Susarla Dakshinamurthi was an Indian film music director, playback singer, producer and an eminent carnatic musician, known for his works in South Indian film industry. He has worked for 135 films in different South Indian languages. He is noted for his works in the films Laila Majnu, Samsaram and Narthanasala.
He was born on 11 November 1921 in Pedakallepalli, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India to Susarla Krishnabrahma Sastry, who was a musician and teacher and Smt Annapurnamma. His paternal grandfather was Susarla Dakshinamurthi Sastri, a classical Carnatic music pioneer. During the childhood, his home used to feed many students from far away places who came to learn Music under his grandfather. He was a child prodigy, who at the age of 9 played the violin with great finesse accompanying all the singers during the 9 day Navarathri Celebration at Machilipatnam. He has worked as Harmonium player in His Master's Voice in 1938. He has worked in different stations of All India Radio as A-grade artist in the late 1930s. He was invited to New Delhi station as Director for South Indian music.
He had moved to the Madras film industry and worked as an assistant to Music Director, C. R. Subburaman. He made Lata Mangeshkar sing the ever popular song 'Nidurapora Thammuda', in his movie Santhanam. Samsaram (1950) movie is a musical hit film with ever popular song Samsaram Samsaram by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao and A. M. Rajah in Telugu and Tamil languages respectively. Ilavelpu (1956) is the next major hit film by L. V. Prasad. The famous song Challani Raja O Chandamama by Raghunath Panigrahi. He sang Challani Punnami Vennelalone casting Relangi Venkataramaiah in the film. His score for Narthanasala (1963) songs particularly Evari Kosam Ee Mandhahasam, Naravara Kuruvara (S.Janaki),Janani Siva Kaamini (P. Susheela), Salalitha Raga Sudharasa Saaram (singer: Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna) and Sakhiya Vivarinchave are forever memorable. He had produced two films Mohini Rukmangada (1960) and Rama Sundari (1962) under the banner of Anuradha Movies.
Saichand Tripuraneni pays tributes to the master film maker with his documentary on Singitam in this 100th year of Telugu Cinema.
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