Early Career
A guitarist and music composer, Vasu Rao began his musical journey by learning to play violin from Sri Samudrala Sathagopalachari. Later, he joined the musical troupe of Sri Pithapuram & Sri Madhavapeddi Satayam, G Anand and S P Balasubrahmanyam, icons of Telugu Film music. He set his foot in the film world in 1972, when he was just 19.
Work in Film Industry
Vasu Rao started his career as a music composer in 1986, with director Vijaya Bapineedu’s Police Officer. In the following years, he composed music for many super-hit Telugu films such as Dabbevariki Chedu, Surigadu , Bhama Kalaapam and Naakoo Pellam Kaavaali. He also contributed to the musical success of Big Boss and Rowdy Alludu, Gang Leader and Majnu, first picture of Nagarjuna. Till now, he composed music for 54 movies. He is presently composing music for the film “Ghantasala the Great”.
Work in Film Industry... contd.
Vasu Rao has the rare distinction of having worked with 39 music directors in India, including luminaries such as Pendyala Nageswara Rao, Ghantasala mastaru, Satyam, Ramesh Naidu, Rajan Nagendra, Ilayaraja, Chakravarthi, Raj-Koti, etc., and his father, Sri Saluri Rajeswara Rao. He has also worked with Bollywood music directors Lakshmikant Pyarelal, Salil Choudhury, O.P. Nayyar, Bappi Lahari and R D Burman.
Work in Film Industry... contd.
In a particular instance, eminent director Bapu postponed the recording of the song, Kanda Gelichindi from the movie Bhakta Kannappa for seven days just to get the Base Guitar bits played by Vasu Rao, which illustrates his high standing as a consummate musician.
Vasu Rao shared a friendship of over 48 years with singing maestro Sri S P Balasubrahmanyam (SPB). He toured the world along with him as one of his lead team members and gave more than 500 shows.
Work on Small Screen
He has also left his creative imprint on the small screen. It was Vasu Rao who introduced the concept of dedicated title songs for Telugu TV serials. He composed background music and songs for 558 serials (comprising of more than 10,000 episodes) making him eligible for the Guinness Book of World Records. Notable among them being Antarangaalu, Andam, Anveshita, Ee Tharam Kadha, Naathi Charaami, Kalankita, Yendamavulu, and Aloukika. He also composed the title track and background music for Doordarshan serials Viswamitra and Sahasrafann (Hindi adaptation of Sri Viswanadha Satyanarayana’s Gnanapith Award winning novel, Veyi Padagalu).
Work on Small Screen... contd.
He is currently involved in
Annamayya project of Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams, under which he has composed
about 100 sankeertanas dedicated to Lord Venkateswara. He has also composed 160
keertanas for the popular TV programme Annamayya Paataku Pattabhishekam and 120
keertanas for the children’s programme, Annamayya Baala Sankeertanam. Both the
programmes broadcast on TTD Bhakti channel.
Work on Small Screen... contd.
Another feather in Vasu Rao’s cap is a prestigious project sanctioned by ETV on
the request of Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi. It involved recomposition of
Vaishnava Janato, a favourite bhajan of Mahatma Gandhi. ETV entrusted the
recomposition job to Vasu Rao, who got the new version sung by S P Bala
Subrahmanyam, Chitra, R Vijaya Prakash, Yogesh Gadhvi, Subash Chandra Dash,
Pulak Banerjee, and a few other classical singers. Picturised in various locations
of India to capture the theme of national integration, the bhajan was released
on 2 October 2019, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
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Awards & Recognition
He was conferred with following awards –
- Won 6 Nandi Awards from the State Govt. of Andhra Pradesh.
- Yuva Sangeetha Samrat by Abhyudaya Kalaa Samithi, Tenali.
- Sangeetha Vidwanmani by Vijetha Arts, Nellore.
- Swara Sri by Senior Citizens of SMILES, Hyderabad.
- Ghantasala award by Sri Ghantasala Seva Samithi, Venkatagiri.
- Sangeetha Siromani by Guntur Artistes Association.
- A WORTHY SON OF A WORTHY FATHER award by BCCI & Madras Telugu Academy.
- S P Balu-Vamshi-Shubhodayam Jeevana Safalya Jaateeya Puraskaram
- “Yuva Sangeeta Saamrat” by Vasavi Cultural Association
- Ghantasala Sangeeta Puraskaram 2021 by Shrutilaya Art Academy
- Swara Sarvabhouma Award by Shrutilaya Art Academy
Photo Gallery
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Interviews with Media
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