Susarla Dakshinamurthi was an Indian film music director, playback singer, producer and Carnatic musician, known for his works in the south Indian film industry. He worked for 135 films in different south Indian languages. He is noted for his works in the films Laila Majnu, Samsaram and Narthanasala.
He was born on 11 November 1921 in Pedakallepalli, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, to Susarla Krishnabrahma Sastry, who was a musician and teacher, and Annapurnamma. His paternal grandfather was Susarla Dakshinamurthi Sastri, a classical Carnatic music pioneer. During his childhood, his home used to feed many students from faraway places who came to learn music under his grandfather.
At the age of 9, he played the violin, even accompanying singers during a 9-day Navarathri celebration at Machilipatnam. He worked as harmonium player in His Master's Voice in 1938.
He worked in different stations of All India Radio as A-grade artist in the late 1930s. He was invited to the New Delhi station as Director for South Indian music.
He moved to the Madras film industry, and worked as an assistant to music director C R Subburaman. He made Lata Mangeshkar sing the ever popular song "Nidurapora Thammuda", in his movie Santhanam.
Samsaram (1950) was another of his musical hits, with the popular song "Samsaram Samsaram" sung by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao and A M Rajah in Telugu and Tamil, respectively.
Ilavelpu (1956) was the next major hit film, by L V Prasad. The famous song "Challani Raja O Chandamama", was sung by Raghunath Panigrahi.