Upendra Kumar

• Name — Upendra Kumar • Origin — Orissa, India • Born — 18 July 1941 • Birthplace — Madras, Madras Presidency, British India • Died — 24 January 2002 • Place of death — Bangalore, Karnataka, India • Spouse — H. P. Geetha • Genre — Film score, theatre • Occupation — Composer, music director, instrumentalist • Years Active — 1966–2002

Kumar originally hailed from Digapahandi, a town in the present-day Odisha State of India. He was born in 1941 in Madras (now Chennai) in British India. His father, Lakshman Swamy was an astrologer. Kumar studied up to seventh Grade and shifted towards music learning with the help of his uncle, Apparao. He underwent rigorous training in Hindustani classical, Western instrumental and Indian string instruments. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Indian classical music, Odissi music and sitar from the Utkala College of Music and Dance. Upon completion of his graduation, he left for Madras looking for opportunities.

• Illustration — Kumar (right) with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (center) and Sangeetha Katti (left) during a recording. Once in Madras, Kumar took music classes in vocals and the sitar. An impressed film director Y. R. Swamy, with his "teaching methodology and his flair for music", signed him to score for his 1966 film Katari Veera, which had Rajkumar playing the lead role. Two tracks from the soundtrack album, "Chengu Chengendu Haaruva" and "Haayaada Ee Sangama" became popular. Songs from films for which he scored that became popular included Sipayi Ramu (1972), Premada Kanike (1976), Shankar Guru (1978), Dharmasere (1979), Ravichandra (1980), Kaamana Billu (1983), Ratha Sapthami (1986), Nanjundi Kalyana (1989), Hrudaya Haadithu (1991), and Jeevana Chaitra (1992). Kumar frequently collaborated with Rajkumar who playback-sung many songs for films that mostly starred himself, and picturised on him. Popular numbers of this combination included "Chinna Baalalli", "Love Me or Hate Me" and "Cheluveya Nota Chenna" from Shankar Guru, "Idhu Rama Mandira" from Ravichandra, "Indu Aananda" from Kaamana Billu, "Lakshmi Baaramma" and "Manavanaagi Huttidamele" from Jeevana Chaitra, "Naliyuthaa" from Hrudaya Haadithu and "Saptapadi Idu Saptapadi" from Saptapadi (1992). Other collaborations included with singers C. Aswath ("Negilahidida" from Kaamana Billu), Manjula Gururaj ("Olage Seridare Gundu" from Nanjundi Kalyana) and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, who also sang many non-film devotional songs composed by Kumar. "Naadamaya" from Jeevana Chaitra fetched Rajkumar the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. Lyrics for most tracks of the Upendra Kumar–Rajkumar combination were written by Chi. Udayashankar. The mandolin and the sitar were prominently used in Kumar's instrumentation, and he was particularly fond of Kafi raga with melodies deriving from that scale. "Idu Yaaru Bareda Katheyo" from Premada Kanike was based on this raga. Kumar won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director three times (for Nanjundi Kalyana, Hrudaya Haadithu and Jeevana Chaitra) before he stopped composing for films in the mid- to late-1990s. His health deteriorated during this time and died in 2002 with the Kannada film Vishwamithra (2001) being his last work. Srikanth Srinivasa of Deccan Herald, in a tribute, wrote of Kumar's last days, "With the advent of new wave music directors, Upendra Kumar was relegated to the background and found himself out of work and forgotten by the Kannada film industry. Besides, he has scored music for Dharma Devathe which was released recently. He has also scored music for Dr Rajkumar's private devotional albums."

Kumar was married to singer H. P. Geetha, sister of Kannada film actress H. P. Saroja.

Upendra Kumar died on 24 January 2002 of jaundice in Bangalore, aged 60.

• Year — Film title — Notes • 1966 — Katari Veera — Debut film as a composer • 1967 — Muddu Meena • 1969 — Ade Hrudaya Ade Mamathe • Chowkada Deepa • 1970 — Hasiru Thorana • Namma Mane • Paropakari • 1971 — Hennu Honnu Mannu • 1972 — Sipayi Ramu • 1973 — Thriveni • 1975 — Namma Oora Devaru • Nanjunda Nakkaga • Aashirvada • 1976 — Premada Kanike • 1978 — Shankar Guru • Suli • Aathma Shakthi • 1979 — Mangala • Dharmasere • 1980 — Ravichandra • Hrudaya Deepa • Manjina There • Nyaya Neethi Dharma • 1981 — Prachanda Putanigalu • Maha Prachandaru • Shreeman • 1982 — Andada Aramane • Mareyalagada Kathe • Praya Praya Praya • 1983 — Kaamana Billu • Gandharvagiri • 1984 — Onti Dhwani • Hennina Sowbhagya • Apoorva Sangama • Ayyappa Sharanu • 1985 — Nee Nakkaga • Pavithra Papi • Dhruva Thare • Thulasidala • 1986 — Anuraga Aralithu • Aparadhi Nanalla • Ratha Sapthami • 1987 — Manamecchida Hudugi • 1988 — Devatha Manushya • Chiranjeevi Sudhakara • 1989 — Kalabhimani • Nanjundi Kalyana — Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director • Bala Hombale • Deva • Gajapathi Garvabhanga • 1990 — Ranabheri • Aasegobba Meesegobba • Rudra Tandava • Pundara Ganda • Swarna Samsara • Mruthyunjaya • Challenge Gopalakrishna • Bhale Chatura • Raja Kempu Roja • Anukoolakkobba Ganda • Ivalentha Hendthi • 1991 — Lion Jagapathi Rao • Prema Pareekshe • Hrudaya Haadithu — Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director • Aralida Hoovugalu • Golmaal Part 2 • Kitturina Huli • Thavarumane Udugore • C. B. I. Shiva • Rollcall Radhakrishna • Readymade Ganda • Gandu Sidigundu • Kalla Malla • Halli Rambhe Belli Bombe • Kalyana Mantapa • Gruhapravesha • Mathru Bhagya • Kollur Kala • 1992 — Banni Ondsala Nodi • Bombat Hendthi • Amara Prema • Midida Shruthi • Hendtheere Hushar • Belli Modagalu • Sindhoora Thilaka • Goonda Rajya • Sapthapadi • Ravivarma • Kanasina Rani • Jeevana Chaitra — Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director • Roshagara • Mana Mecchida Sose • Bharjari Gandu • Gharshane • 1993 — Olavina Kanike • Chikki Chandrama • Dharmapeeta • Bhagawan Sri Saibaba • Navibbaru Namagibbaru • 1994 — Odahuttidavaru • Apoorva Samsara • Mandyada Gandu • Sagara Deepa • Hettha Karulu • 1995 — Shravana Sanje • Thumbida Mane • Mana Midiyithu • 1996 — Rambo Raja Revolver Rani • Samayakkondu Sullu • Muddina Sose • Rambha Rajyadalli Rowdy • 1997 — Gandede Bhaira • Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda • 1998 — Vajra • 2002 — Dharma Devathe • Vishwamithra

• Manika • Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja • Samarpana • Pipasha • Kula Chandrama • Ae Nuhen Kahani • Mana Akasha • Dharithri • Alibha Daga • Parivara • Palataka • Pati Patni • Punar Milana