Praveen D. Rao is an Indian musician, music director and a lyricist for Kannada language songs. He is based in Bangalore, India and plays the keyboard, tabla, and other instruments.
He was trained by R.V.Sheshadri Gawai of Aravinda Sangeetha Vidyalaya and tabla player Ravindra Yavagal. Rao has composed music for plays, ballets, films, television shows and commercials.
Music direction
Serials
Sanghatane–directed by Sri Bhargava
67 Harris Road
Vasantha Gaana
Nighuda Jagatthu–directed by Sri Amardev
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa–directed by Praveen Nayak
Conversations–Performing Abilities of the Multiple Disabled (1994)
Pampa Dance Academy, USA
Prakriti (2004)
Sandesha, Mangalore
Life of Jesus (2002)
Jyothirgamaya (2003)
Padmini Ravi, Bangalore
Tamtana (2004)
ISKCON, Bangalore
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (2004)
Supriya Desai, USA
Mahishasura Mardini
Sri Krishna Parijatha (2003)
Maya Rao, Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography, Bangalore
Yashodara (2004)
The Dust of Brij (2003)
Sare Jahan Se Accha (July 2005)
Pushpanjali, Manchester
Snow White (2004)
Ramayana (July 2005)
Ramakrishna Vidyashala, Mysore
Nritya Sangeeth Bharathi (2004)
Sarva Dharma Samanvayacharya Sri Ramakrishna (2004)
Guy Hutchins, Moby Duck Theatre Company, UK
Maze Maker (March 2004)
Bopoluchi (November 2004)
Fire Girl (January 2005)
Bloodhands (August 2005)
Granny Vampire (August 2006)
Sampradaya Dance Creations, Toronto
Vivarta (March 2005)
Shoonya
Pralaya
North West Dance Alliance, Manchester
Devi Diva (July 2005)
Threeaksha, Philadelphia, USA
Abhika (2005–2006)
Prayog (2007)
Natya Shastra (2018)
Performances
Rao has performed at national and international festivals including Pattadakal Festival, Navaraspur Festival, Lord Mayor's Cultural Event 1994 (Birmingham), World Veerashaiva Conference 1997 (USA), World Konkani Conference 2002 (Texas), Soorya Festival, and Nishagandhi Festival. He has toured India and abroad performing and conducting workshops.
He is the founder of the event management organization Prakruthi, an NGO that works towards a more environmentally-friendly India by bringing people into parks. Prakruthi increases awareness about Kannada literature and the culture of Karnataka through music, and organizes musical programs all over the state.
Best music director award for Guptagamini, an ETV Kannada serial
Kalāvatamsa title by Gokulam–2010
Colors Kannada Best Music Director for "Chitte Hejje"–2014
Colors Kannada Best Music Director for "Love Lavike"–2016
Sangeetha Ratnakara title from Shivapriya School of Dance–2019
Natya Sangeetha Saraswathi title from Natyasaraswathi Kuchipudi Dance Centre, Vijayawada–2019
Ananya Nritya Puraskar from Ananya Cultural Academy, Bangalore–2019
Shree Kala Jyothi title from the Bangalore Gayana Samaja–2021
Kala Chakravarthi title from Shivapriya School of Dance–2022
Karnataka Kalashri state award and title from Sangeetha Nritya Academy–2022
Other works
As a composer, Rao has created his own musical style. He has scored theatre, ballet, film and television productions. Rao scored the music to M.S.Sathyu's short film Namak Ki Kankari (1996). As an arranger, he is known for fusing Hindustani music and Carnatic music with Western techniques and arranging background scores for various films. He has worked with theatre personalities including A.S.Murthy, B.V.Karanth and B.Jayashree. Rao has been involved in theatre in various capabilities. He has also worked as an actor and director. He has acted in several soap operas including Asare, Tulasi, Manvantara and Muktha.
He was commissioned by SAMPAD, UK to compose music for Moving Earth, a dance and music production that was part of the 2012 London Olympics.
He toured as a part of Chakrafonics, a world music band that performs genres from Indian classical fusion to world music. The band toured the USA, UK and Australia from 2014 to 2015.
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