Hamsalekha

{{Short description|Indian film composer and songwriter (born 1951)}}

{{Multiple issues|

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{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Hamsalekha

| image = Hamsalekha.jpg

| caption =

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| image_size =

| background =

| birth_name = Gangaraju

| birth_place = Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|06|23}}

| origin = Mandya, Karnataka, India

| instrument = Keyboards, vocals, guitar, piano, harmonium, percussion, other

| genre = Film score
Soundtrack
Theatre
World music

| occupation = Music Composer, Lyricist, Screenwriter, Dialogue writer

| website = {{URL|www.hamsalekhadesi.com}}

| years_active = 1981–present

}}

Gangaraju (born June 23, 1951), professionally known as Hamsalekha, is an Indian film composer and songwriter who works in South Indian cinema, predominantly in the Kannada film industry since the late 1980s. He is also a screenplay writer, dialogue writer, instrumentalist and conductor, having composed and written over 500 albums.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-23 |title=Legendary Kannada Music Composer Gangaraju Turns 71: Some Little-Known Facts |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/legendary-kannada-music-composer-gangaraju-turns-71-some-little-known-facts-5426005.html |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=News18 |language=en}}

Hamsalekha has won one National Film Award, six Filmfare Awards in the Best Music Director Category, seven Karnataka State Film Awards - four for music direction and three for lyrics - and is a recipient of an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/dr-hamsalekha-now-kannada-news-107448|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524110600/http://www.indiaglitz.com/dr-hamsalekha-now-kannada-news-107448|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 May 2015|title=Dr. Hamsalekha now|website=IndiaGlitz|date=14 May 2014}} His collaboration with V. Ravichandran resulted in producing blockbuster soundtracks in mainstream Kannada cinema.{{Cite news |date=2014-09-11 |title='Crazy Star' wears many hats with gusto |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/crazy-star-wears-many-hats-with-gusto/article6401874.ece |access-date=2023-11-13 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |last=V, DHNS |first=Vivek M. |title=Ravichandran: Big dreamer who sometimes lost his way |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/ravichandran-big-dreamer-who-sometimes-lost-his-way-991254.html |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}

Early career

Hamsalekha was born as Gangaraju in 1951, to K. H. Govindaraju and Rajamma in Tulasikatte, near Akkipete in Bangalore.{{Cite news|url=https://vijaykarnataka.com/lavalavk/weekly-magazine/music-is-my-life-hamsalekha/articleshow/49782257.cms|title=ಸಂಗೀತವೇ ನನ್ನ ಜೀವ, ಜೀವಾಳ|trans-title=Music is my life, force|language=Kannada|work=Vijaya Karnataka|date=15 November 2015|access-date=6 March 2021}} After his studies, he was employed in his father's printing press and subsequently joined his brother Balakrishna's orchestra group.{{cite web|url=https://wiki.indiancine.ma/wiki/Hamsalekha|title=Hamsalekha - Indian cinema|publisher= Indian cinema wiki|access-date=21 February 2015}} Lavani Neelakantappa his teacher modified his name as "Hamsalekha".{{cite web|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/Hamsalekha-to-don-directors-hat/articleshow/31682813.cms|title=Hamsalekha to don director's hat|publisher=Bangalore Mirror|date=2014}} He was introduced into feature films by director M. N. Prasad, who provided an opportunity to write a song for the film Triveni (1973).{{Cite web |date=2020-10-23 |title=Hamsalekha: I learnt my art from folk balladeers |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/hamsalekha-i-learnt-my-art-from-folk-balladeers-906202.html |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} The song "Neena Bhagavantha" was his first release picturised on actor Udaykumar. His debut film as a musician was the 1981 unreleased film Rahuchandra. Officially, his cinema career started as a dialogue and lyric writer for the film Naanu Nanna Hendthi (1985). {{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}Later his popularity peaked only after his association with actor-director Ravichandran. Premaloka, released in 1987.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-25 |title=Hamsalekha at 70 looks back on a prolific career |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/hamsalekha-at-70-looks-back-on-a-prolific-career-1001562.html |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}

Personal life

Hamsalekha is married to Latha Hamsalekha who was a playback singer in the 1990s. The couple have a son named Alankar and two daughters named Tejaswini and Nandini. Alankar is associated with films as an actor and musician. Few of his released and unreleased movies are Sugghi, Tapori and Roja.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}} Tejaswini is associated with film direction, acting and directing plays, she has done her master's in theater from Bangalore University and directed many plays in association with her father Hamsalekha. Nandini began her playback singing career with the film Sixer (2006).{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/nandini-debut-in-item-song-kannada-news-27851|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524113607/http://www.indiaglitz.com/nandini-debut-in-item-song-kannada-news-27851|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 May 2015|title=Nandini debut in item song|website=IndiaGlitz|date=19 December 2006}}

Notable works

After working on Premaloka, Hamsalekha became one of the most prolific music directors in Kannada film, with many hits. He made occasional use of many genres of music, including Western, pop, rock, hip hop, Indian classical,{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}} folk, ghazals, Sufi, and item songs. {{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}"Chandakinta Chanda", a ghazal he composed for the film Sparsha, was a major hit. He has created songs ranging from the philosophical ("Le Le Marula" in Shaapa, a film whose story he wrote himself) to the naughty ("Kaayi Kaayi Nuggekaayi Mahimege" in Halli Maestru), the patriotic ("Huttidhare Kannada Nadalli Hutta Bekku" in Rajkumar's Aakasmika, a song which has become an unofficial anthem of Karnataka) {{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}and love songs ("Ele Hombisile..." in Halunda Tavaru). He composed the background score for one movie using a single instrument and made the music for Kona Eedaite with no instruments at all. His music in the film Hagalu Vesha had a rustic and folk feel without the use of synthetic sounds. Shanti, a film by Baraguru Ramachandrappa with music by Hamsalekha, was mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records as the film with only one character.{{cite web|url=http://www.kollywoodtoday.com/news/kannada-movie-in-guinness-book/ |title=Kannada movie in Guinness Book |publisher=Kollywood Today |date=11 November 2007 |access-date=14 February 2012}} He made his an onscreen appearance in Mukhaputa.{{Cite web |url=http://trak.in/news/kannada-film-mukhaputa-wins-top-honours-at-ireland-film-fest/5439/ |title=Kannada film 'Mukhaputa' wins top honours at Ireland film fest |access-date=17 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009232044/http://trak.in/news/kannada-film-mukhaputa-wins-top-honours-at-ireland-film-fest/5439/ |archive-date=9 October 2009 |url-status=dead }} His music in the 2010 movie Naanu Nanna Kanasu was appreciated by critics as well as audiences.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} He also composed for the National Award-winning movie Puttakkana Highway in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.topnews.in/puttakkana-highway-honest-and-objective-2329477 |title='Puttakkana Highway' - honest and objective | TopNews |publisher=Topnews.in |date=22 May 2011 |access-date=14 February 2012}}

The melodic structure of his songs demand considerable vocal virtuosity, and have found expressive platform amongst some of India's respected vocalists and playback singers, such as Dr. Rajkumar, P. B. Sreenivas, S. Janaki, Vani Jairam, P. Susheela, K. J. Yesudas, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Mano, Swarnalatha, K. S. Chithra, Sujatha Mohan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Anuradha Paudwal, Sadhana Sargam, B. R. Chaya, Manjula Gururaj, Chandrika Gururaj, L. N. Shastry, Rajesh Krishnan, Ramesh Chandra, Hemanth Kumar, Sangeetha Katti, Rathnamala Prakash, Nanditha, Sowmya Raoh, B. Jayashree, Sonu Nigam, Hariharan, Udit Narayan, Kumar Sanu and Shreya Ghoshal with majority of the songs recorded by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki and K. S. Chithra. He recorded some of the rare and distinct voices like M. Balamuralikrishna for a song in Muthina Haara (1990), C. Ashwath for Hoovu Hannu (1993) and Pankaj Udhas for Sparsha (2001).{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Non-film music

Hamsalekha has written music for stage plays and private albums.{{cite web |url=http://www.musicindiaonline.com/list_albums/i/31-Kannada_Movie_Songs/12183-Hamsalekha/#/list_albums/i/31-Kannada_Movie_Songs/12183-Hamsalekha/ |title=Kannada/Movie Songs - Movies containing Music Director: Hamsalekha - Free Indian Music, Listen to Free Bollywood, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Carnatic, Hindustani, Devotional Music |publisher=MusicIndiaOnline |access-date=14 February 2012 |archive-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021065555/http://www.musicindiaonline.com/list_albums/i/31-Kannada_Movie_Songs/12183-Hamsalekha/#/list_albums/i/31-Kannada_Movie_Songs/12183-Hamsalekha/ |url-status=dead }}

Discography

=As a playback singer=

Nigooda Rahasya (1990) - "Enappa Yajmana"

=Telugu films=

1988: Avalu
1989: Muthyamantha Muddu
1990: Prema Yuddham
1990: Kaliyuga Abhimanyudu
1991: Shanti Kranti
1993: Ankuram
1997: Omkaram
1999: A. K. 47

=Tamil films=

1987: Paruva Ragam
1988 Jaadikketha Moodi
1988: Kodi Parakuthu
1988: Puthiya Vaanam
1989: Idhu Unga Kudumbam
1990: Velai Kidaichuduchu
1991: Nattukku Oru Nallavan
1991: Captain Magal

Filmography

Hamsalekha has written stories, screenplays and dialogues for several movies.

=Story=

Avane Nanna Ganda (1989)
Gandharva (1993)
Shaapa (2001)

=Screenplay=

Nimmajji (1989)
Gandharva (1993)

=Dialogues=

Premaloka (1987)
Ranadheera (1988)
Ranaranga (1988)
Avane Nanna Ganda (1989)
Yuga Purusha (1989)
Halli Meshtru (1992)
Gandharva (1993)

Mentoring

Hamsalekha has mentored several notable singers, music directors, lyricist, directors in Kannada movie industry.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Rajesh Krishnan, Indian Playback Singer
Chetan Sosca, Playback Singer
Hemanth Kumar, Playback Singer
K. Kalyan, Music composer and lyricist
Nanditha, Playback Singer
Anoop Seelin, Music Composer
V. Harikrishna, Music composer
V. Manohar, Music composer, lyricist and director
V. Sridhar, Music composer
L. N. Shastry, singer, composer
V. Nagendra Prasad, lyricist, composer
Suma Shastry, singer
Anuradha Bhat, singer
Indu Nagaraj, singer

Desi Music Trust

Hamsalekha laid the foundation stone for Desi Music University on the day of Kannada Rajyotsava on 1 November 2010. {{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}The university will be built with {{INR}} 1.20 billion on {{convert|50|acre|m2}} of land in Mudhigere village near Channapatna in Karnataka.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}} The Dravidian University of Andhra Pradesh has given recognition to this Hamsalekha College of Performing Arts.{{cite web |author=Super Admin |url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/kannada/top-stories/2009/hamsalekha-college-rs120cr-090709.html |title=Musician Hamsalekha | Desi Music University | College Art Exhibition | Research Centre |publisher=Entertainment.oneindia.in |date=9 July 2009 |access-date=14 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710071959/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/kannada/top-stories/2009/hamsalekha-college-rs120cr-090709.html |archive-date=10 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

Awards

Hamsalekha has received many awards over the past three decades.

National Film Awards:

1995 - National Film Award for Best Music Direction - Film: Sangeetha Sagara Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai

Honorary doctorate:

He has been conferred the honorary doctorate award by the Bengaluru University in the year 2014 for his meritorious service to the Indian Music Industry.{{Cite web|url=http://kannada.oneindia.in/news/bangalore/bangalore-university-to-confer-doctorate-on-kiran-mazumdar-hamsalekha-084147.html|title=ನಾದಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಹಂಸಲೇಖ, ಕಿರಣ್ ಷಾಗೆ ಬೆಂವಿವಿ ಡಾಕ್ಟರೇಟ್|date=13 May 2014}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2014/may/11/bu-hon-degrees-for-shaw-5-others-610987.html|title=BU Hon Degrees for Shaw, 5 Others|website=The New Indian Express}}

Filmfare Awards South:

2005 - Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (Kannada) - Film: Nenapirali
2000 - Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (Kannada) - Film: Preethse
1998 - Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (Kannada) - Film: Yaare Neenu Cheluve
1994 - Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (Kannada) - Film: Halunda Tavaru
1993 - Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (Kannada) - film: Aakasmika
1991 - Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (Kannada) - Film: Ramachaari{{Cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/39thAnnualFilmfareKannadaBestDirectorFilmMusic |title=39th Annual Filmfare Kannada Best Director Film Music : Santosh : Fre… |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170208062511/https://archive.org/details/39thAnnualFilmfareKannadaBestDirectorFilmMusic |archive-date=8 February 2017 |url-status=dead}}

Karnataka State Film Awards:

;For music direction

2005 - Nenapirali
1995 - Sangeetha Sagara Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai
1994 - Halunda Tavaru

;For lyrics

2001 - Sri Manjunatha
1994 - Haalunda Thavaru

Other awards:

2012 - Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award from Karnataka State Government{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/kannada/news-interviews/Karnataka-State-Film-Awards-2010-11-winners/articleshow/18966690.cms |title=Karnataka State Film Awards 2010-11 winners - Times of India |website=The Times of India |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518070059/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-14/news-interviews/37712086_1_second-best-film-basanth-kumar-patil-sunil-kumar-desai |archive-date=18 May 2013 |url-status=live}}
2005 - Rajyostava Award (Suvarna Rajyostava)
2020 - S. Janaki National Award
2004 - Hello Gandhinagara Award Best Music Director{{cite web|url=http://www.viggy.com/english/current_hello_gandhinagar_award.asp|title=Hello Gandhinagar readers choice cine awards|publisher=viggy.com}}
2005 - Kempegowda Prashasti
2005 - Sunfeast Udaya film award for the best lyrics - Nenapirali