BENGALURU: From Akaashave Beelali Mele, the popular song from Nyaayave Devaru, to Yuga Yugagale Saagali from Hrudaya Geete, Rajan-Nagendra, the music director duo, have carved a spot in every Kannadiga’s heart.
Having won many awards and accolades in the Kannada film industry, the brothers have composed for about 400 films, more than 200 in Kannada, and the rest in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Tulu and Sinhalese. Some of the unforgettable lyricists who have written for them are the late Uday Shankar, Hunasur Krishnamurthy, Vijiya Narasimha, Geetha Priya, Dodda Range Gowda and many more.
Singers who have sung their songs include the late Ghantasala, Bala Saraswati, Soolamangalam sisters, P.Leela, S.Janaki, Vaani Jayaram, Rani, L.R.Easwari, P.Susheela, Jikki, Chitra, Kala Govindarajan, P.B.Srinivas, the late Kishore Kumar, Balasubrahmanyam, Jesudas, Rajesh Krishna and many more.
Amid these achievements, Nagendra, the younger brother, died of a stroke in Bengaluru on November 4, 2000. Some of their rare compositions include Akashave Beelali Mele from Nyayave Devaru, Aakaasha Deepavu Nenu from Pavana Ganga, Aakaashadinda Daregilida from Chandanada Gombe, Aaseya Baava Oavina Jeeva, Kanasalu Neene Aasalu Neene from Bayalu Dari, songs from Eradu Kanasu and many more.
Having contributed to the Kannada film industry’s yesteryears, Rajan has now taken up a project, Daasgeetaamruta (the word Daasa is taken from the word Daasa Sahitya, Geeta is taken from the word Bhagavad Geete)
“When I was reading the works of Purandara Daasa, I noticed that they talk a lot about leading a purposeful life. Off late, most of us have not been following these guidelines and we have forgotten the simple and principled ways of leading life. Daasa Sahitya,or the works of Purandara Daasa and the Bhagavad Geete, both give the same message to the world. To spread the message of Daasa Sahitya and Bhagavad Geete to the world through music, we, as Rajan Nagendra Trust have come up with this DVD, Daasageetaamruta” says Rajan.
The DVD also has a shloka from the Bhagavad Geeta which is composed by Rajan “This project is very apt today as people don’t believe in God as much. The motto of simple living and high thinking is nowhere to be seen now. This DVD guides people in simple and successful ways of leading a meaningful life. I have been an ardent fan of Rajan, and this project of his is a wonderful attempt to spread a message,” says Ramachandra Guruji, a spiritual master who is also a part of the project.
The Rajan-Nagendra trust is new formed by Rajan’s son, Ananth Kumar;Karthik Subrahmanya;managing trustee;Smitha Karthi, trustee and others.
The trust was formed with the objective to conduct voice culturing workshops for aspiring singers, conducting national level workshops and seminars on film music and classical music, providing free music lessons to poor children, building an archive of Rajan-Nagendra’s music, training students in devotional music, releasing CDs and DVDs, conducting annual music festivals for different genres, and much more.
“Please give importance to language and do not repress it”, is the message Rajan gives to the present generation of music directors.
Daasageetaamruta will be released on May 27, at Taralabaalu Kendra, 3rd Main, 2nd Block, Taralabalu Marg, near BDA Complex, R T Nagar, Bengaluru,from 5.30 PM to 8.30 PM. This will be followed by performances by singers who have given their voices to the project. These include, Sangeeta Katti, Rajesh Krishnan, Anuradha Bhat, Ajay Warriar, Smitha Karthik and many more. The programme is open to the public.
For more details,contact 98861 74286.