Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma

Rallapalli Ananta Krishna Sharma (23 January 1893 – 11 March 1979) was a noted composer of Carnatic music, singer, Telugu literature, teacher and Sanskrit scholar. He was responsible for discovering and cataloguing many forgotten compositions of Annamacharya. These compositions revived by Sharma would be sung by successive singers like S. P. Balasubramanyam and M. S. Subbalakshmi bringing popularity to the songs.

Sharma authored prose works like Vemana, Natakopanyasamulu, Ganakale, Sahitya Mattu Jeevana Kale and Saraswatalokamu. He also translated 395 (out of 700) Gathas from original Prakrit into Telugu language titled Shalivahana Gatha Sapta Saramu in 1931. Sharma is the recipient of Central Sangeet & Natak Academy Fellowship (1973), Gana Kala Sindhu (1961), Gana Kala Prapoorna (1969), Sangeeta Kala Ratna (1974) and Sangeeta Sahitya Asthan Vidwan honours along with an Honorary Doctorate from TTD University, Andhra Pradesh.

Early life

Rallapalli Ananta Krishna Sharma was born on 23 January 1893 to parents Karnamadakala Krishnamacharya and Alamelu Mangamma. He was born in Rallapalli village in Kambadur taluk, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh. Later, in 1911, he married Rukminamma. Sharma lacked formal college or university education, but his proficiency in the traditional Sastras and musical compositions became his main strength. He composed his first Sanskrit composition at the age of 14 years. It was a composition dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi titled 'Jalarashi Balelole '.

Musical Training

While in Mysore, Sharma frequently visited Carnatic musical concerts by Veena Seshanna, Veena Subbanna, Karigiraya, Mysore Vasudevacharya, Bidaram Krishnappa and Chikka Ramaraya. He repeatedly attempted to persuade them to take him as a formal student of music but was unsuccessful. Finally, Bidaram Krishnappa agreed to teach Carnatic music to him. Krishnappa convinced Sharma not to participate in public expositions of his music in concerts and so on.