Ghantasala

Who was Ghantasala?

Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao was a Legendary and Distinguished Indian playback singer and music composer of Telugu films and many other languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi.

He was the recipient of the Padmashree award, India's fourth highest civilian award.

For nearly more than a quarter of a century, he was the distinguished voice of Telugu films. He composed exemplary music for more than 100 movies in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films. He composed and sang the Bhagavad Gita just before his death in 1974, a rendition which became highly acclaimed & exemplary and continues to be as popular as ever. On 11 February 2003, a stamp was released by the Govt. of India in honour of Ghantasala at Telugu Lalita Kala Toranam, Public Gardens, Hyderabad.

"Gifted with what V. A. K. Ranga Rao called "the most majestic voice", Ghantasala helped Telugu film music develop its own distinct character which remains unparalleled".

Across the musical circles, he is fondly referred to as the "Gaana Gandharva" for his mesmerising voice and musical skills.

According to articles published in "The Hindu" of 11 February 2003 and "The Indian Express" of 14 February 1974, Ghantasala was: such a divine talent, who with his songs, could move the hearts of the people. "Ghantasala's blending of classical improvisations to the art of light music combined with his virtuosity and sensitivity puts him a class apart, above all others in the field of playback singing". Ghantasala was "no mere singer" but also a "true poet" who with his melodious voice could comprehend and did give expression to the deepest feelings of love, pity, joy, suffering, piety, happiness and bitterness in a manner no one else could, or did. One cannot help feeling that it would have been hardly possible for him to sing on all those varied themes with such intensity of fervor and likeness to reality, and precision in apprehension, had he not himself lived and experienced these basic emotions inwardly, in as great a manner as any of the great poets ever had. The "Melody King" legendary Ghantasala continues to hold sway over millions of music lovers, crossing generation barriers, with the mellifluous magic spell of his golden voice