Upendra Kumar (18 July 1941 – 24 January 2002) was an Indian composer who predominantly worked in Kannada films. He was known for his strong association with Rajkumar and his family and scored some of his career best compositions for the films featuring Rajkumar and his sons. He had scored for 210 films mainly in Kannada, in addition to Odia, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Tulu films.

Early life Kumar originally hailed from Digapahandi, a town in the present-day Odisha State of India. He was born in 1941 in Madras (now Chennai) in British India. His father, Lakshman Swamy was an astrologer. Kumar studied up to seventh Grade and shifted towards music learning with the help of his uncle, Apparao. He underwent rigorous training in Hindustani classical, Western instrumental and Indian string instruments. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Indian classical music, Odissi music and sitar from the Utkala College of Music and Dance. Upon completion of his graduation, he left for Madras looking for opportunities.

Career

Once in Madras, Kumar took music classes in vocals and the sitar. An impressed film director Y. R. Swamy, with his "teaching methodology and his flair for music", signed him to score for his 1966 film Katari Veera, which had Rajkumar playing the lead role. Two tracks from the soundtrack album, "Chengu Chengendu Haaruva" and "Haayaada Ee Sangama" became popular.

Songs from films for which he scored that became popular included Sipayi Ramu (1972), Premada Kanike (1976), Shankar Guru (1978), Dharmasere (1979), Ravichandra (1980), Kaamana Billu (1983), Ratha Sapthami (1986), Nanjundi Kalyana (1989), Hrudaya Haadithu (1991), and Jeevana Chaitra (1992). Kumar frequently collaborated with Rajkumar who playback-sung many songs for films that mostly starred himself, and picturised on him. Popular numbers of this combination included "Chinna Baalalli", "Love Me or Hate Me" and "Cheluveya Nota Chenna" from Shankar Guru, "Idhu Rama Mandira" from Ravichandra, "Indu Aananda" from Kaamana Billu, "Lakshmi Baaramma" and "Manavanaagi Huttidamele" from Jeevana Chaitra, "Naliyuthaa" from Hrudaya Haadithu and "Saptapadi Idu Saptapadi" from Saptapadi (1992). Other collaborations included with singers C. Aswath ("Negilahidida" from Kaamana Billu), Manjula Gururaj ("Olage Seridare Gundu" from Nanjundi Kalyana) and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, who also sang many non-film devotional songs composed by Kumar. "Naadamaya" from Jeevana Chaitra fetched Rajkumar the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. Lyrics for most tracks of the Upendra Kumar–Rajkumar combination were written by Chi. Udayashankar.

The mandolin and the sitar were prominently used in Kumar's instrumentation, and he was particularly fond of Kafi raga with melodies deriving from that scale. "Idu Yaaru Bareda Katheyo" from Premada Kanike was based on this raga.

Kumar won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director three times (for Nanjundi Kalyana, Hrudaya Haadithu and Jeevana Chaitra) before he stopped composing for films in the mid- to late-1990s. His health deteriorated during this time and died in 2002 with the Kannada film Vishwamithra (2001) being his last work. Srikanth Srinivasa of Deccan Herald, in a tribute, wrote of Kumar's last days, "With the advent of new wave music directors, Upendra Kumar was relegated to the background and found himself out of work and forgotten by the Kannada film industry. Besides, he has scored music for Dharma Devathe which was released recently. He has also scored music for Dr Rajkumar's private devotional albums."

Work in Odia films Alongside Kannada, Kumar notably worked also in Odia films and scored for more than 25 films. They included Dharitri (1972), Mana Akasha (1974), Punarmilana (1977),"Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja"(1978) and Alibha Daga (1980). His music became very popular in Odisha. A book titled Sajala Smruti was released in 2009 in memory of Kumar's work in Odia films.

Personal life Kumar was married to singer H. P. Geetha, sister of Kannada film actress H. P. Saroja.

Death Upendra Kumar died on 24 January 2002 of jaundice in Bangalore, aged 60.

Awards 1990 – Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director – Nanjundi Kalyana 1992 – Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director – Hrudaya Haadithu 1993 – Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director – Jeevana Chaitra

Discography

Kannada Year Film title Notes 1966 Katari Veera Debut film as a composer 1967 Muddu Meena 1969 Ade Hrudaya Ade Mamathe Chowkada Deepa 1970 Hasiru Thorana Namma Mane Paropakari 1971 Hennu Honnu Mannu 1972 Sipayi Ramu 1973 Thriveni 1975 Namma Oora Devaru Nanjunda Nakkaga Aashirvada 1976 Premada Kanike 1978 Shankar Guru Suli Aathma Shakthi 1979 Mangala Dharmasere 1980 Ravichandra Hrudaya Deepa Manjina There Nyaya Neethi Dharma 1981 Prachanda Putanigalu Maha Prachandaru Shreeman 1982 Andada Aramane Mareyalagada Kathe Praya Praya Praya 1983 Kaamana Billu Gandharvagiri 1984 Onti Dhwani Hennina Sowbhagya Apoorva Sangama Ayyappa Sharanu 1985 Nee Nakkaga Pavithra Papi Dhruva Thare Thulasidala 1986 Anuraga Aralithu Aparadhi Nanalla Ratha Sapthami 1987 Manamecchida Hudugi 1988 Devatha Manushya Chiranjeevi Sudhakara 1989 Kalabhimani Nanjundi Kalyana Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director Bala Hombale Deva Gajapathi Garvabhanga 1990 Ranabheri Aasegobba Meesegobba Rudra Tandava Pundara Ganda Swarna Samsara Mruthyunjaya Challenge Gopalakrishna Bhale Chatura Raja Kempu Roja Anukoolakkobba Ganda Ivalentha Hendthi 1991 Lion Jagapathi Rao Prema Pareekshe Hrudaya Haadithu Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director Aralida Hoovugalu Golmaal Part 2 Kitturina Huli Thavarumane Udugore C. B. I. Shiva Rollcall Radhakrishna Readymade Ganda Gandu Sidigundu Kalla Malla Halli Rambhe Belli Bombe Kalyana Mantapa Gruhapravesha Mathru Bhagya Kollur Kala 1992 Banni Ondsala Nodi Bombat Hendthi Amara Prema Midida Shruthi Hendtheere Hushar Belli Modagalu Sindhoora Thilaka Goonda Rajya Sapthapadi Ravivarma Kanasina Rani Jeevana Chaitra Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director Roshagara Mana Mecchida Sose Bharjari Gandu Gharshane 1993 Olavina Kanike Chikki Chandrama Dharmapeeta Bhagawan Sri Saibaba Navibbaru Namagibbaru 1994 Odahuttidavaru Apoorva Samsara Mandyada Gandu Sagara Deepa Hettha Karulu 1995 Shravana Sanje Thumbida Mane Mana Midiyithu 1996 Rambo Raja Revolver Rani Samayakkondu Sullu Muddina Sose Rambha Rajyadalli Rowdy 1997 Gandede Bhaira Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda 1998 Vajra 2002 Dharma Devathe Vishwamithra

Odia Manika Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Samarpana Pipasha Kula Chandrama Ae Nuhen Kahani Mana Akasha Dharithri Alibha Daga Parivara Palataka Pati Patni Punar Milana

See also Rajkumar G. K. Venkatesh Vijaya Bhaskar M. Ranga Rao Manjula Gururaj

References

External links