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Hamsalekha

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Hamsalekha
Background information
Birth nameGangaraju
Born(1951-06-23)June 23, 1951(age 73)
Tulasikatte, Akkipete,Bangalore[1]
OriginMandya,Karnataka,India
GenresFilm score
Soundtrack
Theatre
World music
Occupation(s)Music Composer,Lyricist,Screenwriter,Dialogue writer
Instrument(s)Keyboards,vocals, guitar, piano,harmonium,percussion, other
Years active1981–present
Websitewww.hamsalekhadesi.com

Gangaraju(born June 23, 1951), professionally known asHamsalekha,is an Indianfilm composerandsongwriterwho works inSouth Indian cinema,predominantly in theKannada film industrysince the late 1980s. He is also a screenplay writer, dialogue writer, instrumentalist and conductor, having composed and written over 500 albums.[2]

Hamsalekha has won oneNational Film Award,sixFilmfare Awardsin the Best Music Director Category, sevenKarnataka State Film Awards- four for music direction and three for lyrics - and is a recipient of an honorary doctorate fromBangalore University.[3]His collaboration withV Ravichandranresulted in producing blockbuster soundtracks in mainstream Kannada cinema.[4][5]

Early career[edit]

Hamsalekha was born as Gangaraju in 1951, to K. H. Govindaraju and Rajamma in Tulasikatte, near Akkipete inBangalore.[1]After his studies, he was employed in his father's printing press and subsequently joined his brother Balakrishna's orchestra group.[6]Lavani Neelakantappa his teacher modified his name as "Hamsalekha".[7]He was introduced into feature films by director M. N. Prasad, who provided an opportunity to write a song for the filmTriveni(1973).[8]The song "Neena Bhagavantha" was his first release picturised on actorUdaykumar.His debut film as a musician was the 1981 unreleased filmRahuchandra.Officially, his cinema career started as a dialogue and lyric writer for the filmNaanu Nanna Hendthi(1985).[citation needed]Later his popularity peaked only after his association with actor-directorRavichandran.Premaloka,released in 1987.[9]

Personal life[edit]

Hamsalekha is married toLatha Hamsalekhawho was a playback singer in the 1990s. The couple have a son named Alankar and two daughters named Tejaswini and Nandini. Alankar is associated with films as an actor and musician. Few of his released and unreleased movies areSugghi,TaporiandRoja.[citation needed]Tejaswini is associated with film direction, acting and directing plays, she has done her master's in theater from Bangalore University and directed many plays in association with her father Hamsalekha. Nandini began her playback singing career with the filmSixer(2006).[10]

Notable works[edit]

After working onPremaloka,Hamsalekha became one of the most prolific music directors in Kannada film, with many hits. He made occasional use of many genres of music, including Western, pop, rock,hip hop,Indian classical,[citation needed]folk,ghazals,Sufi,anditem songs.[citation needed]"Chandakinta Chanda", a ghazal he composed for the filmSparsha,was a major hit. He has created songs ranging from the philosophical ( "Le Le Marula" inShaapa,a film whose story he wrote himself) to the naughty ( "Kaayi Kaayi Nuggekaayi Mahimege" inHalli Maestru), the patriotic ( "Huttidhare Kannada Nadalli Hutta Bekku" inRajkumar'sAakasmika,a song which has become an unofficial anthem ofKarnataka)[citation needed]and love songs ( "Ele Hombisile..." inHalunda Tavaru). He composed the background score for one movie using a single instrument and made the music forKona Eedaitewith no instruments at all. His music in the filmHagalu Veshahad a rustic and folk feel without the use of synthetic sounds.Shanthi,a film by Baraguru Ramachandrappa with music by Hamsalekha, was mentioned in theGuinness Book of Recordsas the film with only one character.[11]He made his an onscreen appearance inMukhaputa.[12]His music in the 2010 movieNaanu Nanna Kanasuwas appreciated by critics as well as audiences.[citation needed]He also composed for the National Award-winning moviePuttakkana Highwayin 2011.[13]

The melodic structure of his songs demand considerable vocal virtuosity, and have found expressive platform amongst some of India's respected vocalists and playback singers, such asDr. Rajkumar,P. B. Sreenivas,S. Janaki,Vani Jairam,P. Susheela,K. J. Yesudas,S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,Mano,Swarnalatha,K. S. Chithra,Kavita Krishnamurthy,Anuradha Paudwal,Sadhana Sargam,B. R. Chaya,Manjula Gururaj,Chandrika Gururaj,L. N. Shastry,Rajesh Krishnan,Ramesh Chandra,Hemanth Kumar,Sangeetha Katti,Rathnamala Prakash,Nanditha,Sowmya Raoh,B. Jayashree,Sonu Nigam,Hariharan,Udit Narayan,Kumar SanuandShreya Ghoshalwith majority of the songs recorded by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki and K. S. Chithra. He recorded some of the rare and distinct voices likeM. Balamuralikrishnafor a song inMuthina Haara(1990),C. AshwathforHoovu Hannu(1993) andPankaj UdhasforSparsha(2001).[citation needed]

Non-film music[edit]

Hamsalekha has written music for stage plays and private albums.[14]

As a writer[edit]

Hamsalekha has written stories, screenplays and dialogues for several movies.

Story[edit]

Screenplay[edit]

Dialogues[edit]

Mentoring[edit]

Hamsalekha has mentored several notable singers, music directors, lyricist, directors inKannadamovie industry.[citation needed]

Desi Music Trust[edit]

Hamsalekha laid the foundation stone for Desi Music University on the day ofKannada Rajyotsavaon 1 November 2010.[citation needed]The university will be built with₹1.20 billion on 50 acres (200,000 m2) of land in Mudhigere village near Channapatna inKarnataka.[citation needed]The Dravidian University ofAndhra Pradeshhas given recognition to this Hamsalekha College of Performing Arts.[15]

Awards[edit]

Hamsalekha has received many awards over the past three decades.

National Film Awards:

Honorary doctorate: He has been conferred the honorary doctorate award by theBengaluru Universityin the year 2014 for his meritorious service to the Indian Music Industry.[16][17]

Filmfare Awards South:

Karnataka State Film Awards:

For music direction
For lyrics

Other awards:

Discography[edit]

Main article:Hamsalekha discography

As A Singer[edit]

Telugu films[edit]

Tamil films[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"ಸಂಗೀತವೇ ನನ್ನ ಜೀವ, ಜೀವಾಳ"[Music is my life, force].Vijaya Karnataka(in Kannada). 15 November 2015.Retrieved6 March2021.
  2. ^"Legendary Kannada Music Composer Gangaraju Turns 71: Some Little-Known Facts".News18.23 June 2022.Retrieved30 January2023.
  3. ^"Dr. Hamsalekha now".IndiaGlitz.14 May 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 24 May 2015.
  4. ^"'Crazy Star' wears many hats with gusto ".The Hindu.11 September 2014.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved13 November2023.
  5. ^V,DHNS, Vivek M."Ravichandran: Big dreamer who sometimes lost his way".Deccan Herald.Retrieved13 November2023.
  6. ^"Hamsalekha - Indian cinema".Indian cinema wiki.Retrieved21 February2015.
  7. ^"Hamsalekha to don director's hat".Bangalore Mirror. 2014.
  8. ^"Hamsalekha: I learnt my art from folk balladeers".Deccan Herald.23 October 2020.Retrieved30 January2023.
  9. ^"Hamsalekha at 70 looks back on a prolific career".Deccan Herald.25 June 2021.Retrieved30 January2023.
  10. ^"Nandini debut in item song".IndiaGlitz.19 December 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 24 May 2015.
  11. ^"Kannada movie in Guinness Book".Kollywood Today. 11 November 2007.Retrieved14 February2012.
  12. ^"Kannada film 'Mukhaputa' wins top honours at Ireland film fest".Archived fromthe originalon 9 October 2009.Retrieved17 November2009.
  13. ^"'Puttakkana Highway' - honest and objective | TopNews ".Topnews.in. 22 May 2011.Retrieved14 February2012.
  14. ^"Kannada/Movie Songs - Movies containing Music Director: Hamsalekha - Free Indian Music, Listen to Free Bollywood, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Carnatic, Hindustani, Devotional Music".MusicIndiaOnline. Archived fromthe originalon 21 October 2011.Retrieved14 February2012.
  15. ^Super Admin (9 July 2009)."Musician Hamsalekha | Desi Music University | College Art Exhibition | Research Centre".Entertainment.oneindia.in. Archived fromthe originalon 10 July 2012.Retrieved14 February2012.
  16. ^"ನಾದಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಹಂಸಲೇಖ, ಕಿರಣ್ ಷಾಗೆ ಬೆಂವಿವಿ ಡಾಕ್ಟರೇಟ್".13 May 2014.
  17. ^"BU Hon Degrees for Shaw, 5 Others".The New Indian Express.
  18. ^"39th Annual Filmfare Kannada Best Director Film Music: Santosh: Fre…".Archived fromthe originalon 8 February 2017.
  19. ^"Karnataka State Film Awards 2010-11 winners - Times of India".articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com.Archived fromthe originalon 18 May 2013.Retrieved17 January2022.
  20. ^"Hello Gandhinagar readers choice cine awards".viggy.com.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hamsalekha&oldid=1223765305"