Gurjada Krishnadas Venkatesh, popularly known as GK Venkatesh is one of the most prominent music composer of Kannada movies during the 1960s, ‘70s & late ‘80s. He also composed music for Tamil & Telugu movies. He has left behind many unforgettable melodies in Kannada/Tamil/Telugu films. You can say he was the pioneer who brought Western background score into Kannada films. GKV used elaborate Western-style orchestration in his songs, be they of any genre. He has scored music for all Bond movies of Late Dr. Rajkumar in 60-70's. Interesting aspect of this music composer is that the very genius that we all know today called “ILLAYARAJA” worked under him as an assistant for more than 200 Films. More over if we listen to compositions of Illayaraja during his beginning days as music composer you can feel that there has been a lot of influence of GK Venkatesh.
If we just listen to “Kanulalo Ne Roopam” from the movie "Ravanude Ramudaithe”which was GKV’s composition and listen to “Neeve Amara Swarame” from "Gharshana", we can feel the influence of GKV in Illayaraja’s composition during that time.
He is the one who introduced Dr. Rajkumar, as a singer in Ohileshwara (Song. Sharanu Shambu) & recorded Dr.Raj's first duet in Mahishasura Mardhini (song: Tumbitu Manava with S. Janaki). He composed more than 50 movies in which Dr. Rajkumar played hero.
He successfully brought the Legendary singer Dr. Bhimsen Joshi to sing for films "Sandhyaraga" in 1966. Bhimsen Joshi sang again in 1983 in the movie "Nodi Swami Navirodu Heege".During the times Ustad BIsmillah Khan was very reluctant to play Shehnai for films but GKV got the master Shenai player to play shehnai for lead character Appanna (Played by Dr. Rajkumar) in the film "Sanadi Appana" in 1977. Infact this song went on to become a charbuster & used to be played on AIR regularly in Kannada Radio.
I am just playing some interesting melodies of the composer in all three languages below, hope you enjoy the music.
History Byte: Film Kasturi Nivasa Language: Kannada Singer: PB Sreenivas
This movie hit the tamil screens in the name of Avandan Manidan. Which was Sivaji Ganeshan's 100th Film. When Released it ran ony for 4 weeks due to the contract with the exhibitors, but ran for 100 days on its second release.
History Byte: Film-Ravanude Ramudaithe Language: Telugu
History Byte: Tamil Song from the movie Ponnuku Thanga Manasu
History Byte: Film-Bangarada Manushya Language-Kannada
History Byte: Film-America Ammayi Language-Telugu
History Byte: Film-Sridevi Language - Telugu
Hope you enjoy the music GK Venkatesh.
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