Noted musicologist and broadcaster Balantrapu Rajanikantha Rao passed away at his residence on Sunday morning (5.30 a.m.). He was 99.
He left an indelible mark in the fields of art, music and literature with his invaluable contribution spanning over more than seven decades.
Born at Nidadavole on January 20, 1920, Mr. Rao started his career as a programme executive in All India Radio at Madras in 1941.
He wrote and composed the first ever Telugu song ( Mroyimpu Jayabheri ) to be broadcast in Independent India post midnight of August 14, 1947, following the famous speech of first Prime Minister the country, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
As a programme executive of AIR Vijayawada, he was responsible for the programme ‘Bhakti Ranjani’. He became the station director of AIR at Ahmedabad and Vijayawada before he retired as the station director at Bangalore in 1978 after completing 36 years of service.
Mr. Rao made his name with his operas choreographed by eminent dancers such as Vempati Chinna Satyam and Shobha Naidu. Some of his works included Chandidas, Divya Jyothi, Menaka Viswamitra, Kalyana Srinivasam, Sri Krishna Saranam Mama and Namostute Nari.
Apart from music, he carved a niche for himself in the field of writing too. Some of his popular published works are Andhra Vaggeyakata Charitram, Viswaveena, Satapatra Sundari, Ksheytrayya, Ramadasu, Jeji Mamayya Paatalu, Muvvagopala Padavali, Yetiki Edurita, Chaturbhani and a collection of Annamacharya lyrics translated into English which has been published by the Dravidian University at Kuppam. Some of the films in which his songs, written in pseudonyms —Nalini and Taranath — were featured in Gruhapraveesam and Swargaseema. Among his literary works, Andhra Vaggyekara Charitam was considered as his magnum opus. It consists of biographies of lyricists, and music composers along with history and evolution of the Andhra music.
Awards galore
He was bestowed with several honours both from the State government and the literary associations for his timeless contribution to music and writing. He was one of the few who had received both the Sangeet Natak Academy and the Sahitya Academy awards. He also received laurels including Kalaprapoorna (Andhra University), Nadasudharnava (Dr Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna), Kala Ratna Award (the Andhra Pradesh government), Telugu Basha Samiti Award and Pratibha Moorti lifetime achievement award by the U.S.-based Appajyotsula Vishnubhotla Foundation.
CM orders State funeral
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu condoled the demise of the literary giant and ordered for a State funeral.
