Mysore Sadashiva Rao

Very little is known about Sadashiva Rao's early days. He was born in a Marathi-speaking Deshastha Brahmin family^[2] which had settled in modern-day Andhra Pradesh. It is believed that he was employed as a clerk in his early career before he travelled to Walajahpet near Madras where he ended up training under Venkataramana Bhagavatar, a pupil of Tyagaraja (1767–1847), one of the Trinity of Carnatic Music. It is also said that Rao once met Tyagaraja when the composer travelled to Walajahpet on a pilgrimage and briefly stayed with his disciple.^[1]

Sadashiva Rao travelled with two brothers, the merchants Kopparam Chinnamuni Swamy Setty and Padda Muniswamy, to Mysore, brought Sadashiva Rao to Mysore. By the time he was 30, Rao had found a place in the Mysore Wodeyar durbar. The royal patronage coupled with wealthy admirers and disciples allowed Rao to live comfortably for the rest of his life. He was also known for his charitable work.^[1]

Notable among Rao's many disciples were Veena Seshanna, Veena Subbanna, Shamanna (of Bettadapura), Venkatesayya, and Ganjam Suryanarayana. It is known that he had a daughter whose son T. Venkata Rama Rao became an actor on the stage popularly known as "Curtain" Rama Rao.^[1]

Sadashiva Rao has composed mostly in Telugu. He went on a pilgrimage of south India and composed krithis at all the temples he visited. Sadashiva Rao used the mudra 'Sadashiva'.^{[citation needed]}

• List of Carnatic composers