# T. Chalapathi Rao

Tatineni Chalapathi Rao (22 December 1920 – 22 February 1994) was an Indian music composer who worked in Telugu cinema. His career spanned more than three decades from early 1950s, till 1980s. He was the cousin of T. Prakash Rao.

## Early life

Born to Dronavilli Manikyamma and Rattayya in the village of Vuyyuru in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh on 22 December 1920, but he was adopted by Tatineni Koteswara Rao and his wife Kotamma. He was the cousin of T. Prakash Rao.

## Career

His first film as music director was the Telugu film Puttillu in 1953 jointly with another music director, Mohan Das. His first independent work was for the Tamil film Amara Deepam (1956). Thereafter until 1984 he scored music for around 125 films mostly in Telugu and some in Tamil.
He created many popular songs for films starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, Chalapathi Rao and Nageswara Rao gave innumerable hits. Notable among them are Illarikam (1959), Punarjanma (1963), Manushulu Mamatalu (1965), Navaratri (1966), Dharma Daata (1970) and Srimanthudu (1971); together with some real chartbusters in 1972 which include Datta Putrudu, Manchi Rojulu Vachhayi and Raithu Kutumbam. To the end the pair continued to create music for films including Kanna Koduku (1973), Palletoori Baava (1973), Aalu Magalu (1977) and Sri Rama Raksha (1978).
T. Chalapathi Rao's hit scores with other Telugu heroes including Manchi Rojulu Vachchayi, Amma Nanna, Manchi Manasu and Kamalamma Kamatam with Krishnam Raju, Lakshadhikari, Ramuni Minchina Ramudu, Kalavaari Kodalu with N. T. Rama Rao and films such as Goodhachari 116, Asadhyudu with Krishna.
The last film he scored music for was Janam Manam in 1984.

## Personal life

He was married to Annapurna with whom he did not have children and later married Dr Jamuna with whom he had two sons and a daughter.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Language | Director | Banner | Notes |
| 1953 | Puttilu | Telugu | Dr. Raja Rao | Raja Productions | with C. Mohandas |
| 1954 | Parivartana | Telugu | T. Prakash Rao | Janata Pictures | with C. Mohandas |
| 1956 | Amara Deepam | Tamil | T. Prakash Rao | Venus Pictures | G. Ramanathan & G. N. Balasubramaniam |
| 1956 | Amara Jeevi | Telugu | T. Prakash Rao | Venus Pictures | G. Ramanathan |
| 1958 | Pathi Bakthi | Telugu | A. Bhimsingh | Buddha Pictures | |
| 1958 | Veera Pratap | Telugu | T. Prakash Rao | Venus Pictures | G. Ramanathan |
| 1959 | Illarikam | Telugu | T. Prakash Rao | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1959 | Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai | Tamil | D. S. Rajagopal | Narasu Studios | |
| 1959 | Uthami Petra Rathinam | Tamil | M. A. Thirumugam | Amara Productions | |
| 1960 | Maa Babu | Telugu | T. Prakash Rao | Pragathi Art Productions | |
| 1960 | Meenda Sorgam | Tamil | C. V. Sridhar | Madhuram Pictures | |
| 1961 | Anbu Magan | Tamil | T. Prakash Rao | Pragathi Art Productions | |
| 1961 | Punar Jenmam | Tamil | R. S. Mani | Vijaya Films | |
| 1961 | Thandrulu Kodukulu | Telugu | K. Hemabharadara Rao | Raghuramayya Creations | |
| 1962 | Sri Valli Kalyanam | Telugu | T. R. Ramanna | Narasu Studios | |
| 1963 | Lakshadhikari | Telugu | V. Madhusudhana Rao | Ravindra Art Pictures | |
| 1963 | Punarjanma | Telugu | K. Pratyagatma | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1963 | Chandra Kumara | Kannada | N. S. Varma | H M Baba Productions | M. Venkataraju is the co-music director. |
| 1964 | Kalavari Kodalu | Telugu | K. Hemambaradhara Rao | Raghuram Pictures | |
| 1964 | Manchi Manishi | Telugu | K. Pratyagatma | Chaya Chitra | |
| 1964 | Mane Aliya | Kannada | S. K. A. Chari | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1964 | Nalvaravu | Tamil | Charlie–Maniam | S. V. Movies | |
| 1965 | Manushulu Mamathalu | Telugu | K. Pratyagatma | Navayuga Films | |
| 1965 | Mavana Magalu | Kannada | S. K. A. Chari | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1966 | Badukuva Daari | Kannada | K. S. Prakash Rao | Balaram Pictures | |
| 1966 | Gudachari 116 | Telugu | M. Mallikarjuna Rao | Vauhini Studios | |
| 1966 | Mangalasutram | Telugu | A. K. Velan | Arunachalam Studios | |
| 1966 | Navaratri | Telugu | T. Rama Rao | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1966 | Zamindar | Telugu | V. Madhusudhana Rao | Ravindra Art Pictures | |
| 1967 | Aada Paduchu | Telugu | K. Hemambharadhara Rao | Subhashini Art Pictures | |
| 1967 | Maadi Veettu Mappilai | Tamil | S. K. A. Chari | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1967 | Marapurani Katha | Telugu | V. Ramachandra Rao | Sri Productions | |
| 1967 | Pattukunte Padivelu | Telugu | M. Mallikarjuna Rao | Navajyoti Films | |
| 1967 | Shiva Leelalu | Telugu | A. P. Nagarajan | Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures | with K. V. Mahadevan |
| 1968 | Asadhyudu | Telugu | V. Ramachandra Rao | Tiger Productions | |
| 1968 | Bangaru Gaajulu | Telugu | C. S. Rao | Ravindra Art Pictures | |
| 1968 | Brahmachari | Telugu | T. Rama Rao | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1968 | Chelleli Kosam | Telugu | M. Mallikarjuna Rao | Jayasri Lakshmi Pictures | |
| 1968 | Nadamanthrapu Siri | Telugu | T. Rama Rao | Navajyoti Pictures | |
| 1968 | Prema Katha | Telugu | Muktha Srinivasan | Muktha Films | |
| 1968 | Srimanthulu | Telugu | T. R. Ramanna | R. R. Pictures | |
| 1969 | Chiranjeevi | Telugu | Savitri | Arunachalam Studios | |
| 1969 | Madhura Milana | Kannada | | | |
| 1969 | Madras To Hyderabad | Telugu | Thirumalai–Mahalingam | Sri Venkateswara Cinetone | |
| 1969 | Prema Kanuka | Telugu | V. Sobhanadri Rao | Digvijaya Films | |
| 1970 | Akhandudu | Telugu | V. Ramachandra Rao | Tiger Productions | |
| 1970 | Dharma Daata | Telugu | A. Sanjeevi | Ravindra Art Pictures | |
| 1971 | Adrusta Jathakudu | Telugu | K. Hemambaradhara Rao | Subhashini Art Pictures | |
| 1971 | Pavitra Hrudayalu | Telugu | A. C. Tirulokchandar | Sri Vijaya Venkateswara Films | |
| 1971 | Sisindri Chittibabu | Telugu | Akkineni Sanjeevi Rao | Ravindra Art Pictures | |
| 1971 | Srimanthudu | Telugu | K. Pratyagatma | Viswa Bharathi Productions | |
| 1972 | Datta Putrudu | Telugu | Tammareddy Lenin Babu | Ravindra Art Pictures | |
| 1972 | Kiladi Bullodu | Telugu | Nandamuri Ramesh | Chitrakaka Films | |
| 1972 | Manchi Rojulu Vachchayi | Telugu | V. Madhusudhana Rao | Gemini Studios | |
| 1972 | Raitu Kutumbam | Telugu | T. Rama Rao | Nava Bharath Movie | |
| 1973 | Doctor Babu | Telugu | Tammareddy Lenin Babu | Ravindra Art Pictures | |
| 1973 | Kanna Koduku | Telugu | V. Madhusudhana Rao | Vishwa Bharti Production | |
| 1973 | Mainaru Babu | Telugu | T. Prakash Rao | Saradhi and TPR Combines | |
| 1973 | Palletoori Bava | Telugu | K. Pratyagatma | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1974 | Adapillala Tandri | Telugu | K. Vasu | Satya Enterprises | |
| 1974 | Gali Patalu | Telugu | T. Prakash Rao | Anil Arts | |
| 1974 | Mugguru Ammayilu | Telugu | K. Pratyagatma | Navabharat Art Films | |
| 1974 | Vani Dongala Rani | Telugu | Aamancharla Seshagiri Rao | Navodaya Art Movies | |
| 1975 | Chinninati Kalalu | Telugu | K. Viswanath | Ravindra Art Pictures | |
| 1975 | Devudu Chesina Pelli | Telugu | T. Rama Rao | Sri Lakshmi Productions | |
| 1975 | Parivartana | Telugu | K. Hemambaradhara Rao | | |
| 1975 | Ramuni Minchina Ramudu | Telugu | M. S. Gopinath | Rajeswari Fine Arts | |
| 1975 | Samsaram | Telugu | T. Prakash Rao | Anil Productions | |
| 1975 | Vayasochina Pilla | Telugu | Lakshmi Deepak | Krishiwala Pictures | |
| 1976 | Alludochchaadu | Telugu | K. Pratyagatma | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1976 | Amma Nanna | Telugu | Tammareddy Lenin Babu | Ravindra Art Pictures | |
| 1976 | Mahatmudu | Telugu | M. S. Gopinath | Rajeswari Chitra | |
| 1976 | Vanaja Girija | Telugu | Gautham | Sri Vanaja Movies | |
| 1977 | Aalu Magalu | Telugu | T. Rama Rao | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1977 | Ardhangi | Telugu | A. Mohan Gandhi | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1977 | Athavarillu | Telugu | K. Pratyagatma | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1977 | Gadusu Ammayi | Telugu | K. Pratyagatma | Dwarka Art Productions | |
| 1977 | Mahanubhavudu | Telugu | K. Hemambharadhara Rao | Subhasini Combines | |
| 1977 | Mohini Vijayamu | Telugu | N. S. Varma | Sri Venkatalakshmi Pictures | with M. Poornachandra Rao |
| 1978 | Manchi Manasu | Telugu | K. Pratyagatma | A. A. Combines | |
| 1978 | Sri Rama Raksha | Telugu | T. Rama Rao | Ajay Art Pictures | |
| 1978 | Thalle Challani Daivam | Telugu | M. S. Gopinath | Rajeshwari Chitra Combines | |
| 1979 | Kamalamma Kamatam | Telugu | K. Pratyagatma | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1979 | Love Marriage | Telugu | Tammareddy Lenin Babu | Ravindra Art Pictures | |
| 1980 | Janthu Prapancham | Telugu | | Sri Lakshminarayana Films | |
| 1980 | Nayakudu Vinayakudu | Telugu | K. Pratyagatma | Prasad Art Pictures | |
| 1980 | Thandava Krishna Tarangam | Telugu | Rajkumar | | with Sanjay Manikya |
| 1980 | Yuvatharam Kadilindi | Telugu | Dhavala Satyam | Navataram Pictures | |
| 1981 | Harischandrudu | Telugu | U. Visweswar Rao | Vishwashanthi Movies | |
| 1981 | Maro Kurukshetram | Telugu | Tammareddy Lenin Babu | Charita Film Combines | |
| 1982 | Circus Prapancham | Telugu | U. Visweswar Rao | | |
| 1983 | Keerthy Kantha Kanakam | Telugu | U. Visweswar Rao | Vishwashanthi Movies | |
| 1984 | Janam Manam | Telugu | Mohan Das | Navaratnam Films | |
| 1985 | Thayi Thande | Kannada | V. Sathyanarayana | U S R Pictures | |