Brief account of Contributions of Dr.
Chittaranjan in the field of Light Music
Kalarathna Dr. Chittaranjan Mahabhashyam is a renowned light
Music singer, Music director and writer, hailing from Hyderabad,
Telangana. He has rendered extraordinary services in the field of light
music (sugam sangeeth) for over 60 years. Born in a musical family, he
had his initial training under his mother Smt M.Perin Devi and
subsequently pursued advanced training under the guidance of Padma
bhushan Dr. Mangalampalli BalaMurali Krishna. He started singing
in “Deccan Radio of Hyderabad '' from the age of 8, i.e from 1947.
Dr. Chittaranjan has been a doyen of Light Music having contributed as a singer,
composer and writer for over 60 years and is not only a very popular household name in
the Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana but a noted personality, nationally
and internationally.
His association with Radio and active participation in all the programs since 1954 paved
his way to joining All India Radio in the year 1972. He has been an ‘A’ Grade singer
since 1972 and sang for many noted composers and writers like Veena Maestro Emani
Sankara Sastry, Dr. Bala Murai Krishna, Sri Devulapalli Krishna Sastry Manchala
Jagannatha Rao, Updrashta Krishna Murthy, Palagummi Visanatham, Dr. B. Rajini
Kantha Rao from AIR and TV stations, Hyderabad.
He was accredited as the ‘TOP GRADE Light music composer’ by Prasar Bharathi in
1998. In a field where very few artists have traversed, Dr. Chittaranjan stands out as a
pioneer/ undisputed leader in the field of Light Music (Sugam Sangeeth) in South India,
owing to his substantial contribution. With his profound knowledge in Carnatic,
Hindustani and Western systems of Music he experimented and created new trends in
composing tunes with rich orchestration in rare ragas. His musical scores had no
language barrier as he composed songs in Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Urdu
and Kannada. His contribution to Light Music is noteworthy and has had a significant
influence on the listeners. He has composed music for over 15000 songs and sang 8000
songs till date. He exhibited his versatility through his compositions encompassing a
wide variety of songs including light music, folk lore, Rabindra sangeet, Patriotic songs,
Bhajans, Bhakthi sangeeth, Ghazals, Film songs, Yaksha Gana, Musical features, Music
and dance ballets.
Dr. Chittaranjan conducted the program ‘SPANDANA’ on the Telugu channel of
‘World Music Radio’ from 2007-09, wherein he provided an in-depth musical analysis
of both Telugu and Hindi film/private songs. The program became very popular globally.
His Radio programs like ‘EE Pata Nerchukundam’- Light Music lessons through AIR,
‘Kalasi Padudam’ – community music lessons in 16 Indian Languages were highly
appreciated by listeners of all ages, across the country. It is not an exaggeration to say
that there was no musical production broadcasted from AIR Hyderabad without his
participation for over 40 years. He has been a GURU to innumerable disciples /
amateur artists spanning across the country and internationally, who are presently
graded artists and composers performing on the AIR, Doordarshan and other platforms.
He has composed for special National Government programs like Indira Gandhi 20
point formula programs, family welfare and planning programs, National integration
and Small Savings Programs for rural population and patriotic numbers during
Chinese and Pakistani aggression, Jayanthi celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore and Sri
Subrahmanya Bharathi to name a few. He also presented a special Musical feature
“Vignana Veechika” at the World Telugu Conference held at Hyderabad in 1975.
He envisioned and devised a two year Diploma course in Light Music (the first of its
kind in India in Light Music). This was approved and implemented by “Potti
Sriramulu Telugu University’ and Andhra Mahila Sabha college of Music & Dance ,
Hyderabad and the courses commenced from 2000. He was a visiting Professor at both
these institutes and several students have been benefited by this course. The same
syllabus was subsequently adopted by the Music University of Khairagarh, Madhya
Pradesh with Hindi and Urdu as the medium of Instruction.
He composed the entire 701 slokas of Bhagavad Githa and 28 slokas of Githa Sthuthi
in 174 ragas using both Carnatic and Hindustani styles. This project, organized by Sri
Krishna nanda Mutt of Hyderabad, is being considered for inclusion in the Guinness
Book of World Records. He is also on the board of the selection committee of the
‘Annamacharya Recording Project’ of TTD Tirupati since 2014 .
He has been an active member of Andhra Balananda Sangham since childhood and
contributed as singer and composer. He composed several songs and produced musical
features for all special occasions as well as also wrote several articles for their magazines
for the benefit of young children for the past 60 years. He is the President of the
Association since 2001 and has been playing a pivotal role for promoting Art and
Culture in the young generation. The Andhra Balananda Sangham, a reputed Institute
established by Radio Akkayya, Annayya in 1940 for overall development of Children
celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2020.
In the field of cinemas, he performed as a playback singer for Telugu & Kannada Movies
like Kuladaivam, Vidhi vilasam, Swarna Gouri, Surya Chandrulu and was music director
for ‘Mana Mahatmulu’ and ‘Yadagiri Lakshmi Narasimha swamy Mahathyam’ and
several Documentary movies.
Books Written by him include Chittaranjanam- a vaggeyakara samputi - his own lyrical
and musical compositions in keerthana style, Lalitha Sangeetha Sourabham a light
music a siddhanta grandham; Lalitha Sangeetham 80 sangeetha saraswatha Malaya
Maruthalu - a collection of 80 invaluable songs with musical notes, author dedications
and singer profiles; Sri Skanda Rathnavali- A collection of keerthanas on Lord
Subramanyeswara swamy. His popular cassettes include ‘ Lalitha Geethala Rasa
Gulikalu Githam Srinivasam, Premaswaroopa Yesu, Annamayya Keerthanalu, Swamy
sharanam Ayyappa, Shirdi Sainath Suprabhatham, Patriotic songs, Raghavendra Guru
Padahara.
He has won several Awards and Titles from highly acclaimed Musical Associations in
India and is also the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from “The Open
International University Of Srilanka, Colombo. He was conferred the ‘Kalarathna” by
the AP State Govt in 2008.
His Major awards include:
● 1977- First Prize awarded by Akashvani for rendering songs in the musical
feature “Siva Thandavam’” depicting 5 tandavas
● 1979- First prize awarded by Akashvani for singing shlokas in the documentary
‘Universality of Music”
● 1989- Akashvani Annual Award with Certificate of merit for the a musical
feature “Kala chakra gamanam lo Kapothakala Koojithalu”
● 1993- Deenanath Mangeshkar Memorial Award given by Bharath Ratna Smt
Lata Mangeshkar
● 1996- Best Musician Award presented by Sadbhavana Samithi at Vijayanagaram
● 1999- Ghantasala Memorial Kala Peetham Award
● 2004 “Lifetime achievement Award and Legend of Light Music” by Gnana
Saraswathi Music And Dance Academy
● 2008-Devulapalli Krishna Sastry Award by Kinnera Arts Association
● 2008 – Prestigious Title of “ Kala Rathna” conferred the by Andhra Pradesh
State Government Cultural Council by the then Chief Minister Sri Rajasekhar
Reddy
● 2008-09—Micheal Madhusudan Award – Best honor for Nobel relation in
recognition of Meritorious achievements in the field of Light Music and Music
Direction
● 2008- Awarded The Doctorate Of Philosophy (Phd) In Light Music By “ The
Open International University Of Srilanka , Colombo” in recognition of his
extraordinary services and research in the field of Light Music
● 2009 -Saluru Rajeswara Rao Smaraka Puraskaram by Rasamayi Academy ,
Hyderabad
● 2009 – Excellency Puraskar by Hindi Bhasha Foundation Hyderabad
● 2010- Bombay Telugu Samakhya Award at Mumbai
● 2011- Ugadi Puraskaram by Delhi Telugu Academy
● 2018 – Satyam Sangeetha Puraskaram in memory of Cine Music Director
Master Satyam
● 2019 - Palagummi Award at Palagummi Satha Jayanthi Function
● 2019 – Ghantasala Sangeetha Puraskaram by Vamsi International Association
● 2019 – Balantrapu Rajani Kantha Rao Centenary Memorial Award resented by
Adi Leela Foundation Hyderabad
Major Titles conferred by Various associations :
● Kala Ratna- Government Of Andhrapradesh In 2008
● Gana Ratha- Swami Sivananda Of Divine Life Society At Rishikesh In 1962
● Vaayu Gana Vilola- Bhasha Kutheeram In 1982
● Lalitha Gandharva Kalanidhi- Abhinandana Cultural Assn 1988
● Lalitha Sangeetha Chakravarthy- Vani Girija Natya Mandali In 1994
● Lalitha Sangeetha Samrat- Srithi Laya Cultural Association In 1999
● Madhura Swara Nidhi- Kala Rajyam Cultural Association In 1999
● Lalitha Sangeetha Visharada
● Lalitha Sangeetha Bhashyakara
● Lalitha Gana Tapaswi
● Sangeetha Chakravarthy- In Memory Of Cine Music Director Chakravarthy
● Lalitha Sangeetha Maha Mahopadhyaya- Little Musicians Academy
References
Recommendations
Awards
