# M. Ranga Rao

M. Ranga Rao (26 April 1932 – 3 August 1990) was a prominent Indian composer who predominantly worked in Kannada cinema. Rao was known for his mellifluous scores and lilting tunes backed with strong classical nuances. Rao composed tunes for approximately 100 films in Kannada cinema.

## Personal life
### Early life

Ranga Rao was born in a small village in Andhra Pradesh on 15 October 1932. He learnt the art of playing Veena instrument at a very young age. His inspiration was his mother, Rangamma. He graduated with Diploma in Mechanical Engineering stream.

### Family

M. Ranga Rao was married to Syamala Devi and they have two sons and two daughters. His wife, Syamala, died five months after her husband's death in 1991.

## Career

Rao entered the film industry as a small-time actor in the films Swarga Seema (1945) and Yogi Vemana (1947). He worked a Veena player in the 1946 released film Tyagayya.
However, he entered the Kannada film industry as a full-fledged composer of the film Nakkare Ade Swarga in 1967. This also marked the beginning of the legendary playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. He had a long association with noted singer Bangalore Latha.
Ranga Rao introduced Balasubramanyam to Kannada films by offering him a duet song alongside the veteran singer P. Susheela.Ranga Rao also worked as an assistant music director to veteran ace musician P. Adinarayana Rao.
Along with composing numerous songs in Kannada, he also composed a few in Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam languages, most of them being the dubbed works of his Kannada songs.

## Death

Ranga Rao died of cancer on 2 August 1990, aged 58. He was cremated in a crematorium in Bengaluru. He and his wife are survived by their four children, children-in-law and grandchildren.

## Awards

* 1969 – Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director – Hannele Chiguridaga
* 1982 – Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director – Hosa Belaku
* 1984 – Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director – Bandhana

## Discography
### Kannada

| Year | Film | Notes |
| 1967 | Nakkare Ade Swarga | |
| 1967 | Manassiddare Marga | |
| 1968 | Hannele Chiguridaga | Won - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director |
| 1969 | Margadarshi | |
| 1969 | Gruhalakshmi | |
| 1970 | Karulina Kare | |
| 1970 | Sukha Samsara | |
| 1971 | Sakshatkara | |
| 1971 | Namma Samsara | |
| 1971 | Sothu Geddavalu | |
| 1972 | Janma Rahasya | |
| 1972 | Utthara Dakshina | |
| 1973 | Bidugade | |
| 1973 | Edakallu Guddada Mele | |
| 1974 | Gruhini | |
| 1974 | Maga Mommaga | |
| 1974 | Bhale Bhatta | |
| 1975 | Mane Belaku | |
| 1975 | Kaveri | |
| 1975 | Viplava Vanithe | |
| 1976 | Devaru Kotta Vara | |
| 1976 | Hudugaatada Hudugi | |
| 1976 | Baduku Bangaravayitu | |
| 1976 | Punardhatta | |
| 1976 | Bahaddur Gandu | |
| 1976 | Badavara Bandhu | |
| 1976 | Kanasu Nanasu | |
| 1977 | Dhanalakshmi | |
| 1977 | Geddavalu Naane | |
| 1977 | Punarmilana | |
| 1977 | Shani Prabhava | |
| 1977 | Shubhashaya | |
| 1978 | Halli Haida | |
| 1978 | Anubandha | |
| 1978 | Sridevi | |
| 1979 | Aliya Devaru | |
| 1979 | Atthege Thakka Sose | |
| 1980 | Shree Raghavendra Karune | |
| 1980 | Vasantha Geetha | |
| 1980 | Prema Jwala | |
| 1980 | Pattanakke Banda Pathniyaru | |
| 1981 | Mane Madadi Makkalu | |
| 1981 | Ranganayaki | |
| 1981 | Naga Kala Bhairava | |
| 1981 | Number Aidu Ekka | |
| 1982 | Kempu Hori | |
| 1982 | Hosa Belaku | Won - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director |
| 1982 | Swarna Mahal Rahasya | |
| 1982 | Guna Nodi Hennu Kodu | |
| 1982 | Kalasapurada Hudugaru | |
| 1982 | Kannu Theresida Hennu | |
| 1982 | Raga Thala | |
| 1982 | Raja Maharaja | |
| 1983 | Kaviratna Kalidasa | |
| 1983 | Kalluveene Nudiyithu | |
| 1983 | Swargadalli Maduve | |
| 1983 | Naavu Yarigenu Kadime | |
| 1983 | Kranthiyogi Basavanna | |
| 1983 | Mududida Tavare Aralithu | |
| 1983 | Samarpane | |
| 1984 | Samayada Gombe | |
| 1984 | Aparanji | |
| 1984 | Rudranaga | |
| 1984 | Shravana Banthu | |
| 1984 | Premave Balina Belaku | |
| 1984 | Benki Birugali | |
| 1984 | Bandhana | Won - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director |
| 1984 | Bedaru Bombe | |
| 1984 | Avala Antharanga | |
| 1984 | Olave Baduku | |
| 1984 | Bilee Gulabi | |
| 1985 | Goonda Guru | |
| 1985 | Aahuti | |
| 1985 | Veeradhi Veera | |
| 1985 | Jwaalamukhi | |
| 1985 | Pithamaha | |
| 1985 | Kumkuma Thanda Soubhagya | |
| 1985 | Bhayankara Bhasmasura | |
| 1985 | Hendthi Beku Hendthi | |
| 1986 | Madhura Bandhavya | |
| 1986 | Karna | |
| 1986 | Hennina Koogu | |
| 1986 | Kathanayaka | |
| 1986 | Nannavaru | |
| 1986 | Prema Jaala | |
| 1986 | Mouna Geethe | |
| 1986 | Aruna Raaga | |
| 1986 | Maneye Manthralaya | |
| 1987 | Olavina Udugore | |
| 1987 | Shiva Bhakta Markandeya | |
| 1987 | Mullalu Ondu Mallige | |
| 1987 | Shubha Milana | |
| 1987 | Kurukshetra | |
| 1987 | Thayi Kotta Thali | |
| 1987 | Hrudaya Pallavi | |
| 1987 | Vijay | |
| 1988 | Shanthi Nivasa | |
| 1988 | Olavina Aasare | |
| 1988 | Oorigitta Kolli | |
| 1988 | Mutthaide | |
| 1989 | Bidisada Bandha | |
| 1989 | Bisilu Beladingalu | |
| 1989 | Thayigobba Tharle Maga | |
| 1989 | Samsara Nouke | |
| 1989 | Rajasimha | |
| 1989 | Abhimana | |
| 1990 | Prema Tharanga | |
| 1990 | Nambidre Nambi Bitre Bidi | |
| 1990 | Sri Satyanarayana Pooja Phala | |
| 1990 | Golmaal Radhakrishna | |
| 1990 | Ramarajyadalli Rakshasaru | |
| 1990 | Policena Hendthi | |
| 1990 | Halliya Surasuraru | |
| 1991 | Sri Nanjundeshwara Mahime | |
| 1991 | Varagala Bete | |
| 1991 | Giri Mallige | |
| 1991 | Antharangada Mrudanga | |
| 1991 | Kaala Chakra | |
| 1993 | Khaidi No.407 | |
| 1993 | Prana Snehitha | |
| 1996 | Manasa Veene | |

### Telugu

* Sardar Dharmanna (1987)

### Tamil

* Kudumbam Oru Koyil (1986)