Vijaya Bhaskar
Encyclopedia
Vijaya Bhaskar ( Kannada : ವಿಜಯ್ ಭಾಸ್ಕರ್ )was a Kannada Music director
. He was known for his songs composed in association with Puttanna Kanagal
.
and Madan Mohan
. In Bombay Bhaskar was sitting in a restaurant in Matunga
and chatting with a friend and then accidentally met B R Krishnamurthy (BRK). Bhaskar was speaking in Kannada and overheard BRK. BRK used to work as an assistant to R Nagendra Rao and had worked on several pictures with him. Bhaskar told him he was a musician. He asked him whether he would make music for a Kannada picture they were making. Bhaskar finally came down from Bombay in 1953 to do the score for film Sri Rama Puja.
Puttanna Kanagal
who was assisting BR Pantulu, with Bellimoda became independent Director. VB was the music director for Belli Moda
. Film became an instant success and cemented their association. After Belli Moda, there was Gejje Pooje
, and later Naagarahaavu
. He worked with Kanagal continuously till the '90s and then there was a break when M Ranga Rao took over for films like Ranganayaki
. Bhaskar came back for Maanasa Sarovara
.
A recipient of Rajkumar
award and Sur Singar prashasthi, Bhaskar has scored music for nearly 600 movies. They include films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Tulu and Konkani languages. The popular kannada films include Rani honnamma, Santha Thukaram, Gejje Pooje, mana mechida madadi, belli moda, naandi, shara panjara, naagarahaavu, sakshaathkara, shubha mangala and neela.
Influenced by R.C. Boral
and Mukul Mehta, Bhaskar developed his own style of music. He also proved that Kannada films too can have theme music. Bhaskar did not limit his musical talent for commercial movies alone. He directed music for experimental movies like Grahana, Yellindalo Bandavaru and Naandi. Bhaskar took the credit for inspiring producers to select popular works of Kannada poets through his music. The popular numbers include "Moodana Maneya" in Belli Moda (poem by D. R. Bendre
) and "Uttara Dhruvadin" in Shara Panjara (also by D. R. Bendre).
Apart from music composition he has also given background score for several movies. Popular Malayalam director Adoor Gopalakrishnan
always preferred Bhaskar for his movies. Gopalakrishnan was very much impressed when Bhaskar gave music for his movie Mathilukal
which had no songs at all. All in all Bhaskar gave music for three of Gopalakrishnan's films in Malayalam -- Kathapurushan
, Vidheyan
and Mathilukal. In Hindi Bhaskar did G. V. Iyer
's Vivekananda.
Bhaskar also went to London and did an English
film. The film was called Robert Clive, and it was released in India also. It was shot mostly in India
, and Bhaskar did a major part of the score.
. He was 77. He left behind his wife, a son, two daughters and 5 grandchildren. His body was cremated in wilson gardens crematorium here on 5 March.
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
. He was known for his songs composed in association with Puttanna Kanagal
Puttanna Kanagal
Puttanna Kanagal was one of the most prominent Kannada film directors of the 1960s and the 70s. Although the majority of his films were on offbeat or taboo subjects, he endeared himself to both the critics and ordinary film goers alike. He also directed a handful Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and...
.
Career
Vijaya Bhaskar was busy in Bombay, assisting music directors like NaushadNaushad
Naushad Ali was an Indian musician. He was one of the foremost music directors for Bollywood films, and is particularly known for popularizing the use of classical music in films.His first film as an independent music director was Prem Nagar in 1940...
and Madan Mohan
Madan Mohan
Madan Mohan Kohli , better known as Madan Mohan, was a famed Bollywood film music director of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s...
. In Bombay Bhaskar was sitting in a restaurant in Matunga
Matunga
Matunga is a district located in the central part of Mumbai. It is a railway station on the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. This station is called Matunga on the Central railway line, Matunga Road on the Western line and King's Circle, on the Harbour Line...
and chatting with a friend and then accidentally met B R Krishnamurthy (BRK). Bhaskar was speaking in Kannada and overheard BRK. BRK used to work as an assistant to R Nagendra Rao and had worked on several pictures with him. Bhaskar told him he was a musician. He asked him whether he would make music for a Kannada picture they were making. Bhaskar finally came down from Bombay in 1953 to do the score for film Sri Rama Puja.
Puttanna Kanagal
Puttanna Kanagal
Puttanna Kanagal was one of the most prominent Kannada film directors of the 1960s and the 70s. Although the majority of his films were on offbeat or taboo subjects, he endeared himself to both the critics and ordinary film goers alike. He also directed a handful Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and...
who was assisting BR Pantulu, with Bellimoda became independent Director. VB was the music director for Belli Moda
Belli Moda
Belli moda is a 1966 Kannada movie by Puttanna Kanagal. Belli moda literally means silver cloud. It was based on the novel Belli Moda, written by acclaimed writer Thriveni.-Plot:...
. Film became an instant success and cemented their association. After Belli Moda, there was Gejje Pooje
Gejje Pooje
Gejje Pooje is a 1969 Kannada movie by Puttanna Kanagal starring Kalpana, Gangadhar and Leelavathi. Gejje means anklet and pooje means worship but in this context it means a mock marriage.- Plot :...
, and later Naagarahaavu
Naagarahaavu
Nagarahaavu is a 1972 Kannada film by Puttanna Kanagal starring Vishnuvardhan, Aarathi, K. S. Ashwath.It was the first movie in Kannada Film history to Complete 100 days in 3 Main theaters of Bangalore....
. He worked with Kanagal continuously till the '90s and then there was a break when M Ranga Rao took over for films like Ranganayaki
Ranganayaki (film)
Ranganayaki is a 1981 Kannada movie by Puttanna Kanagal starring Ambarish, Aarathi, Ramakrishna, Ashok, Rajanand.- Plot details :The movie explores the nuance of Oedipus Complex. The heroine, a popular theatre artist, falls in love with a rich, young man. They eventually get married and beget a...
. Bhaskar came back for Maanasa Sarovara
Maanasa Sarovara
Manasa Sarovara is a 1982 Kannada movie directed by Puttanna Kanagal starring Srinath, Padmavasanthi and Ramakrishna.- Plot :A middle aged psychiatrist finds a young insane woman wandering aimlessly along the streets. He takes her to his abode for treatment. Slowly the woman recovers from her...
.
A recipient of Rajkumar
Rajkumar
Rajkumar , born as Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju was a popular actor and singer in the Kannada film industry...
award and Sur Singar prashasthi, Bhaskar has scored music for nearly 600 movies. They include films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Tulu and Konkani languages. The popular kannada films include Rani honnamma, Santha Thukaram, Gejje Pooje, mana mechida madadi, belli moda, naandi, shara panjara, naagarahaavu, sakshaathkara, shubha mangala and neela.
Influenced by R.C. Boral
Raichand Boral
Rai Chand Boral was an Indian composer, considered by music conoisseurs to be the father of Bollywood film music.-Life and career:...
and Mukul Mehta, Bhaskar developed his own style of music. He also proved that Kannada films too can have theme music. Bhaskar did not limit his musical talent for commercial movies alone. He directed music for experimental movies like Grahana, Yellindalo Bandavaru and Naandi. Bhaskar took the credit for inspiring producers to select popular works of Kannada poets through his music. The popular numbers include "Moodana Maneya" in Belli Moda (poem by D. R. Bendre
D. R. Bendre
Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre was amongst the most famous of Kannada poets of the Navodaya Period. Praised as varakavi, literally 'gifted poet', he was the second person among eight recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada, the highest literary honour conferred in India...
) and "Uttara Dhruvadin" in Shara Panjara (also by D. R. Bendre).
Apart from music composition he has also given background score for several movies. Popular Malayalam director Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Moutatthu "Adoor" Gopalakrishnan Unnithan is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer. Adoor Gopalakrishnan had a major role in revolutionizing Malayalam cinema and is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of India.. Adoor's first film Swayamvaram pioneered the new wave cinema...
always preferred Bhaskar for his movies. Gopalakrishnan was very much impressed when Bhaskar gave music for his movie Mathilukal
Mathilukal
This article has details about the novel as well as its film adaptation.Mathilukal is a Malayalam novel written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in 1965. It is one of the most cherished and well-known love stories in Malayalam. Its hero, Basheer himself, and heroine, Narayani, never meet, yet they love...
which had no songs at all. All in all Bhaskar gave music for three of Gopalakrishnan's films in Malayalam -- Kathapurushan
Kathapurushan
Kathapurushan is an award-winning feature film directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. The film is in Malayalam. It stars Vishwanathan, Mini Nair, Aranmula Ponnamma, Narendra Prasad and Urmila Unni. It won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Film at the National Film Awards in 1996...
, Vidheyan
Vidheyan
Vidheyan is a 1993 Indian Malayalam film directed and co-written by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. It is a cinematic adaptation of the novel Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum by Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia. The film explores the master-slave dialectic in a South Karnataka setting...
and Mathilukal. In Hindi Bhaskar did G. V. Iyer
G. V. Iyer
Ganapathi Venkatrama Iyer was a well known Indian film director and actor. He was nicknamed "Kannada Bheeshma", and was the only person who made movies in Sanskrit. His films were well-known for their spiritual themes. He was born in 1917 in Nanjanagud in Mysore district of Karnataka state in...
's Vivekananda.
Bhaskar also went to London and did an English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
film. The film was called Robert Clive, and it was released in India also. It was shot mostly in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and Bhaskar did a major part of the score.
Death and afterward
Vijaya Bhaskar died on the morning of 3 March 2002 (Sunday) following a cardiac arrest at his residence in J P Nagar, BangaloreBangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
. He was 77. He left behind his wife, a son, two daughters and 5 grandchildren. His body was cremated in wilson gardens crematorium here on 5 March.
Kannada
- Belli ModaBelli ModaBelli moda is a 1966 Kannada movie by Puttanna Kanagal. Belli moda literally means silver cloud. It was based on the novel Belli Moda, written by acclaimed writer Thriveni.-Plot:...
(1966) - Mallammana PavaadaMallammana Pavaada-Plot details:The heroine of the film, Mallamma is married to a dullard by her parents. While in her in-laws house, Mallamma realises that her husband has been made a dullard due to his scheming stepmother, who wants to appropriate the vast property. She educates her husband and frees him from the...
(1969) - Gejje PoojeGejje PoojeGejje Pooje is a 1969 Kannada movie by Puttanna Kanagal starring Kalpana, Gangadhar and Leelavathi. Gejje means anklet and pooje means worship but in this context it means a mock marriage.- Plot :...
(1969) - *SharapanjaraSharapanjaraSharapanjara is a 1971 Kannada movie by Puttanna Kanagal starring Kalpana and Gangadhar.The film was later remade into the Telugu hit film Krishnaveni starring Vanisri.- Plot details :...
(1971) - NaagarahaavuNaagarahaavuNagarahaavu is a 1972 Kannada film by Puttanna Kanagal starring Vishnuvardhan, Aarathi, K. S. Ashwath.It was the first movie in Kannada Film history to Complete 100 days in 3 Main theaters of Bangalore....
(1972)
- Upasane (1974) (The Devotion)
- Katha SangamaKatha SangamaKatha Sangama is an Indian portmanteau Kannada film is directed by Puttanna Kanagal.The movie is the collection of 3 small stories.It starred Kalyan Kumar, Rajinikanth, Saroja Devi and Arathi.-Hangu:...
(1975) - Shubhamangala (1975)
- Bili HendthiBili HendthiBili Hendthi is a 1975 Kannada movie by Puttanna Kanagal starring Aarathi, Loknath and Margaret Thomsen.- Story :Arathi is affianced to a guy who is visiting the United States. Being thus a de-facto daughter-in-law, she assumes the role and practically lives with her in-laws...
(1975) - Phalithamsha (1976)
- *Paduvaaralli PandavaruPaduvaaralli PandavaruPaduvaaralli Pandavaru is a Kannada language movie directed by renown director Puttanna Kanagal.The film was distributed by noted distributor R.N. Mandre....
(1978) - Maanasa SarovaraMaanasa SarovaraManasa Sarovara is a 1982 Kannada movie directed by Puttanna Kanagal starring Srinath, Padmavasanthi and Ramakrishna.- Plot :A middle aged psychiatrist finds a young insane woman wandering aimlessly along the streets. He takes her to his abode for treatment. Slowly the woman recovers from her...
(1982) - Dharani Mandala MadhyadolageDharani Mandala MadhyadolageDharani Mandala Madhyadolage is a 1983 Kannada movie by Puttanna Kanagal starring Srinath, Chandrashekar, Ramakrishna, Jaijagadeesh, TN Seetharam.- Plot details :...
(1983) - Amrutha GhaligeAmrutha GhaligeAmrutha Ghalige is a 1984 Kannada movie directed by Puttanna Kanagal starring Ramakrishna, Padmavasanthi and Sridhar.- Plot:This movie deals with the cause and consequences of teenage pregnancy. The heroine, hailing from a poor background, falls in love with an affluent young man. The young man...
(1984) - Runamukthalu (1984)
- Masanada HoovuMasanada HoovuMasanada Hoove is a 1984 Kannada movie by Puttanna Kanagal starring Jayanti, Ambarish and Aparna. Masanada Hoove is the last movie by Puttanna Kanagal and he died before completing it. His friend and director KSL Swamy completed the film....
(1984)