| R. Balasaraswathi Devi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rao Balasaraswathi Devi August 29, 1929 Venkatagiri, Madras Presidency, British India now in Andhra Pradesh |
| Occupation | Actress, Playback singer |
| Spouse | Raja of Kolanka |
| Awards | Ramineni Foundation Award |
R. Balasaraswathi, Raavu Balasaraswathi or Rao Balasaraswathi Devi (Tamil: ராவ் பாலசரஸ்வதி தேவி) (b: August 29, 1929) is famous singer and actress of 1930 to 1960s in Telugu and Tamil languages.[1]
She has the distinction of first Light music singer on All India Radio and first playback singer of Telugu cinema industry.[2]
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She born in 1929 at Venkatagiri. She learned music from Allathuru Subbayya and lent her voice for the first solo gramophone on HMV recording company at the age of 6 years.
She acted as child actor Ganga and also sang in the films Sati Anasuya and Bhakta Dhruva in 1936 directed by C. Pullaiah.[3] Observing her talent, director K. Subramaniam invited her to act in Tamil films. In the following years, she acted in Tamil films like Bhaktha Kuchela (1936), Balayogini (1937), Thiruneelakantar (1939). She played the role of Tukaram’s daughter in Tukaram (1938). Tukaram role was portrayed by Musiri Subramania Iyer in Tamil version and C. S. R. Anjaneyulu in the Telugu version. In 1940, she acted with S. Rajeswara Rao in Illalu, directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam.
In Bhagya Lakshmi (1943) of Sri Renuka Films of Chittor V. Nagaiah, she made history when she sang for Kamala Kotnis on screen. It was the first instance of playback singing in Telugu cinema. The song Thinne Meedha Sinnoda was composed by Bhimavarapu Narasimha Rao.
She is married to the Raja of Kolanka, and gradually reduced her screen appearances. After sometime, she resumed her career as a playback singer to sing many memorable songs in Telugu and Tamil languages. Although, she had rendered songs in many genre and moods such as religious, romantic and dance, her strong point is sorrow and lullabies. Lullabies and cradle songs are caressing voice have the magic ingredients of motherhood, the selfless love that only a mother is capable of, the warmth of her bosom, the protection of her proximity and the pride of her possessiveness. The immortal song of neela vaNNa kaNNa vaada, nee oru muttham thaadaa in Mangaiyar Thilakam in Tamil and Dharaniki Giri Bharama, Giriki Tharuvu Bharama, Taruvuku Kaaya Bharama, Kanipenche Talliki Pilla Bharama in Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu in Telugu languages is one of her best tunes.
She lived for some years in Mysore, and then shifted to Hyderabad. After her husband’s demise, she is now living with her son in her grand son's house in Secunderabad.
| Year | Film | Language | Song | Music | Co-Singer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Illalu | Telugu | Suma Komala | S. Rajeswara Rao | |
| 1943 | Bhagya Lakshmi | Telugu | Tinne Meedi Chinnoda | Bhimavarapu Narasimha Rao | |
| 1943 | Chenchu Lakshmi | Telugu | Elukkovayya | R. Chinnaiah & C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1943 | Chenchu Lakshmi | Telugu | Eri Eri | R. Chinnaiah & C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1948 | Bilhana | Tamil | Sri Jaya Saraswathi Devi Thaaye | ||
| 1948 | Bilhana | Tamil | Innisaiye Ganarasa Innamudhe Ennuriye | ||
| 1948 | Suvarnamala | Telugu | Ravoji Jilvana Jyoti | Adepalli Rama Rao | |
| 1949 | Laila Majnu | Telugu | Ela Pagaye Ipudela Pagaye | C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1949 | Laila Majnu | Tamil | Veen Pazhi Thane Prabho En Mel | C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1949 | Radhika | Telugu | Gopala Krishnudu Nallana | S. Hanumantha Rao | |
| 1950 | Paramanandayya Shishyula Katha | Telugu | |||
| 1950 | Shavukaru | Telugu | Deepavali Deepavali | Ghantasala | |
| 1950 | Swapna Sundari | Telugu | Natanalu Telusunule | C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1950 | Swapna Sundari | Telugu | Kanaganaitiniga | C. R. Subburaman | Ghantasala |
| 1950 | Swapna Sundari | Telugu | O Paradesi Mare Jadala | C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1951 | Mayakkari | Tamil | Kanbeno Kanbeno | Pendyala Nageswara Rao | Pendyala Nageswara Rao |
| 1952 | Chinna Kodalu | Telugu | Jo Jo Jo Vayyarikade Jo Jo Jo | G. Aswathama | |
| 1952 | Chinna Kodalu | Telugu | Ra Rado Rachiluka | G. Aswathama | A. M. Rajah |
| 1952 | Manavati | Tamil | O Malaya Maaruthame | Balantrapu Rajinikantha Rao | S. Rajam |
| 1952 | Manavati | Telugu | O Malaya Pavanama | Balantrapu Rajinikantha Rao | M. S. Ramarao |
| 1952 | Manavati | Telugu | Phalimpava Naa Asalu | Balantrapu Rajinikantha Rao | |
| 1952 | Manavati | Telugu | Tana Pantame | Balantrapu Rajinikantha Rao | |
| 1952 | Prema | Telugu | |||
| 1952 | Thai Ullam | Tamil | Malai Nila Vara Vendum | Chittor V. Nagaiah & Adepalli Rama Rao | T. A. Mothi |
| 1953 | Devadasu | Telugu | Andam Choodavaya Anandinchavaya | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | |
| 1953 | Devadasu | Telugu | Tane Marena Nanne Marena | C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1953 | Devadasu | Telugu | Imta Telisiyumdi | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | |
| 1953 | Devadas | Tamil | Santhosham Vendumendral | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | |
| 1953 | Devadas | Tamil | Anbe Pavama | C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1953 | Devadas | Tamil | Paaramugam Yenayya En Swami | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | |
| 1953 | Naa Chellelu | Telugu | Hayi Kada Mana Ilvanamu | C. N. Pandurangan | A. M. Rajah |
| 1953 | Naa Chellelu | Telugu | Ma Prema Ghada Madurmmugada | C. N. Pandurangan | A. M. Rajah |
| 1953 | Naa Illu | Telugu | Adigadigo Gagana Seema Andamaina Chandamama Adigo | Chittor V. Nagaiah & Adepalli Rama Rao | Jikki |
| 1953 | Pitchi Pullaiah | Telugu | Ella Velalandu Nee Chakkani Chirunavvulakai | ||
| 1953 | Veera Kankanam | Telugu | Amdala Rani | S. Dakshinamurthi | A. M. Rajah |
| 1953 | Parobakaram | Tamil | Manme Sugamne Perumo | Ghantasala | |
| 1954 | Rajee Na Pranam | Telugu | Mallepoolu Mallepoolu | S. Hanumantha Rao | |
| 1954 | Rajee En Kanmani | Tamil | Malligaipoo Jathi Roja | S. Hanumantha Rao | |
| 1954 | Rajee En Kanmani | Tamil | Sundara Malare | S. Hanumantha Rao | |
| 1954 | Rajee En Kanmani | Tamil | Amma Vareero | S. Hanumantha Rao | |
| 1955 | Asai Anna Arumai Thambi | Tamil | Kannaithan Parikkuthu | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1955 | Asai Anna Arumai Thambi | Tamil | Sugam Peruveno | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1955 | Jayasimha | Telugu | Madiloni Madhura Bhavam Palikenu Mohana Ragam | T. V. Raju | Ghantasala |
| 1955 | Jayasimha | Telugu | Manasaina Cheli Pilupu | T. V. Raju | A. P. Komala |
| 1955 | Jayasimman | Tamil | Malarodu Madhura Mevum Manam Kaanum Mohana Ragam | T. V. Raju | Ghantasala |
| 1955 | Jayasimman | Tamil | Malar Thara | T. V. Raju | A. P. Komala |
| 1955 | Pasupu Kumkuma | Telugu | Hayi Hayi O Papayi | ||
| 1955 | Nalla Kalam | Tamil | Vazhvu Malarnthu Manam Veesiduthe | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1955 | Nalla Kalam | Tamil | Maname Un Vaazhvil Nee | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1955 | Mangaiyar Thilakam | Tamil | Neela Vanna Kanna Vada | S. Dakshinamurthi | |
| 1955 | Valliyin Selvan | Tamil | Amma Amma Endru | S. V. Venkatraman | |
| 1955 | Valliyin Selvan | Tamil | Kanne Vada kaniye Vada | S. V. Venkatraman | |
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | Tamil | Thangam Pongum Meni Undhan Sondham Ini | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | |
| 1956 | Tenali Ramakrishna | Telugu | Jhan Jhan Kankanamuluga | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | |
| 1956 | Dhambatyam | Telugu | Tanemi Talamcheno | Pasupuleti Ramesh Naidu | A. M. Rajah |
| 1956 | Marma Veeran | Tamil | Thudikkum Valibame | Vedha | |
| 1956 | Jaya Gopi | Tamil | O Muthu Papa | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | |
| 1956 | Kannin Manigal | Tamil | Kandu Konden Naane | S. V. Venkatraman | T. A. Mothi |
| 1956 | Vanaratham | Tamil | Sudar Thaari Sabaiyil Unai Kanen Nane | Naushad | |
| 1956 | Vanaratham | Tamil | Nenjin Ilamai Ensolven | Naushad | |
| 1957 | Mahadevi | Tamil | Singara Punnagai Kannara Kandale | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | M. S. Rajeswari |
| 1957 | Peddarikalu | Telugu | Lali Lali Nanu Kannayya | ||
| 1957 | Peddarikalu | Telugu | Vennela Rada Vedanalena | ||
| 1957 | Raja Rajan | Tamil | Kalaityatha Asai Kanave | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1957 | Raja Rajan | Tamil | Kalaityatha Asai Kanave (Pathos) | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1957 | Bhagyavathi | Tamil | Ellorum Unnai Nallavan Endre | S. Dakshinamurthi | |
| 1957 | Baktha Markandeya | Tamil | Inggum Anggum | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | |
| 1958 | Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu | Telugu | Dharaniki Giri Bharama Giriki Taruvu Bharama Taruvuku Kaya Bharama Kanipenche Talliki Pilla Bharama | ||
| 1958 | Thai Piranthaal Vazhi Pirakkum | Tamil | Eliyorai Thaazhthi Valiyorai Vaazhthum | K. V. Mahadevan | T. M. Soundararajan |
| 1958 | Uthama Puthiran | Tamil | Muthe, Pavalme....... Aala Pirantha En Kanmaniye | G. Ramanathan | A. P. Komala |
| 1958 | Anbu Enge | Tamil | Sollu Nee Raja | Vedha | |
| 1959 | Thayaipola Pillai Noolaipola Selai | Tamil | Nalla Kudumbam | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1959 | Yaar Paiyan | Tamil | Kannaamoochi Aattam | S. Dakshinamurthi | |
| 1959 | Pelli Sandadi | Telugu | Rave Premalata Oho Kaviraja | ||
| 1959 | Sumangali | Tamil | Vithi Seitha Sathiyo Athan | M. Ranga Rao | Sirkazhi Govindarajan |
| 1959 | Pen Kulathin Pon Vilakku | Tamil | Pillai Kaniyamuthe Pedhai Enthan Pudhu Vazhve | Master Venu | |
| 1959 | Sagodari | Tamil | Uravu Thanthai Kannale | R. Sudarsanam | |
| 1959 | Sagodari | Tamil | Malarum Malarum Nallarame | R. Sudarsanam | |
| 1959 | Thozhan | Tamil | Vada Malarthene | G. Ramanathan | |
| 1959 | Sollu Thambi Sollu | Tamil | Soodatha Malarai | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1959 | Mala Oru Mangala Vilakku | Tamil | Aduthu Poongkodi | ||
| 1959 | Arumai Magal Abirami | Tamil | Nalla Pillai Endru Solli Unnai | ||
| 1960 | Irumanam Kalanthal Thirumanam | Tamil | Kanne Vada Kaniye Vada | S. Dakshinamurthi | |
| 1960 | Raja Bakthi | Tamil | Paarmuzhuthum Irul Parappum | T. Govindarajulu Naidu | |
| 1961 | Thaiyilla Pillai | Tamil | Seerarum Paingkiliye | ||
| 1963 | Nan Vanagum Deivam | Tamil | Dhayavillaiyo Annaiye | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1967 | Harichandra | Tamil | Oraam Maadham Udaladhu Thalarndhu | K. V. Mahadevan |