S. P. Kodandapani

Sripathi Panditharadhyula Kodandapani also known as S.P. Kodandapani was an Indian music composer and playback singer in Telugu film industry. S. P. Kodandapani composed music for more than 100 films. S. P. Kodandapani was born in 1932 in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. He was brought up in Guntur, and as a child, he used to sing songs and poems while also learning to play harmonium.

Later. S. P. Kodandapani went to Madras looking for opportunities to work in the film industry. Addepalli Rama Rao gave him an opportunity to sing in the chorus in the 1953 film Naa Illu. Afterwards, S.P. Kodandapani worked as a harmonium player with Susarla Dakshinamurthi Susarla Dakshinamurthi was a music composer, profe >> Read More... . He sang as an independent singer in the film Santhanam in 1955. He also worked with the music director K. V. Mahadevan for some time.

Furthermore, he became an independent music director in charge for the first time in the film Kanna Koduku (1961), followed by Padandi Munduku (1962), Manchi Rojulochayi, Bangaru Timmaraju (1964), Thotalo Pilla-Kotalo Rani (1964), Loguttu Perumallakeruka (1966) and others.  Furthermore, he debuted as a playback singer in the 1955 film Santhanam. Later on, he made his debut as a music director in 1961 through the film Kanna Koduku. In the early years of his career, S.P. Kodandapani gained prominence and fame as a composer for folklore-based films. Afterward, he started composing films in several other genres. Kodandapani had also been the music director in the Rekha Murali and Arts production company established by comedian and his former roommate Padmanabham.

Some of Kodandapani’s noteworthy movies as a music director include Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu (1963), Thotalo Pilla - Kotalo Rani (1964), Bangaru Timmaraju (1965), Devata (1965), Jwala Dweepa Rahasyam (1965), Gopaludu Bhoopaludu (1967), Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna Click to look into! >> Read More... (1967), Manchi Kutumbam (1968), Sukha Dukhalu Story Soon >> Read More... (1968), Manchi Mitrulu (1969), Kathanayika Molla (1970), Pandanti Kapuram (1972). Furthermore, some of his remarkable compositions include songs like Aalayaana Velasina Aa Devudi Reethi from Devata, Idi Mallela Velayani, and the song Medante Meda Kadu composed by S. P. Kodandapani from Sukha Dukhalu film, brought recognition to Balasubrahmanyam in Telugu Cinema. 

S.P. Kodandapani introduced S.P. Balasubrahmanyam to playback singing in the film Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna (1967) and mentored him in his early career. Balasubrahmanyam considered Kondandapani to be his Guru and would reminisce about Kodandapani throughout his life, and would often pay tributes to him. Balasubrahmanyam named his recording theatre after Kodandapani. He also named his film production company after him, Sri Kodandapani Film Circuits. S.P. Kodandapani died on 5th April 1974 at the age of 42.