He was the son of Balantrapu Venkatarao, one of modern Telugu poet-duo "Kavi Rajahamsa" Venkata Parvateswara Kavulu.

[1] Rajanikanta Rao started his schooling in Pithapuram, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. C. R. Reddy, former VC of Andhra University sang along with Rajanikanta Rao during college days.

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".

Kuchipudi ballets and Yakshaganas such as 'Sri Krishna Saranam Mama', 'Menaka Viswamitra', Vipranarayana', 'Chandidas' and 'Subhadraajuniyam' have won him accolades.

In the year 1980, Mr. Rajanikanta Rao was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by his alma mater Andhra University.

He then joined the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) as a special officer of the Sri Venkateswara Kalapeetham and worked there for 4 years.

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.

In 1972, Rajanikanta Rao had taken an interview of the popular Telugu writer with the name Gudipati Venkatachalam as the Director of AIR-Vijayawada.

Rajanikanta Rao made a name for himself with operas which have been choreographed by dancers like Vempati Chinna Satyam and Shobha Naidu some of which are as follows: 1.

Satapatra Sundari (Songs of all hews) which won Telugu Bhasha Samiti Award.

Kshetrayya (a biography of the saint composer with translation of his lyrics) published by the national Sahitya Akademi.

Tyagaraju (A biography of the saint composer Tyagaraja published by the National Book Trust) 10.

Chaturbhani (A collection of four Sanskrit plays written in 4th century BC translated into Telugu) 12.

Rajamakutam (1959) and Bangaru Papa (1954) directed by B. N. Reddy The numerous titles such as Naada Sudharnava, Pumbhaava Saraswati, Naveena Vaggeyakara conferred on him are reflections of his versatility.

The Pratibha Moorti Lifetime Achievement award for 2000 was bestowed on him by US based Appajyotsula Vishnubhotla Foundation.