# S. P. Kodandapani

Sripathi Panditharadhyula Kodandapani (c. 1932 – 5 April 1974) was an Indian music composer and playback singer in Telugu cinema. He made his debut as an playback singer in the 1955 film Santhanam. Later, he debuted as a music director in the 1961 film Kanna Koduku. Early in his career, he gained fame as a composer for folklore-based films. Later, he composed films in varied genres.
Kodandapani's notable films as a music director include Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu (1963), Thotalo Pilla - Kotalo Rani (1964), Jwala Dweepa Rahasyam (1965), Bangaru Timmaraju (1965), Devata (1965), Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna (1967), Gopaludu Bhoopaludu (1967), Sukha Dukhalu (1968), Manchi Kutumbam (1968), Manchi Mitrulu (1969), Kathanayika Molla (1970), Pandanti Kapuram (1972). Some of his notable compositions include songs like "Aalayaana Velasina Aa Devudi Reethi" from Devata, "Idi Mallela Velayani" and "Medante Meda Kadu" from Sukha Dukhalu.
He introduced S. P. Balasubrahmanyam to playback singing in the film Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna (1967) and mentored him in his early career. Balasubrahmanyam considered Kodandapani to be his guru and would reminisce Kodandapani throughout his life and would often pay tributes to him. Kodandapani died on 5 April 1974 at an early age of 42.

## Life

S. P. Kodandapani was born in 1932 in Guntur. He spent his childhood in Guntur. He used to sing songs and poems and learned to play harmonium. He went to Madras looking for opprtunities to work in the film industry. Addepalli Rama Rao gave him a chance to sing in the chorus in the 1953 film Naa Illu. Later, he worked as a harmonium player with Susarla Dakshinamurthi. He sang as an independent singer in the 1955 film Santhanam. He also worked with the music director K. V. Mahadevan for some time.
He became music director as an independent charge for the first time in Kanna Koduku (1961), followed by Padandi Munduku (1962), Manchi Rojulochayi, Bangaru Timmaraju (1964), Thotalo Pilla - Kotalo Rani (1964), Loguttu Perumallakeruka (1966) and others. The song "Medante Meda Kaadu" from the film Sukha Dukhalu (1968) composed by him brought recognition to Balasubrahmanyam in Telugu cinema.
Kodandapani is the music director in the Rekha Murali and Arts production company established by comedian and his former roommate Padmanabham.

## Legacy

Kodandapani introduced S. P. Balasubrahmanyam to playback singing in the film Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna (1967) and mentored him in his early career. Balasubrahmanyam considered Kodandapani to be his guru and would reminisce Kodandapani throughout his life and would often pay tributes to him. He named his recording theatre after Kodandapani. He also named his film production company after him as 'Sri Kodandapani Film Circuits'.

## Filmography
### Composer

| Year | Film | Language | Director | Banner | Notes |
| 1961 | Kanna Kodulu | Telugu | Krishna Rao | K. P. Art Productions | |
| 1961 | Viplava Veerudu | Telugu | G. K. Ramu | P. S. V. Pictures | |
| 1962 | Ekaika Veerudu | Telugu | M. Natesan | Natesh Art Pictures | with Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy |
| 1962 | Naagamalai Azhagi | Tamil | G. Viswanathan | Madheswari Films | with T. A. Mothi |
| 1962 | Padandi Munduku | Telugu | V. Madhusudhana Rao | Jagruthi Chithra | |
| 1963 | Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu | Telugu | B. Vittalacharya | Vithal Productions | |
| 1963 | Manchi Rojulu Vastayi | Telugu | G. Viswanathan | Kausalya Productions | |
| 1963 | Naga Devatha | Telugu | Shanthilal Sony | | |
| 1964 | Bangaru Thimmaraju | Telugu | G. Viswanathan | Gauri Productions | |
| 1964 | Thotalo Pilla Kotalo Rani | Telugu | G. Viswanathan | Gauri Productions | |
| 1965 | Akasha Ramanna | Telugu | G. Viswanathan | Gauri Productions | |
| 1965 | Devata | Telugu | K. Hemambharadhara Rao | Rekha & Murali Combines | |
| 1965 | Jwaladweepa Rahasyam | Telugu | B. Vittalacharya | Madhu Pictures | |
| 1965 | Kathanayakudu Katha | Telugu | B. R. Panthulu | Padmini Pictures | |
| 1965 | Keelu Bommalu | Telugu | C. S. Rao | Hyderabad Movies | |
| 1965 | Pakkalo Ballem | Telugu | Puttanna Kanagal | Sivashakti Movies | |
| 1966 | Aata Bommalu | Telugu | G. Viswanathan | Suvarna Films | |
| 1966 | Bhulokamlo Yamalokam | Telugu | G. Viswanathan | Gauri Productions | |
| 1966 | Loguttu Perumallakeruka | Telugu | K. S. R. Doss | Gauri Productions | |
| 1966 | Love in Bangalore | Kannada | Kalyan Kumar | | |
| 1966 | Potti Pleader | Telugu | K. Hemambaradhara Rao | Rekha and Murali Arts | |
| 1967 | Apoorva Piravaigal | Telugu | | | |
| 1967 | Iddaru Monagallu | Telugu | B. Vittalacharya | Madhu Pictures | |
| 1967 | Satyame Jayam | Telugu | P. V. Rama Rao | Indira Ramana Pictures | |
| 1967 | Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna | Telugu | K. Hemambaradhara Rao | Rekha and Murali Arts | |
| 1968 | Bhale Monagadu | Telugu | B. Vittalacharya | Sunandini Pictures | |
| 1968 | Manchi Kutumbam | Telugu | V. Madhusudhana Rao | Madhu Pictures | |
| 1968 | Mooga Jeevulu | Telugu | G. Varalakshmi | Chandrasekhara Films | |
| 1968 | Nenante Nene | Telugu | V. Ramachandra Rao | Sujatha Films | |
| 1968 | Pedharasi Pedamma Katha | Telugu | Giduthuri Suryam | P. S. R. Pictures | |
| 1968 | Ranabheri | Telugu | Giduthuri Suryam | P. S. R. Pictures | |
| 1968 | Sukha Dukhalu | Telugu | I. N. Murthy | Sri Vijayabhat Movies | |
| 1969 | Aastulu Antastulu | Telugu | V. Ramachandra Rao | Shree Productions | |
| 1969 | Gandara Gandadu | Telugu | K. S. R. Doss | Sanjeevini Films | |
| 1969 | Gopaludu Bhoopaludu | Telugu | G. Viswanathan | Gauri Productions | |
| 1969 | Jagath Kiladeelu | Telugu | I. N. Murthy | Phalguna Pictures | |
| 1969 | Kuzhandai Ullam | Tamil | Savitri | Sri Savitri Productions | |
| 1969 | Mahabaludu | Telugu | Ravikant Nagaich | Bharti Pictures | |
| 1969 | Manchi Mitrulu | Telugu | T. Rama Rao | Madhu Pictures | |
| 1969 | Sri Rama Katha | Telugu | B. Padmanabham | Rekha and Murali Arts | |
| 1969 | Ukku Pidugu | Telugu | G. Viswanathan | Navbharat Combines | |
| 1970 | Inti Gowravam | Telugu | Bapu | Madhu Pictures | |
| 1970 | Janma Bhoomi | Telugu | G. Viswanathan | T. C. S. Pictures | |
| 1970 | Kathanayika Molla | Telugu | B. Padmanabham | Rekha and Murali Arts | |
| 1970 | Lakshmi Kataksham | Telugu | B. Vittalacharya | P. S. R. Pictures | |
| 1970 | Oke Kutumbham | Telugu | A. Bhimsingh | Ravi Art Theatres | |
| 1970 | Pachani Samsaram | Telugu | Lakshmi Deepak | B. N. Movies | |
| 1970 | Pelli Kuthuru | Telugu | V. Ramachandra Rao | Shree Productions | |
| 1970 | Suguna Sundari Katha | Telugu | H. S. Venu | P. S. R. Pictures | |
| 1971 | Andham Kosam Pandem | Telugu | Aamancharla Seshagiri Rao | Hrishikesh Pictures | |
| 1971 | Basthi Bull Bull | Telugu | G. V. R. Seshagiri Rao | Shriram Arts | |
| 1971 | Jagath Jettilu | Telugu | P. A. Kameswara Rao & K. Raghava | Phalguna Pictures | |
| 1971 | Jatakaratna Gundaajoisa | Kannada | B. Padmanabham | Rekha and Murali Arts | |
| 1971 | Jathakaratna Midatham Bhotlu | Telugu | B. Padmanabham | Rekha and Murali Arts | |
| 1971 | Kiladi Singanna | Telugu | I. N. Murthy | Supraja Pictures | |
| 1971 | Vintha Samsaram | Telugu | Savitri | Savitri Combines | |
| 1972 | Adhrusta Devatha | Telugu | K. S. R. Doss | Sri Vijayalalita Pictures | |
| 1972 | Guduputani | Telugu | Lakshmi Deepak | Trimurthy Productions | |
| 1972 | Pandanti Kapuram | Telugu | Lakshmi Deepak | Jayaprada Pictures | |
| 1972 | Shabhash Papanna | Telugu | Shaheed Lal | Saubhagya Kala Chitra | |
| 1972 | Shanthi Nilayam | Telugu | C. Vaikuntarama Sharma | Sri Ganesh Chitralaya | |
| 1972 | Vintha Dhampathulu | Telugu | K. Hemambharadhara Rao | Subhashini Art Pictures | |
| 1973 | Abhimanavantulu | Telugu | K. S. Rami Reddy | Sri Ramakrishna Films | |
| 1973 | Aajanma Brahmachari | Telugu | B. Padmanabham | Rekha and Murali Arts | |
| 1973 | Gandhi Puttina Desam | Telugu | Lakshmi Deepak | Jayaprada Art Pictures | |
| 1973 | Inti Dongalu | Telugu | K. Hemambharadhara Rao | Subhashini Art Picture | |
| 1973 | Mallamma Katha | Telugu | Akkineni Sanjeevi | R. S. Movies | |
| 1975 | Bharathi | Telugu | Veeturi | Manoranjani Pictures | K. Chakravarthy |
| 1975 | Bhagasthulu | Telugu | A. Bhimsingh | Ravi Art Theaters | |
| 1986 | Hasyabhishekamu | Telugu | | | |

### Singer

| Year | Film | Language | Song | Co-Singer | Music |
| 1954 | Vaddante Dabbu | Telugu | Thimtalangthom | A. V. Saraswathi, Rohini, V. Ramakrishna & M. V. Raju | T. A. Kalyanam |
| 1955 | Santhanam | Telugu | Kanumoosinaka.... Santhoshamela Sangeethamela | K. Jamuna Rani | S. Dakshinamurthi |
| 1960 | Annapurna | Telugu | Neevevvaro Chirunavvulato | K. Rani | S. Dakshinamurthi |
| 1972 | Pandanti Kapuram | Telugu | Idhigo Devudu Chesina Bomma | P. Susheela | S. P. Kodandapani |