Raavu Balasaraswathi

Raavu Balasaraswathi (born 28 August 1928) is an Indian singer and actress who performed from 1930 to the 1960s in Telugu and Tamil cinema.

R. Balasaraswathi Devi
Born	Rao Balasaraswathi Devi 28 August 1928 Venkatagiri, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Andhra Pradesh, India)
Occupation	Actress, playback singer
Awards	Ramineni Foundation Award

She was the first light music singer on All India Radio and the first playback singer of the Telugu cinema industry.[1]

Early life

Balasaraswathi was born in Venkatagiri in 1928. She learned music from Allathuru Subbayya and lent her voice for the first solo gramophone by HMV recording company at the age of six.

Career

She acted as child actor Ganga and also sang in the films Sati Anasuya and Bhakta Dhruva, both directed by C. Pullaiah in 1936.[2] Observing her talent, director K. Subramaniam invited her to act in Tamil films. In the following years, she acted in Tamil films like Bhaktha Kuchela (1936), Balayogini (1937), and Thiruneelakantar (1939). She played the role of Tukaram's daughter in Tukaram (1938). The Tukaram role was portrayed by Musiri Subramania Iyer in the Tamil version and by C. S. R. Anjaneyulu in the Telugu version. In 1940, she acted with S. Rajeswara Rao in Illalu, directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam.

In Bhagya Lakshmi (1943) of Sri Renuka Films of Chittor V. Nagaiah, she sang for Kamala Kotnis on screen, this being the first instance of playback singing in Telugu cinema. The song Thinne Meedha Sinnoda was composed by Bhimavarapu Narasimha Rao.

She lived for some years in Mysore, and then shifted to Hyderabad. After her husband's death, she has lived with her son in her grandson's house in Secunderabad.

Music composers she sang for

She worked with G. Ramanathan, K. V. Mahadevan, C. R. Subburaman, S. V. Venkatraman, Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, Bhimavarapu Narasimha Rao, R. Chinnaiah, S. Hanumantha Rao, S. Rajeswara Rao, P. Adinarayana Rao, G. Aswathama, Ogirala Ramachandra Rao, Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao, Adepalli Rama Rao, C. N. Pandurangan, Chittor V. Nagaiah, T. V. Raju, Ghantasala, Naushad, L. Malleswara Rao, S. Dakshinamurthi, Vedha, M. Ranga Rao, Master Venu, R. Sudharsanam, Pamarti Krishna Murty, G. Govindarajulu Naidu and M. B. Sreenivasan.

With playback singers

She sang duets mostly with Ghantasala and A. M. Rajah. She sang with T. M. Soundararajan, T. A. Mothi, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, S. Rajam, M. S. Ramarao, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao and Subramanyam.

She also sang duets with A. P. Komala, M. S. Rajeswari, K. Rani, Jikki and P. S. Vaidehi.

Filmography

Playback singer

Year	Film	Language	Song	Music	Co-singer
1940	Illalu	Telugu	Suma Komala Kanulela Kala	S. Rajeswara Rao	S. Rajeswara Rao
			Kavyapaanamu Chesi Kaipekkinaane		S. Rajeswara Rao
1941	Apavadu	Telugu	Eemaanupainuṇḍi	S. Rajeswara Rao	K. Raghuramaiah
			Adugadugo Poga Bandī
1943	Bhagya Lakshmi	Telugu	Tinne Meedi Chinnoda	Bhimavarapu Narasimha Rao
1943	Chenchu Lakshmi	Telugu	Elukkovayya	R. Chinnaiah & C. R. Subburaman
			Eri Eri
1947	Radhika	Telugu	Gopala Krishnudu Nallana	S. Hanumantha Rao
1948	Bilhana	Tamil	Sri Jaya Saraswathi Devi Thaaye	Papanasam Sivan
			Innisaiye Ganarasa Innamudhe Ennuriye
1948	Chakradhari	Tamil	Ammaa Ammaa Ena	M. D. Parthasarathy
			Kanne Vaadaa Maniye Vaadaa
1948	Suvarnamala	Telugu	Ravoji Jilvana Jyoti	Adepalli Rama Rao
1949	Laila Majnu	Telugu	Ela Pagaye Ipudela Pagaye	C. R. Subburaman
1949	Laila Majnu	Tamil	Veen Pazhi Thane Prabho En Mel	C. R. Subburaman
1950	Aahuti	Telugu	O Priyabalanura Ne Manajalanura	S. Rajeswara Rao	Ghantasala
			Janana Maraṇa Lila Premaye		Ghantasala
			Hansavale O Padava		Ghantasala
			Premaye Janana Maraṇa Lila		Ghantasala
			Punnami Vachinadī Ponginadī		Ghantasala
1950	Paramanandayya Sishyulu	Telugu		Ogirala Ramachandra Rao
1950	Shavukaru	Telugu	Deepavali Deepavali (pathos)	Ghantasala
			Deepavali Deepavali		P. Santha Kumari
			Palukaraadate Chilukaa		Ghantasala
			Palukaraadate Chilukaa
1950	Swapna Sundari	Telugu	Natanalu Telusunule	C. R. Subburaman
			Ninne Valache Konara
			Ee Seema Velasina		Ghantasala
1950	Vaali Sugreeva	Telugu	Bratuke Nirasa	S. Rajeswara Rao, Pendyala Nageswara Rao, Master Venu, Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao & Ghantasala	Ghantasala
1951	Mayakkari	Tamil	Kanbeno Kanbeno	P. Adinarayana Rao	Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
			Kaavinil Koovum Kogilam Thaano		Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
			Idhu Enna Vedhanai
			Raajaa Koluvaai Vandhaar		Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
1951	Mayalamari	Telugu	Ledemo Ledemo	P. Adinarayana Rao	Ghantasala
			Koyila Koose		Ghantasala
			Valachina Priyude
			Rani Vedaale		Ghantasala
			O Paradesi
1951	Rupavathi	Telugu	Rītiyeleni Naa Vrata	C. R. Subburaman
1952	Chinna Kodalu	Telugu	Jo Jo Jo Vayyarikade Jo Jo Jo	G. Aswathama
			Ra Rado Rachiluka		A. M. Rajah
			Paruve Baruvaayega
			Pillanagrovi Patakada
1952	Manavathi	Tamil	O Malaya Maarudhame	Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao & H. R. Padmanabha Sastry	S. Rajam
			Anbu Kondaendhum
			Thanadhu Adamae Thaan
1952	Manavathi	Telugu	O Malaya Pavanama	Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao & H. R. Padmanabha Sastry	M. S. Ramarao
			Phalimpava Naa Asalu
			Tana Pantame
1952	Prema	Telugu	Ooho! Idigada!	C. R. Subburaman
1952	Kaadhal	Tamil		C. R. Subburaman
1952	Priyuralu	Telugu	Anandam Mana Jivana Ragam	S. Rajeswara Rao	Ghantasala & Jikki
			Undumu Madhuranagarilo Krishna
			Evarida Venugīti Pillagalito
			Okasaraina Nī Madhuralapana		Ghantasala
			Vinaravo O Vintalokama		Ghantasala
1952	Santhi	Telugu	Akule Marrakula Eenadu	C. R. Subburaman
			Aha Netiki Napai Jali
			Oogudune Vuyela Rivvuna
1952	Thai Ullam	Tamil	Malai Nila Vara Vendum	Chittor V. Nagaiah & Adepalli Rama Rao	T. A. Mothi
1953	Ammalakkalu	Telugu	Lallaa Lallaa	G. Ramanathan]], C. R. Subburaman & Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy	Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
1953	Devadas	Tamil	Santhosham Vendumendral	C. R. Subburaman, T. K. Ramamoorthy & M. S. Viswanathan
			Anbe Pavama
			Paaramugam Yenayya En Swami
1953	Devadasu	Telugu	Andam Choodavaya Anandinchavaya	C. R. Subburaman, T. K. Ramamoorthy & M. S. Viswanathan
			Tane Marena Nanne Marachena
			Imta Telisiyumdi
1953	En Veedu	Tamil	Bhoomiyile Oru Punniya Kathai	Chittor V. Nagaiah & Adepalli Rama Rao	Jikki
1953	Naa Chellelu	Telugu	Hayi Kada Mana Ilvanamu	C. N. Pandurangan	A. M. Rajah
			Ma Prema Ghada Madurmmugada		A. M. Rajah
1953	Naa Illu	Telugu	Adigadigo Gagana Seema Andamaina Chandamama Adigo	Chittor V. Nagaiah & Adepalli Rama Rao	Jikki
1953	Pichi Pullayya	Telugu	Ella Velalandu Nee Chakkani Chirunavvulakai	T. V. Raju	Ghantasala
1954	Nalla Penmani	Tamil	Anbe Nee Kanne Valarnthaal Petra	P. S. Divakar
			Dhevi Dhevi Agathi En Vinai
			Nin Dhayavaale En Mana Thuyaram
			Anbe Nee Kanne Valarnthaal Petra		A. M. Rajah
			Vaadi Ularumo Vaazhkai Malarumo
1954	Maa Gopi	Telugu	O Muddu Papa	Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy
1954	Nirupedalu	Telugu	Raavamma Nidura Raavamma	T. V. Raju
1954	Raju Peda	Telugu	Amma Amma	S. Rajeswara Rao
1954	Rajee En Kanmani	Tamil	Malligaipoo Jathi Roja	S. Hanumantha Rao
			Sundara Malare
			Amma Vareero
			Thoongaayo Dhuraiye
1954	Rajee Na Pranam	Tamil	Mallepoolu Mallepoolu	S. Hanumantha Rao
			Meraina Choosi
			Nindhu Vennela Mallelalo
			Managalana Soonyamu
1954	Panam Paduthum Padu	Tamil	Maname Sugame Perumo	T. A. Kalyanam
			Endrum Ilaa Inbam Idhe
1954	Vaddante Dabbu	Telugu	Mansaemo Chalinchaneyo	T. A. Kalyanam
			Endukoyi
			Thimtalangthom		Rohini, V. Ramakrishna, S. P. Kodandapani, & M. V. Raju
1955	Aada Bidda	Telugu	Kalyani Subhadayini	Amarnath
			Galimedalena Naa Jīvitasalu
			Talatala Merise Vennelalo
			Laagaraa Ailesaa		M. S. Rama Rao & Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
1955	Asai Anna Arumai Thambi	Tamil	Kannaithaan Parikkudhu	K. V. Mahadevan
			Sugam Peruveno
1955	Jayasimha	Telugu	Madiloni Madhura Bhavam Palikenu Mohana Ragam	T. V. Raju	Ghantasala
			Manasaina Cheli Pilupu		A. P. Komala
1955	Jayasimman	Tamil	Malarodu Madhura Mevum Manam Kaanum Mohana Ragam	T. V. Raju	Ghantasala
			Malar Thara		A. P. Komala
1955	Mahakavi Kalidhas	Tamil	Pesum Kiliye Vaanil Parandhaai	C. Honnappa Bhagavathar
			Vaaraai Vaaraai Vaaraai		V. N. Sundharam
1955	Mangaiyar Thilakam	Tamil	Neela Vanna Kanna Vada	S. Dakshinamurthi
1955	Nallakalam	Tamil	Vazhvu Malarnthu Manam Veesiduthe	K. V. Mahadevan
			Maname Un Vaazhvil Nee
1955	Pasupu Kumkuma	Telugu	Hayi Hayi O Papayi	M. Ranga Rao
1955	Sri Jagannatha Mahatyamu	Telugu	Kadha Yide Mrdumadhuramu	Mallik & B. Gopalam
			Bhramara Yidemaya Ento
1956	Bhagyachakra	Kannada	Doora Doora Doorake	Vijaya Bhaskar
			Jhalukina Jhalukina Loka
1956	Bhagyodaya	Kannada	Anandha Gokula	L. Malleswara Rao	K. Rani & Subramanyam
			Namaste Saradha Devi.... Vaani Veena Paani
1956	Jaya Gopi	Tamil	O Muthu Papa	Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy
1956	Kannin Manigal	Tamil	Kandu Konden Naane	S. V. Venkatraman	T. A. Mothi
			Kandu Konden Naane (pathos)		T. A. Mothi
1956	Mangala Gauri	Tamil	Ambaa Mangala Gowri	Ogirala Ramachandra Rao
1956	Marma Veeran	Tamil	Thudikkum Valibame	Vedha
1956	Moondru Pengal	Tamil	Enadhu Ullame Poothu Kulungum	K. V. Mahadevan
1956	Nalla Veedu	Tamil	Kalaimathiye En Kaadhal	Krishnamurthi & Nagaraja Iyer	P. B. Sreenivas
			Vidhiyin Sodhanai Idhuthaanaa
			Idhayame Sorgamaagum
1956	Sri Gauri Mahatyam	Telugu	Ambaa Mangala Gowri	Ogirala Ramachandra Rao & T. V. Raju
1956	Tenali Ramakrishna	Telugu	Jhan Jhan Kankanamuluga	Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy
1956	Tenali Raman	Tamil	Thangam Pongum Meni Undhan Sondham Ini	Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy
1956	Vanaratham	Tamil	Sudar Thaari Sabaiyil Unai Kanen Nane	Naushad
			Nenjin Ilamai Ensolven
1957	Aandi Petra Selvam	Tamil	Amma Amma	S. Rajeswara Rao
1957	Aavathellam Pennale	Tamil	Vennila Raajaa Vegamaai Nee Vaa	Jeevan
1957	Baagyavathi	Tamil	Ellorum Unnai Nallavan Endre	S. Dakshinamurthi
			Dhinasari En Vazhvil Thirunale
1957	Bhaktha Markandeya	Tamil	Inggum Anggum	Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy
1957	Dhampatyam	Telugu	Tanemi Talacheno	Pasupuleti Ramesh Naidu	A. M. Rajah
			Nadhi Veedhilo Jeeitham
1957	Evari Abbayi	Telugu	Kallamootakaalaṁ Kadura Raajaa	T. M. Ibrahim
1957	Mahadhevi	Tamil	Singara Punnagai Kannara Kandale	Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy	M. S. Rajeswari
1957	Peddarikalu	Telugu	Lali Lali Nanu Kannayya	Master Venu
			Vennela Rada Vedanalena
			Padavamma Maayam		P. Susheela & P. S. Vaidhegi
1957	Raja Rajan	Tamil	Kalaityaadha Aasai Kanave	K. V. Mahadevan
			Kalaityaadha Aasai Kanave (Pathos)
1957	Sankalpam	Telugu	Nidurapoora	S. Dakshinamurthi
			Naa Aasalanni
1957	Veera Kankanam	Telugu	Amdala Rani	S. Dakshinamurthi	A. M. Rajah
			Siggulu Chigurinchene
1957	Yaar Paiyan	Tamil	Kannaamoochi Aattam	S. Dakshinamurthi
1958	Anbu Enge	Tamil	Sollu Nee Raja	Vedha
1958	Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu	Telugu	Dharaniki Giri Bharama Giriki Taruvu Bharama	Ghantasala
1958	Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum	Tamil	Eliyorai Thaazhthi Valiyorai Vaazhthum	K. V. Mahadevan	T. M. Soundararajan
1958	Uthama Puthiran	Tamil	Muthe, Pavalame....... Aala Pirantha En Kanmaniye	G. Ramanathan	A. P. Komala
1959	Arumai Magal Abirami	Tamil	Nalla Pillai Endru Solli Unnai	V. Dakshinamoorthy
1959	Bala Nagamma	Tamil	Aararo Ennaasai Raajaa	Pamarti Krishna Murty
1959	Gandhari Garva Bhangamu	Telugu	Ne Arunodayavela	Pamarti Krishna Murty
1959	Maa Inti Mahalakshmi	Telugu	Chivurullo Chilukalaga	G. Aswathama	P. S. Vaidhegi
1959	Mala Oru Mangala Vilakku	Tamil	Aaduthu Poongkodi	C. N. Pandurangan
1959	Pelli Sandadi	Telugu	Rave Premalata Oho Kaviraja	Ghantasala	Ghantasala
			Hailelo Naa Raaja		Jikki
1959	Penn Kulathin Perumai	Tamil	Pillai Kaniyamuthe Pedhai Enthan Pudhu Vazhve	Master Venu
1959	Sahodhari	Tamil	Uravu Thanthai Kannaale	R. Sudharsanam
			Malarum Malarum Nallarame
1959	Sollu Thambi Sollu	Tamil	Soodaadha Malarai	K. V. Mahadevan
1959	Sumangali	Tamil	Vidhi Seidha Sadhiyo Atthaan	M. Ranga Rao	Seerkazhi Govindarajan
1959	Thayapola Pillai Noolapola Selai	Tamil	Nalla Kudumbam Miga Nalla Kudumbam	K. V. Mahadevan
1959	Thozhan	Tamil	Vada Malarthene	G. Ramanathan
1959	Vachina Kodalu Nachindi	Telugu	Emo Emanukoneno Na Matha	S. Dakshinamurthi
1960	Chinna Marumagal	Tamil	Namaste Saradha Devi.... Vaani Veena Paani	L. Malleswara Rao
1960	Irumanam Kalanthal Thirumanam	Tamil	Kanne Vaadaa Kaniye Vaadaa	S. Dakshinamurthi
1960	Raja Bakthi	Tamil	Paarmuzhuthum Irul Parappum	G. Govindarajulu Naidu
1961	Thayilla Pillai	Tamil	Seerarum Paingkiliye	K. V. Mahadevan
1962	Swargarajyam	Malayalam	Pandu Pandu Pande	M. B. Sreenivasan
1963	Naan Vanangum Dheivam	Tamil	Dhayavillaiyo Annaiye	K. V. Mahadevan
1968	Harichandra	Tamil	Oraam Maadham Udaladhu Thalarndhu	K. V. Mahadevan
			Naranaiyum Nee Padaitthaai

Actress

1. Sati Anasuya (1936) Telugu
2. Bhakta Dhruva (1936) Telugu
3. Kuchela (1936) Tamil
4. Balayogini (1936) Tamil
5. Tukaram (1938) Telugu & Tamil
6. Thiruneelakantar (1939) Tamil
7. Illalu (1940) Telugu
8. Apavadu (1941) Telugu
9. Chandrahasa (1941) Telugu
10. Dhaasippen (1943) Tamil
11. Radhika (1947) Telugu
12. Bilhana (1948) Telugu & Tamil
13. Shanthi Nivasam (1960) Telugu
14. Sabhash Raja (1961) Telugu

Awards

• Ramineni Foundation Award was given to her in 2003.

References

1. "Stars : Star Profiles : Rao Balasaraswathi Devi to be felicitated on her 75th birthday". Telugucinema.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
2. "Light Music By Rao Balasaraswathi Devi: Events in Hyderabad". Fullhyderabad.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2012.

External links

• Interview with Raavu Balasaraswathi Devi. on YouTube
• Listen to some of the songs of R. Balasaraswathi at Old Telugu Songs.com