Tatineni Chalapathi Rao

Tatineni Chalapathi Rao Chalapathi Rao was born on 8th May’1944 in Barripa >> Read More... , also sometimes referred to as T. Chalapathi Rao, was an Indian music composer who worked in the Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada film industries. He was born on 22nd December 1920, in Vuyyuru, India, to parents Dronavilli Manikyamma and Rattaya. He was later adopted by Tatineni Koteswara Rao and Kottama. He was the cousin of famous director and screenwriter, T. Prakash Rao, who was a filmmaker in the Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil film industries. He was married to Annapurna and later married Dr. Jamuna. He had two sons and a daughter. Tatineni Chalapathi Rao debuted as a music director in the Telugu film Puttillu (1953), along with co-music director Mohan Dass.

He worked with famous Telugu stars like Akkineni Nageswara Rao Akkineni Nageswara Rao is undoubtedly the ‘Bhisma >> Read More... and Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (more famously known as NTR). Some of his hit music compositions include Dharma Daata (1970), and Raithu Kutumbam (1972). He also was in charge of music direction in the Tamil movie Amara Deepam, along with G. Ramanathan. Other films Tatineni Chalapathi Rao has worked for include Meenda Sorgam (1960), Kalavaari Kodalu (1964), Gudachari 116 (1966), Madhura Milana (1969), Kanna Koduku (1973), Alludochchaadu (1976), Nayakudu Vinayakudu (1980) and others.

His career spanned over thirty years and he had scored music for well over 125 films in his lifetime. His last film to work was Janam Manam in 1984, directed by Mohan Dass, the same director who debuted him. Tatineni Chalapathi Rao had good relations with his peers like S. Rajeswara Rao, Ghantasala, and S.P.Kodandapani. He was a famous and talented musician, and his works were highly enjoyed and praised by the audience. He passed away on 22nd February 1984 at the age of 84. He is respected in the industry, and people still listen to his works, with a fond nostalgia for the older times.