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M. Ranga Rao
Background information
Born	(1932-04-26)26 April 1932 Andhra Pradesh
Origin	Andhra Pradesh, India
Died	3 August 1990(1990-08-03) (aged 57) Bangalore, Karnataka
Genres	Film score, Theatre
Occupation(s)	Composer, music director, instrumentalist

M. Ranga Rao (26 April 1932 – 3 August 1990) was a prominent Indian composer who predominantly worked in Kannada cinema. Rao was known for his mellifluous scores and lilting tunes backed with strong classical nuances. "Ranga Rao" composed tunes for approximately 100 films in Kannada cinema.

Personal life

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Early life

Ranga Rao was born in a small village in Andhra Pradesh on 15 October 1932. He learnt the art of playing Veena instrument at a very young age. His inspiration was his mother, Rangamma. He graduated with Diploma in Mechanical Engineering stream.

Family

M. Ranga Rao was married to Syamala Devi and they have two sons and two daughters. His wife, Syamala, died five months after her husband's death in 1991.

Career

Rao entered the film industry as a small-time actor in the films Swarga Seema (1945) and Yogi Vemana (1947). He worked a Veena player in the 1946 released film Tyagayya.

However, he entered the Kannada film industry as a full-fledged composer of the film Nakkare Ade Swarga in 1967. This also marked the beginning of the legendary playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.

Ranga Rao introduced (his relative) Balasubramanyam to Kannada films by offering him a duet song alongside the veteran singer P. Susheela.

Ranga Rao also worked as an assistant music director to veteran ace musician P. Adinarayana Rao for Telugu films 1. Pedda Koduku(1972) directed by K. S. Prakash Rao, and

2. Krishna (Telugu actor) 1974 historical magnanimous hit Alluri Seetarama Raju (film).

Along with composing numerous songs in Kannada, he also composed a few in Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam languages, most of them being the dubbed works of his Kannada songs.

Death

Ranga Rao died of cancer on 2 August 1990, aged 58. He was cremated in a crematorium in Bengaluru. He and his wife are survived by their four children, children-in-law and grandchildren.

Awards

• 1969 – Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director – Hannele Chiguridaga
• 1982 – Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director – Hosa Belaku
• 1984 – Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director – Bandhana

Discography

Kannada

Telugu

• Sardar Dharmanna (1987)

Tamil

• Kudumbam Oru Koyil (1986)

See also

• M. Ranga Rao on Saregama
• M. Ranga Rao on Apple Music

References

1. ^ Ganesh, Deepa (30 September 2021). "M. Ranga Rao's wide musical canvas". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
2. "SP Balasubrahmanyam's journey in Kannada cinema". Cinema Express. 26 September 2020. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
3. Service, Express News (26 September 2020). "SP Balasubrahmanyam swara of perfect brilliance". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
4. "Bollywood Movies Singer S. P. Balasubramaniam". Archived from the original on 1 March 2012.
5. "M. Ranga Rao movies and filmography". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.

• 1932 births
• 1990 deaths
• Kannada film score composers
• Telugu film score composers
• Saraswati veena players
• 20th-century Indian composers
• Film musicians from Andhra Pradesh
• Indian male film score composers
• 20th-century Indian male musicians