Upendra Kumar
Upendra Kumar | |
---|---|
Orissa, India | |
Died | 24 January 2002 Bangalore, India | (aged 60)
Genres | Film score, theatre |
Occupation(s) | Composer, music director, instrumentalist |
Years active | 1966–2002 |
Spouse(s) | H. P. Geetha |
Upendra Kumar (18 July 1941 – 24 January 2002) was an Indian
Early life
Kumar originally hailed from
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.[4]
As a composer, Kumar blended
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."[4]
Work in Odia films
Alongside Kannada, Kumar notably worked also in
Personal life
Kumar was married to H. P. Geetha, sister of Kannada film actress H. P. Saroja.[4]
Death
Upendra Kumar died on 24 January 2002 of jaundice in Bangalore, aged 60.[1]
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[citation needed]
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 |
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
References
- ^ a b "Another composer bids goodbye". The Music Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 January 2003. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Remembering Upendra Kumar". The New Indian Express. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Sandalwood Music Director Upendra Kumar Biography, News, Photos, Videos". nettv4u. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Srinivasa, Srikanth (3 February 2002). "Immortal in his melodies". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ Ramakrishnan, Deepa H. (26 September 2020). "Ever popular, the devotionals SPB sang". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ Vijayasarathy, R. G. (17 April 2006). "The best songs of Rajkumar". rediff.com. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ Deepak, S. N. (23 April 2016). "His voice lives on". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
External links
- Upendra Kumar at IMDb