Upendra Kumar
Upendra Kumar (18 July 1941 – 24 January 2002) (Kannada: ಉಪೇಂದ್ರ ಕುಮಾರ್) was an Indian music director who predominantly worked in Kannada and Oriya 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 including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Tulu cinema.[1]
Upendra Kumar | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 18 July 1941 British India |
| Origin | Orissa, India |
| Died | 24 January 2002 (aged 60–61) Bangalore, India |
| Genres | Film score, theatre |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, music director, instrumentalist |
| Years active | 1966–2002 |
Biography
Early life
Upendra Kumar was born in 1941 in Orissa to a Telugu speaking Brahmin family. His father, Lakshman Swamy was an astrologer. Kumar studied up to 7th 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 in B. A. Music with first grade at Utkal University of Music.
Career
Upendra Kumar made his debut with a Rajkumar adventure, Kathariveera (1966).
Upendra Kumar hailed from Oriya, and lived in Madras for the most part of his career. He was called upon to make the music for films starring Rajkumar's children as well. In Nanjundi Kalyana, he made the famously hiccup Olage seridare gundu, shot on Malashri and Raghavendra Rajkumar. The Shivaraj Kumar starrer Rathasaptami also had his music.
The mandolin and the sitar were prominently used in Upendra Kumar's instrumentation, and he was particularly fond of raga Kafi and melodies deriving from that scale. Idu yaaru bareda katheyo, his memorable hit in Premada Kanike, was based on this raga.
In the 1980s, Upendra Kumar recorded a series of albums with Rajkumar singing songs in praise of saint Raghavendra Swami, and deities like Hanuman. Upendra Kumar's tunes for Guruvara banthamma and Haalalladaru haaku have become popular among the devout.
Jeevana Chaitra, for which Rajkumar won a national award for best playback singer (for the classical raga-based number Nadamaya) had Upendra Kumar's music. Jeevanachaitra campaigned against drink, and ironically, Upendra Kumar reportedly suffered poor health in recent years because of his drinking.
Death
Upendra Kumar died on 24 January 2002 of jaundice in Bangalore. He was 60 years old.
Awards
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 | ||
| Naavibbaru 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 | ||
Oriya
- Manika
- Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja
- Samarpana
- Pipasha
- Kula Chandrama
- Ae Nuhen Kahani
- Mana Akasha
- Dharithri
- Alibha Daga
- Parivara
- Palataka
- Pati Patni
- Punar Milana
References
- "Another composer bids goodbye". ourkarnataka.com.
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