri Babu 1983 Muddula Mogudu Telugu K. S. Prakash Rao 1984 Adarsavanthudu Telugu Kodi Ramakrishna 1986 Tandra Paparayudu Telugu Dasari Narayana Rao 1987 America Abbayi Telugu Singeetam Srinivasa Rao 1991 Lambadolla Ramdasu Telugu K. Babu Rao 1995 Yadagiri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Mahatyam Telugu A. Venugopal with S. Vittal Rao
Awards and honours Rajeswara Rao was the recipient of numerous awards and honours for his contributions to Indian cinema, including: Honorary doctorate Kalaprapoorna from Andhra University in 1979 Asthana Vidwan of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams