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==Work with Ilaiyaraaja==
==Work with Ilaiyaraaja==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2011}}

Ilaiyaraaja was hired as an assistant by GKV, an event that marked the entry of Ilaiyaraaja into film music composition and direction. Ilaiyaraaja assisted GKV in 200 film projects. Later Ilaiyaraaja went on to become one of the most prominent film music composers in India. When Venkatesh was left with no films and after his failure as a film producer, Ilaiyaraaja took him into his fold, and GKV remained an essential element of Ilaiyaraaja’s ensemble till 1993.
Ilaiyaraaja was hired as an assistant by GKV, an event that marked the entry of Ilaiyaraaja into film music composition and direction. Ilaiyaraaja assisted GKV in 200 film projects. Later Ilaiyaraaja went on to become one of the most prominent film music composers in India. When Venkatesh was left with no films and after his failure as a film producer, Ilaiyaraaja took him into his fold, and GKV remained an essential element of Ilaiyaraaja’s ensemble till 1993.



Revision as of 09:37, 23 November 2012

G. K. Venkatesh
Born21 September 1927
OriginHyderabad, British India
DiedNovember 1993 (aged 66)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation(s)Film score, Music Director, playback singer, Actor, Film Producer
Instrumentveenai
Years active1946 to 1993

Gurjada Krishnadas Venkatesh (GKV) (Kannada : ಗುರ್ಜದ ಕೃಷ್ಣದಾಸ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ, Telugu గురజాడ కృష్ణదాసు వెంకటేష్, Tamil: ஜி.கே. வெங்கடேஷ்) (b. 1927-09-21; d. November 1993) was a prominent composer of film music in Kannada cinema during the 1960s, 1970s and until the late 1980s. He also composed music for Tamil and Telugu movies. He produced numerous master pieces of Kannada film music. He also brought in Western background score into Kannada films and scored music for all Bond movies of Dr.Raj in 60-70's.

V Harikrishna, popular Kannada film music director, is GK Venkatesh's son-in-law.


Early life

He learned music since young and was very talented. Even as a child, he was appreciated by the Raja of Bobbili. He learned veena from his elder brother G. K. S. Pathi. As a teenager, he played veenai for the great music directors such as S. V. Venkatraman, S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and C. R. Subburaman.

GKV was also a talented singer. Before entering to cinema, he was singing in the in Bangalore All India Radio. He had done chorus under S. V. Venkatraman for Meera.

Career

He became a close friend to M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) while working under S. M. Subbaiah Naidu during the late 1940s. They shared the same room in Jupiter Lodge, Madras when MSV was offered to compose some songs for Genova. When N. S. Krishnan offered an opportunity to M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy to compose music for Panam (1952) for Madras Pictures, GKV became a part of their troupe. He had a chance to sing Ezhayin Kovilai Naadinaen in Panam which was also Sivaji Ganesan’s second film. He was named as their assistant by M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy.

In 1952, he composed music independently for a Malayalam film, which was also dubbed in Tamil as Nadigai. In 1955, he started to compose music for a Kannada film named Sodari starring Rajkumar (his second film) and Pandaribai along with H. R. Padmanabha Shastry. Since then he became a much sought after and one of the successful music directors in Kannada films along with T. G. Lingappa and Vijayabhaskar. He was showered with offers where he composed music from Ohileshwara (1955) till Kalitaaru Henne (1963) in a row. GKV launched P. B. Sreenivos as a successful in Kannada films.

He came back to Tamil films in 1964 for Thirumagal Films movie Magale Un Samathu. Since then he began to compose music for both Tamil and Kannada films.

In the late 1960s, it is notable that Ilaiyaraja and L. Vaidhiyanathan were playing instruments under GKV's troupe, assisting to compose music.

Work with Rajkumar

GKV composed music for 51 films in which Dr. Rajkumar played the lead role. He launched Dr. Rajkumar as a singer in the film Ohileshwara (song: Sharanu Shambho) and also recorded Dr.Rajkumar's first duet in Mahishasura Mardhini (song: Tumbitu Manava with S. Janaki). GKV would insist Dr. Rajkumar to sing regularly, owing to his grooming in the Gubbi Company. Rajkumar, however preferred P. B. Sreenivos, to sing for him.

In 1974, P. B. Sreenivos, was hesitant to sing the song (song: Yare Koogadali) in the movie Sampattige Saval. The song had the hero singing praises of a buffalo and the conservative-minded P. B. Sreenivos wasn't enthusiastic to sing it. GKV proposed to Rajkumar to sing the song. It marked the re-emergence of the Singer in Rajkumar.

A versatile music director, GKV used elaborate Western-style orchestration in his songs, be they of any genre. He successfully brought Master singer Dr. Bhimsen Joshi to sing for films Sandhyaraga (1966). Bhimsen Joshi sang again in the movie Nodi Swami Navirodu Heege (1983).

Ustad Bismillah Khan was reluctant to play Shehnai for films during his later part of years. GKV got the Maestro to play Shehnai for lead character Appanna, enacted by Dr.Rajkumar in Sanadi Appanna (1977). The songs became chartbusters and are aired regularly on the Kannada Radio.

Work with Ilaiyaraaja

Ilaiyaraaja was hired as an assistant by GKV, an event that marked the entry of Ilaiyaraaja into film music composition and direction. Ilaiyaraaja assisted GKV in 200 film projects. Later Ilaiyaraaja went on to become one of the most prominent film music composers in India. When Venkatesh was left with no films and after his failure as a film producer, Ilaiyaraaja took him into his fold, and GKV remained an essential element of Ilaiyaraaja’s ensemble till 1993.

Acting

GKV had a small part to play in AVM Productions’s Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu in 1986 in which he acted in the role of Mohan’s musician father. His dialogues were dubbed by V. Gopalakrishnan. The music directors were M. S. Viswanathan and Ilaiyaraja.

He had appeared on-screen in the Kannada movie Kanteredu Nodu in 1961 in the song Kannadada Makkalella Ondagi Banni, composed and sung by himself.

Film producer

During the fledgling days of Kannada film movement, he produced movies such as Ranadheera Kantheerava, Immadi Pulikeshi in partnership with other artists. In 1987, he produced the Ramarajan and Revathi starrer Gramathu Minnal Tamil film.

Works

Prominent compositions of G. K. Venkatesh in Kannada include:

Some compositions of G. K. Venkatesh in Tamil, include:

Some compositions of G. K. Venkatesh in Telugu include:

  • Paadana Tenugu Paata Paravasanai Mee Eduta Ee Paata from America Ammayi by P. Susheela
  • Raasanu Premalekhalenno Daachanu Aashalenno Neelo from Sridevi by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & S.Janaki
  • Ravi Varmake Andani Oke Oka Andanivo from Ravanude Ramudaite by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

Filmography

Music direction

Year Film Language
1952 Nadigai Malayalam
1952 Nadigai Tamil
1955 Sodari (with H.R. Padmanabha Shastry) Kannada
1955 Ohileshwara Kannada
1956 Haribhaktha Kannada
1958 Anna Thangi Kannada
1959 Jagajyothi Basaveshwara Kannada
1959 Dharma Vijaya Kannada
1959 Mahishasura Mardini Kannada
1960 Ranadhira Kanteerava Kannada
1960 Dasavathara Kannada
1960 Sree Shaila Mahatme Kannada
1961 Kanntheredu Nodu Kannada
1961 Kaivaara Mahaatme Kannada
1962 Bhoodaana Kannada
1962 Karuneye Kudumbada Kannu Kannada
1963 Kanya Ratna, Kannada
1963 Gowri Kannada
1963 Kulavadhu Kannada
1963 Malli Madhuve Kannada
1963 Kalitaaru Henne Kannada
1964 Magale Un Samathu Tamil
1964 Naanum Manithan Thaan Tamil
1964 Thumbida Koda Kannada
1964 Nanna Kartavya Kannada
1965 Thaayin Karunai Tamil
1965 Sarvagyanamoorthi Kannada
1965 Sati Savitri Kannada
1966 Killadi Ranga Kannada
1966 Madhumaalathi Kannada
1966 Sandhya Raga Kannada
1967 Parvathi Kalyana Kannada
1967 Rajshekhara Kannada
1967 Rajadurgada Rahasya Kannada
1967 Immadi Pulikesh Kannada
1968 Jedare Bale Kannada
1968 Manasakshi Kannada
1968 Goa Dalli CID 999 Kannada
1969 Operation Jackpot Nalli CID 999 Kannada
1969 Natakala Rayudu Telugu
1970 Devara Makkalu Kannada
1970 Kasturi Nivasa Kannada
1970 Naguva Hoovu Kannada
1971 Sabatham Tamil
1971 Bala Bandhana Kannada
1971 Taayi Devaru Kannada
1971 Pratidhwani Kannada
1971 Thandhe Makkalu Kannada
1972 Bangarada Manushya Kannada
1972 Karmika Kallanalla Kannada
1973 Doorada Betta Kannada
1973 Sampathige Savaal Bhakta Kannada
1973 Kumbhara Kannada
1973 Ponukku Thanga Manasu Tamil
1974 Murugan Kaatiya Vazhi Tamil
1975 Yaarukkum Vetkamillai Tamil
1975 Thennankeetru Tamil
1975 Piriyavidai Tamil
1975 Mayura Kannada
1975 Mayura Hindi
1975 Dari Tappida Maga Kannada
1975 Trimoorti Kannada
1976 Raja Nanna Raja Kannada
1975 Zamindarugari Ammayi Telugu
1976 Baalu Jenu Kannada
1976 America Ammayi Telugu
1977 Olavu Geluvu Kannada
1977 Galatte Samsara Kannada
1977 Tharam Marindi Telugu
1977 Sose Thandha Sowbhagya Kannada
1977 Chakradhari Telugu
1977 Sanaadi Appanna Kannada
1978 Operation Diamond Rocket Kannada
1979 Malligai Mohini Tamil
1980 Kannil Theriyum Kathaigal (with K. V. Mahadevan, T. R. Papa, Ilaiyaraja & Shankar Ganesh) Tamil
1980 Chinnanchiru Kiliye Tamil
1981 Pennin Vaazhkkai Tamil
1981 Deiva Thirumanangal (with K. V. Mahadevan & M. S. Viswanathan) Tamil
1981 Nenjil Oru Mul Tamil
1981 Haavina Hede Kannada
1981 Hanabalavo Janabalavo Kannada
1982 Haalu Jenu Kannada
1982 Maro Malupu Telugu
1983 Eradu Nakshatragalu Kannada
1983 Kashmir Kaadhal Tamil
1984 Azhagu Tamil
1985 Adhe Kannu Kannada
1985 Inaindha Kodugal Tamil

Playback Singing In Tamil

Year Film Language Song Music Co-Singer
1952 Panam Tamil Ezhayin Kovilai Naadinaen M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy M. L. Vasanthakumari
1954 Vairamalai Tamil Nadana Kalaa Raani M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy P. Leela & A. P. Komala
1955 Gulebakavali Tamil Villenthum Veerannellam M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy Thiruchi Loganathan & P. Leela
1959 Tamil Nee Yaro Aval Yaro M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy
1959 Raja Malaiya Simman Tamil Maaligaiyilae Vasikkum M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy Sirkazhi Govindarajan & P.B. Sreenivas
1960 Kavalai Illatha Manithan Tamil Kannodu Vin Pesum Jaadai M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy K. Jamuna Rani, T. S. Bagavathi & A. L. Ragavan
1961 Paava Manippu Tamil Nilai Maarinaal Gunam Maaruvaan M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy
1962 Senthamarai Tamil Kanavae Kaathal Vaazhvae M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy
1962 Thendral Veesum Tamil Yaen Mama Kovama Diwakar L. R. Eswari
1965 Hello Mr.Zamindar Tamil Sondhamumillai Oru Bandhamum Illai M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy
1971 Sabatham Tamil Aatathai Aadu Puliyudan Aadu G. K. Venkatesh A. L. Ragavan & L. R. Eswari
1975 Piriyavidai Tamil Karunaikkadalae Kaarmugilvanna G. K. Venkatesh P. Suseela
1977 Kavikkuyil Tamil Maanathilae Meenirukka Ilaiyaraja S. Janaki
1981 Nenjil Oru Mul Tamil Vaazhkkaiyenum Paadhaithanile G. K. Venkatesh

See also

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