Broadcaster Rajanikanta Rao began his career as a programme executive in
AIR-Madras in the year 1941. He was responsible for writing and composing the first Telugu song ever broadcast in independent India on the midnight of 15 August 1947, following the speech of Jawaharlal Nehru; "Our tryst with destiny". The song "Mroyimpu jayabheri" was sung by
T. Suryakumari. In 1948 to celebrate the first anniversary of Independence the song "Madi swatantra desam " was written and composed. This was also sung by Tangaturi Suryakumari. As the programme executive in
AIR-Vijayawada he was the originator of 'Bhakti Ranjani'; a devotional programme. Rajanikanta Rao became the station director of AIR-Ahmadabad, AIR-Vijayawada and retired as the station director of AIR-Bangalore (1976–78) – completing 36 years in the broadcasting field. He initiated and designed an interactive radio programme, called "Dharmasandehalu" hosted by
Mr.Ushasri. He was the first director to broadcast an Annamacharya kirtana everyday before 7.00 clock news bulletin. He was made the Producer Emeritus of
Akashavani in 1982.
Artist Since the age of twenty one he has written lyrics, composed songs and directed ballets. Under the pseudonyms Nalini and Taranath he has composed many tunes for popular movies like
Swargaseema,
Gruhapravesam, etc.
Kuchipudi ballets and Yakshaganas such as 'Sri Krishna Saranam Mama', 'Menaka Viswamitra', Vipranarayana', 'Chandidas' and 'Subhadraajuniyam' have won him accolades. His literary works include 'Satapatra Sundari'- a collection of lyrics, 'Andhra Vaggeyakara Charitam'- his magnum opus (described below) and 'Jejimamayya Patalu'- a collection of songs for children and 'Etiki edureeta'. He composed and conducted music for
Vadyabrinda (a national orchestra), AIR-Delhi and Vadyabrinda, AIR-Madras. His popular compositions included Andhri – an origin of the
Raga Kalyani,
Raga Desavarali, Raga
Devasalagam,
Viswayanam-the voyage of the universe and 'Sangeeta Gangotri' – a musical composition on the evolution of Indian music to name a few.
Musicologist 'Andhra Vaggeyakara Charitam' is regarded as his magnum opus. It consists of biographies of lyricists and music composers along with a history and evolution of Andhra music, which won in 1961 the Central
Sahitya Akademi Award. In the year 1980, Mr. Rajanikanta Rao was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by his alma mater Andhra University. From 1988 to 1990, he worked as a visiting professor of the
Telugu University,
Rajahmundry. He then joined the
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) as a special officer of the Sri Venkateswara Kalapeetham and worked there for 4 years. He has been presenting research papers on musicology in various conferences of Music Academy, Madras on subjects that include
Kshetrayya's lyrics, Geeta Govinda, Ragas of Gandhara Grama, ancient scales of Indian music, etc. He shared his memoirs of rich socio-cultural experiences over a lifetime through 'Rajani Bhavatarangalu', a weekly column published in the Telugu newspaper
Andhra Prabha. ==Interview with Chalam==