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{{short description|Indian music composer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Upendra Kumar
| image = UpendraKumarImg.jpg
| caption =
| image_size =
| origin = [[Orissa, India]]
| instrument =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1941|7|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Madras]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2002|01|24|1941|7|18|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Bangalore]], India
| genre = [[Film score]], theatre
| occupation = Composer, music director, instrumentalist
| years_active = 1966–2002
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members =
}}
'''Upendra Kumar''' (18 July 1941 – 24 January 2002) was an Indian [[composer]] who predominantly worked in [[Kannada language|Kannada]] and [[Odia language|Odia]] films. He was known for his strong association with [[Rajkumar (actor)|Rajkumar]] and his family and scored some of his career best compositions for the films featuring Rajkumar and his sons. He had scored for 210 films including [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]] and [[Tulu language|Tulu]] films.<ref>{{cite web |title= Another composer bids goodbye |url= http://www.ourkarnataka.com/kannada/movie/obit_upendra_kumar.htm |website= ourkarnataka.com}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Kumar originally hailed from [[Digapahandi]], a town in the present-day [[Odisha]] State of India.<ref name="tnie">{{cite web |title=Remembering Upendra Kumar |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2009/jul/24/remembering-upendra-kumar-70508.html |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=12 October 2020 |date=24 July 2009}}</ref> He was born in 1941 in [[Madras]] (now Chennai) in [[British India]] to a [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-speaking family. 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]], Odia music and [[sitar]] from the [[Utkal University|Uthkala College of Music and Dance]]. Upon completion of his graduation, he left for Madras looking for opportunities.<ref name="dh1">{{cite web |last1=Srinivasa |first1=Srikanth |title=Immortal in his melodies |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb03/ent6.htm |publisher=Deccan Herald |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020602171854/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb03/ent6.htm |archive-date=2 June 2002 |date=3 February 2002}}</ref>

== Career ==
[[File:Sangeeta katti11.jpg|thumb|right|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 (actor)|Rajkumar]] playing the lead role. Two tracks from the soundtrack album, "Chengu Chengendu Haaruva" and "Haayaada Ee Sangama" became popular.<ref name="dh1"/>

As a composer, Kumar blended Odia folk music in Kannada film soundtrack. Songs from films for which he scored that became popular included ''[[Sipayi Ramu]]'' (1972), ''[[Premada Kanike]]'' (1976), ''[[Shankar Guru (1978 film)|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 (actor)|Rajkumar]] who playback-sung many songs for films that mostly starred himself in the lead roles, 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 film)|Saptapadi]]'' (1992). Other collaborations included with singers [[C. Aswath]] ("Negilahidida" from ''Kaamana Billu''), [[Manjula Gururaj]] ("Olage Seridare Gundu" from ''Nanjundi Kalyana'')<ref name="dh1"/> and [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], who also sang many non-film [[devotional song]]s composed by Kumar.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramakrishnan |first1=Deepa H. |title=Ever popular, the devotionals SPB sang |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ever-popular-the-devotionals-spb-sang/article32700138.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=12 October 2020 |language=en-IN |date=26 September 2020}}</ref> "Naadamaya" from ''Jeevana Chaitra'' fetched Rajkumar the [[National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vijayasarathy |first1=R. G. |title=The best songs of Rajkumar |url=https://imworld.rediff.com/movies/2006/apr/17songs.htm |website=rediff.com |access-date=12 October 2020 |date=17 April 2006}}</ref> Lyrics for most tracks of the Upendra Kumar–Rajkumar combination were written by [[Chi. Udayashankar]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Deepak |first1=S. N. |title=His voice lives on |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/542295/his-voice-lives-on.html |website=Deccan Herald |access-date=12 October 2020 |language=en |date=23 April 2016}}</ref>

The [[mandolin]] and the sitar were prominently used in Kumar's instrumentation, and he was particularly fond of [[Kafi (raga)|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 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 director, 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."<ref name="dh1"/>

=== Work in Odia films ===
Alongside Kannada, Kumar notably worked also in [[Cinema of Odisha|Odia films]] and scored for more than 25 films. They included ''Dharitri'' (1972), ''[[Mana Akasha]]'' (1974), ''Punarmilana'' (1977) and ''Alibha Daga'' (1980). A book titled ''Sajala Smruti'' was released in 2009 in memory of Kumar's work in Odia films.<ref name="tnie"/>

== Personal life ==
Kumar was married to H. P. Geetha, sister of Kannada film actress H. P. Saroja.<ref name="dh1"/>

==Death==
Upendra Kumar died on 24 January 2002 of [[jaundice]] in Bangalore, aged 60.

==Awards==
*1990 – [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director]] – ''[[Nanjundi Kalyana]]''
*1992 – [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director]] – ''[[Hrudaya Haadithu]]''
*1993 – [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director]] – ''[[Jeevana Chaitra]]''{{citation needed|date=January 2012}}

==Discography==

===Kannada===
{|class="wikitable"
! Year !! Film Title !! Notes
|-
| 1966 || ''[[Katari Veera]]'' || Debut film as a composer
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Muddu Meena]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1969 || ''Ade Hrudaya Ade Mamathe'' ||
|-
| ''Chowkada Deepa'' ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1970 || ''[[Hasiru Thorana]]'' ||
|-
| ''Namma Mane'' ||
|-
| ''[[Paropakari]]'' ||
|-
| 1971 || ''Hennu Honnu Mannu'' ||
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Sipayi Ramu]]'' ||
|-
| 1973 || ''Thriveni'' ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1975 || ''Namma Oora Devaru'' ||
|-
| ''Nanjunda Nakkaga'' ||
|-
| ''Aashirvada'' ||
|-
| 1976 || ''[[Premada Kanike]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1978 || ''[[Shankar Guru (1978 film)|Shankar Guru]]'' ||
|-
| ''Suli'' ||
|-
| ''Aathma Shakthi'' ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1979 || ''Mangala'' ||
|-
| ''Dharmasere'' ||
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1980 || ''[[Ravichandra]]'' ||
|-
| ''Hrudaya Deepa'' ||
|-
| ''[[Manjina There]]'' ||
|-
| ''[[Nyaya Neethi Dharma]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1981 || ''Prachanda Putanigalu'' ||
|-
| ''Maha Prachandaru'' ||
|-
| ''Shreeman'' ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1982 || ''Andada Aramane'' ||
|-
| ''Mareyalagada Kathe'' ||
|-
| ''Praya Praya Praya'' ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1983 || ''[[Kaamana Billu]]'' ||
|-
| ''[[Gandharvagiri]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1984 || ''Onti Dhwani'' ||
|-
| ''Hennina Sowbhagya'' ||
|-
| ''[[Apoorva Sangama]]'' ||
|-
| ''Ayyappa Sharanu'' ||
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1985 || ''Nee Nakkaga'' ||
|-
| ''Pavithra Papi'' ||
|-
| ''[[Dhruva Thare]]'' ||
|-
| ''Thulasidala'' ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1986 || ''[[Anuraga Aralithu]]'' ||
|-
| ''Aparadhi Nanalla'' ||
|-
| ''[[Ratha Sapthami]]'' ||
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Manamecchida Hudugi]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1988 || ''[[Devatha Manushya]]'' ||
|-
| ''Chiranjeevi Sudhakara'' ||
|-
|rowspan="5"| 1989 || ''Kalabhimani'' ||
|-
| ''[[Nanjundi Kalyana]]'' || [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director]]
|-
| ''Bala Hombale'' ||
|-
| ''[[Deva (1989 film)|Deva]]'' ||
|-
| ''[[Gajapathi Garvabhanga]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="11"| 1990 || ''Ranabheri'' ||
|-
| ''[[Aasegobba Meesegobba]]'' ||
|-
| ''Rudra Tandava'' ||
|-
| ''Pundara Ganda'' ||
|-
| ''Swarna Samsara'' ||
|-
| ''[[Mruthyunjaya]]'' ||
|-
| ''[[Challenge Gopalakrishna]]'' ||
|-
| ''Bhale Chatura'' ||
|-
| ''[[Raja Kempu Roja]]'' ||
|-
| ''[[Anukoolakkobba Ganda]]'' ||
|-
| ''Ivalentha Hendthi'' ||
|-
|rowspan="17"| 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]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="16"| 1992 || ''Banni Ondsala Nodi'' ||
|-
| ''[[Bombat Hendthi]]'' ||
|-
| ''Amara Prema'' ||
|-
| ''[[Midida Shruthi]]'' ||
|-
| ''Hendtheere Hushar'' ||
|-
| ''[[Belli Modagalu]]'' ||
|-
| ''[[Sindhoora Thilaka]]'' ||
|-
| ''Goonda Rajya'' ||
|-
| ''[[Saptapadi (1992 film)|Sapthapadi]]'' ||
|-
| ''[[Ravivarma (film)|Ravivarma]]'' ||
|-
| ''Kanasina Rani'' ||
|-
| ''[[Jeevana Chaitra]]'' || [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director]]
|-
| ''Roshagara'' ||
|-
| ''[[Mana Mecchida Sose]]'' ||
|-
| ''Bharjari Gandu'' ||
|-
| ''Gharshane'' ||
|-
|rowspan="5"| 1993 || ''Olavina Kanike'' ||
|-
| ''Chikki Chandrama'' ||
|-
| ''Dharmapeeta'' ||
|-
| ''Bhagawan Sri Saibaba'' ||
|-
| ''Naavibbaru Namagibbaru'' ||
|-
|rowspan="5"| 1994 || ''[[Odahuttidavaru]]''
|-
| ''Apoorva Samsara'' ||
|-
| ''[[Mandyada Gandu]]'' ||
|-
| ''Sagara Deepa'' ||
|-
| ''Hettha Karulu'' ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1995 || ''Shravana Sanje'' ||
|-
| ''[[Thumbida Mane]]'' ||
|-
| ''Mana Midiyithu'' ||
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1996 || ''Rambo Raja Revolver Rani'' ||
|-
| ''Samayakkondu Sullu'' ||
|-
| ''Muddina Sose'' ||
|-
| ''Rambha Rajyadalli Rowdy'' ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1997 || ''Gandede Bhaira'' ||
|-
| ''Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda'' ||
|-
| 1998 || ''Vajra'' ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2002 || ''Dharma Devathe'' ||
|-
| ''Vishwamithra'' ||
|-
|}

===Odia===
* ''[[Manika (film)|Manika]] ''
* ''Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja ''
* ''Samarpana ''
* ''Pipasha ''
* ''Kula Chandrama ''
* ''Ae Nuhen Kahani ''
* ''[[Mana Akasha]]''
* ''Dharithri''
* ''Alibha Daga''
* ''Parivara''
* ''Palataka''
* ''Pati Patni''
* ''[[Punar Milana]]''

==See also==
*[[Rajkumar (actor)|Rajkumar]]
*[[G. K. Venkatesh]]
*[[Vijaya Bhaskar]]
*[[M. Ranga Rao]]
*[[Manjula Gururaj]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|3368198}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Upendra}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:Kannada film score composers]]
[[Category:Indian film score composers]]
[[Category:People from Odisha]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]

Upendra Kumar - Revision history

imported>Explicit: Removing link(s) Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Dharmasere closed as soft delete (XFDcloser)