Ghantasala, the Music Maestro

The centenary birth anniversary, 4 December 2022 of Gantasala, the famous singer, music director, music maestro of the last century 

Ghantasala was a musician par excellence - UN peace medal recipient, Padma awardee, first "Asthana Vidwan" of Thirumala Tirupathi Devesthanam and freedom fighter.

The legend in telugu music, Ghantasala was born in 1922. His father Surayya was also a famous singer. During his childhood, Ghantasala used to dance to his father's Tarangams. After his father's death, his maternal Uncle Ryali Pitchi Ramaiah brought up Ghantasala. As he wished to learn classical music, he went to the only Music College in Vijayanagaram, without telling his family. He went through a number of hardships to learn music and went on to become a "Sangeeta Vidhwan". Ghantasala participated in the 'Quit India Movement' of 1942, for which he was arrested and imprisoned for 18 months. After coming out of jail, he met "Senior Samudrala", who advised him to try his luck in the film industry as a singer. All India Radio gave him his first break as a singer when HMV rejected him. Later on, Peketi Siva Ram from HMV recorded his private songs. He joined Pratibha films and sang for chorus and acted as an 'extra' in A.N.R's film 'Seetha Rama Jananam'. Later Ghantasala worked with famous music directors like Gali Penchala, C.R. Subbaraman. His first movie as a music director was "Laxmamma". He composed the music for NTR's first film "Mana Desam". He became a famous playback singer with super hit songs for films like " Keelu Gurram" and "Laila Majnu". He sang more than 10,000 songs in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malyalam and worked as a music director for over 100 films. He gave his voice for all the popular heroes of Telugu film industry. His private songs were equally popular and his devotional songs are popular even today. He has given performances in America, England, Germany etc and had the distinction of performing in the United Nations Organisation. Andhra pradesh Government felicitated him on the occasion of 25 years of his film career.

His illustrious career came to an end on 11 February 1974.

 *om paarthaaya pratibodhitaaṁ bhagavataam

 naaaraaayaṇena svayaṁ* 

How come one can forget The Bhavad Gita in Ghantasalas voice which was his last gift to the world and is the most popular version even till today. 

With all due respects to the legend , remembering him on his birth anniversary.... 

Happy Reading...