M. S. Ramarao

Moparthi Seetha Rama Rao
Born(1921-07-03)3 July 1921
Moparru, Tenali, Andhra Pradesh
Died20 April 1992(1992-04-20) (aged 70)
Hyderabad, Andhra pradesh, India
GenresPlayback singing, Devotional
Occupation(s)Singer, composer
Websitemsramaraomemorialtrust.org/bookcds.htm

M. S. Rama Rao (3 July 1921 – 20 April 1992) was an Indian singer and composer. He was the very first playback singer in the Telugu filmdom and popular for his devotional songs.

Singing career

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Rama Rao debuted at World Telugu Conference held in Hyderabad in 1975.[1]

He became popular for his Telugu version of Hanuman Chalisa. He also narrated Bala kanda, Ayodhya kanda and Sundara Kanda (some parts of the epic Ramayana) in form of Songs in Telugu. He gained fame for singing the devotional songs and was awarded the name of 'Sundara Dasu' in 1977.

He wrote Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarakandamu of Valmiki Ramayana in Telugu during 1972–74. He sang Sundarakanda in the form of Telugu songs.

Tollywood

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His movie singing career spanned 1944–64 in Madras.

He also sang "Ee vishala prashantha ekanta soudhamlo" for O. P. Nayyar's Telugu movie Neerajanam.

Personal life

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M.S.Rama Rao married Lakshmi Samrajyam in 1946 and had three children P.V.Sarojini Devi, M.Babu Rao and M.Nageshwar Rao. He was inspired to write Hanuman chalisa because of his elder son Babu Rao who was a pilot in the Indian Air force whose whereabouts were not known for a long time during the Indo-Pak war in 1971, so he dedicated himself to lord Hanuman for his safe return and composed and sang the Hanuman chalisa in Telugu. His only lineage to carry his surname is capt Moparti Anil Rao (grandson) and then his son Moparti Aman Rao (great-grandson). All of them being three generations of pilots. M.S.Rama Rao's second grandson is taking forward his legacy by continuing to perform his songs.

Awards

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Rama Rao gained fame for his singing the above two works and was awarded the name of 'Sundara Dasu' in 1977.

Rao's inspirational songs still provide incentives to follow the path of singing, even a decade after his unfortunate death.[2]

Songs

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  • Sundarakandamu
  • Hanuman Chalisa
  • Bala Kandamu

Filmography

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Year Film Language Song Music Director Co-Singer
1941 Devata Telugu Ee Vasanthamu Nityamu Kadoyi V. Nagayya
1948 Drohi Telugu Idenaa Nee Nyayamu Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1949 Mana Desam Telugu Emito Ee Sambhandam Ghantasala C. Krishnaveni
Chalo Chalo Raja C. Krishnaveni
1950 Jeevitham Telugu Idena Maa Desam R. Sudharsanam
1950 Shavukaru Telugu Ghantasala
1950 Modati Rathri Telugu Ghantasala
1951 Anni Tamil Poadaa Kanne Poayi Nee Paaradaa Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1951 Deeksha Telugu Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1951 Niraparadhi Tamil Vidhiyaale Vanameha Seedhai Ghantasala
1951 Nirdoshi Telugu Ghantasala
1952 Manavathi Telugu O Malaya Pavanama Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao &
H. R. Padmanabha Sastry		 R. Balasaraswathi Devi
1952 Palletooru Telugu Aa Manasulona Ghantasala
1953 Naa Illu Telugu V. Nagayya & A. Rama Rao
1953 Pichi Pullayya Telugu Avamanaalaku Baliavuthunna T. V. Raju
Sokapu Tupaanu
1954 Annadata Telugu P. Adinarayana Rao
1954 Kudumbam Tamil Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1954 Menarikam Telugu Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1949 Nirupedalu Telugu Ammalaraa Vinnaraa T. V. Raju
Eethele Ee Brathukintele
Eethele Ee Nirupedala
1955 Jayasimha Telugu Jeevitamintele T. V. Raju
1957 Panduranga Mahatyam Telugu Oh Daari Kaanan T. V. Raju
1957 Manaalane Mangaiyin Baakkiyam Tamil Mogamadaa Thaalaadha Modamadaa P. Adinarayana Rao P. Leela
Kanee Nee Vaadaa Kaniye Nee P. Susheela
1957 Sarangadhara Telugu Dhanalubdula Vruddula Ghantasala
1957 Sati Anasuya Telugu Kadilindi Ganga Bhavani Ghantasala Ghantasala
1957 Suvarna Sundari Telugu Naa Chitti Papa P. Adinarayana Rao P. Susheela
1957 Vinayaka Chaviti Telugu Raja Premajoopara Ghantasala P. Leela
Yashoda Kishora
1958 Karthavarayuni Katha Telugu Okka Kshnam G. Ramanathan & G. Aswathama
1958 Raja Nandini Telugu T. V. Raju
1960 Seeta Rama Kalyanam Telugu Sashtiryojana Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao
Padmaasane
Kowsalyaa Suprajaa
Sree Raaghavam
Hey Raama Raama
Mangalam
1975 Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddham Telugu Saranamu Neeve Srirama K. V. Mahadevan
Amaraadhe
1988 Neerajanam Telugu ee visala prasantha O. P. Nayyar

References

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  1. ^ Sarma, B. Prabhakara (6 December 2012). "World Telugu Conference: Then and now". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  2. ^ "Hymns for the lord". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 15 April 2005. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010.
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