Chennai: Two things most probably happen when one’s father is a famous musician. One is that his children capitalise on his fame and make merry or get lost under the radar, having failed to overcome their father’s might.
K R Rakesh Raj, a drummer, is the son of Kannur Rajan, a noted music composer in the Malayalam film industry, who has more than 300 films under his belt.
News Today caught up with Rakesh not because his father was famous but because he is rising in stature in his own right.
But being the loving son to his late father, Rakesh Raj starts off saying, “My father worked with almost every notable musician in the film industry. Do you know that Ilayaraja sang for my father before his first film came out in 1973? He did not sing for anybody else later, except maybe for his son.”
Rakesh has two siblings, Sohini Raj and Shruthi Raj, with Shruthi being in the industry from 1988. Rakesh considers him his guru.
“For sure, my brother Shruthi Raj is my guru. Although he was busy with work, he used to take me to kutcheris whenever he could,” says Rakesh.
It is at a kutcheri that Rakesh found his passion for drums. “The artiste was Gopi and he used to stand out from the singers. I told my brother about my wish and he put me on the right path,” says the 37-year-old.
Rakesh Raj made a crucial decision when he was taking baby steps in his professional career. He says his brother, once again, was the one who guided him. “My brother told me not to get stuck with one music director. So, I turned my focus to kutcheris instead.”
But the drummer did not shut the film industry away. He has worked for composers like Shankar Ganesh, Adithyan, S A Raj Kumar, etc.
His drumming skills have taken him to over 13 countries and given him the opportunity to perform in front of the elite. Now he is the State general secretary of Tamil Maedai Mellisai Kalaignargal Nala Sangam (TMMKNS).
Ask him why his peers and he started such an entity, Rakesh, says, “Things have taken a downward route for light music artistes due to the advent of DJs. Many have lost their jobs and are not being called for kutcheris anymore. They have gone on to work as security guards, auto drivers and the likes.”
He says middle-class families are not willing to pay Rs 10,000 more for the traditional players, for they are cost-conscious. “I understand that they want to be light on their wallet. But DJs are neither going to entertain every section of the crowd, like we do, nor are they professionals in most cases.”
Rakesh’s entity has worked on various fronts to help light music artistes. They even staged three protests to showcase their plight due to the advent of modern technology.
“We do not mind DJs performing. But it is taking the stage away from the next generation. They might not even get an opportunity to perform in front of masses like we do. There needs to be legislation on that front,” he said.
Rakesh Raj can be contacted at 9841543439.