Kandula Mallikharjuna Rao, better known as Mallik (1921–1996) was an Indian popular music composer and singer. He was born in

Machilipatnam Machilipatnam (), also known as Masulipatnam and Bandar (), is a city in Krishna district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipal corporation and the administrative headquarters of Krishna district. It is also the Tehsil, mandal ...

, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, to K. Venkatachalam and Lakshmi Narasamma. His initial training in music was under the guidance of the late Krovi Satyanarayana. He served as a music composer and singer at

All India Radio All India Radio (AIR), also known as Akashvani (), is India's state-owned public broadcasting, public radio broadcaster. Founded in 1936, it operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broa ...

(AIR),

Madras Chennai, also known as Madras ( its official name until 1996), is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian ce ...

, for 30 years before transferring to AIR,

Vijayawada Vijayawada ( ), formerly known by its colonial name Bezawada, is the second largest city and a major commercial hub in the Andhra Pradesh state of India. The city forms an integral part of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and is situated on th ...

. During his tenure at Akashvani, he composed numerous songs, including dance dramas, Bhakthi Ranjani pieces, and folk melodies. He was the first composer of many reputed

Tallapaka Annamacharya Tallapaka Annamacharya () (09 May 1408 – 23 February 1503), also popularly known as Annamayya, was a Telugu musician, composer, and a Hindu saint. He is the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called '' samkirtanas.'' His devoti ...

Keerthanas.Mallik remembered
/ref> Examples of his notable compositions include 'Adigo Alladigo,' 'Thandhanana Aahi,' and 'Narayanathae Namo Namo.' He also created the renowned 'Raja Rajeshwari Astakam' and 'Hanuman Manjari.' The Kuchipudi dance drama Chandalika, choreographed by Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam with music composed by Mallik, gained international acclaim for its exceptional musical score. In addition to being a composer, he was also a playback singer for Telugu movies, including the films '' Sampoorna Ramayanam'', ''

Charana Daasi ''Charana Daasi'' () is a 1956 Indian Telugu-language drama film written by Vempati Sadasivabrahmam and directed by T. Prakash Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi and Savitri, and music composed by S. Rajeswara ...

'', ''

Bhagya Rekha ''Bhagya Rekha'' () is a 1957 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by Ponnaluri Brothers under the Ponnaluri Brothers Pvt. Ltd. banner and directed by B. N. Reddy. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Jamuna and music composed by Pendyala Nage ...

'' (1957), and ''

Bangaru Papa ''Bangaru Papa'' () is a 1955 Indian Telugu-language film produced and directed by B. N. Reddy on Vauhini Productions banner. The film stars S. V. Ranga Rao, Jaggayya, Krishna Kumari, Jamuna. It is based on the 1861 English novel ''Silas M ...

''. He was awarded Nada Kaumudi by ex-Prime Minister P. V. Narsimha Rao and ex-Chief Minister

N. T. Rama Rao Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996), often referred to by his initials NTR, was an Indian actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, film editor, philanthropist, and politician who served as the Chief Minister o ...

for his excellence. He accompanied as a singer for many dance ballads for Sri

Vempati Chinna Satyam Vempati Chinna Satyam (15 October 1929 – 29 July 2012) was an Indian dancer and a guru of the Kuchipudi dance form. Chinna Satyam was born in a Brahmin family at Kuchipudi, Andhra Pradesh. He was taught by Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sast ...

, Smt.

Shobha Naidu Sobha Naidu (1956 – 14 October 2020) was an Indian Kuchipudi dancer, teacher, and choreographer. A disciple of the celebrated Kuchipudi maestro Vempati Chinna Satyam, she became one of the foremost practitioners of the art form. Known for h ...

, and Smt.

Raja Sulochana Chittajallu Rajeevalochana (15 August 1935 – 5 March 2013), better known as Rajasulochana, was an Indian classical dancer and actress. She has acted in more than 300 Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi language films. Early life Sh ...

. He also performed many individual programs. He participated in T.T.D.

Brahmotsavam A brahmotsava (), also rendered mahotsava and tiruvila () is the principal festival of a Hindu temple. Commonly held in South India, the ''murti''s of a temple's deities are dressed in silk garments, decorated with ornaments, garlands, and other ...

s for 50 years.

Filmography

Composer

Singer

References

1921 births 1996 deaths Singers from Andhra Pradesh People from Machilipatnam Telugu playback singers All India Radio people 20th-century Indian singers Film musicians from Andhra Pradesh {{India-musician-stub