The musical genius of Dr Raj Kumar is one of the least appreciated bits of an actor whose only national award was for singing. The uncharitable view is that “The Family” didn’t like P.B. Srinivas shining in the reflected glory of providing the lips to the legend, and so he began to sing for his own films.
Whatever be the truth, the truth also is Singanallur Puttaswamayya Muthuraj aka Raj Kumar could sing, and sing very well.
A background in Carnatic classical music in his theatre days as part of the Gubbi Veeranna Company seemed to have been enough to enable him to face the baton of hard task-masters like Ilayaraja, hold his own against pros like S. Janaki, and demonstrate his skills before full orchestras; even ending up providing the playback for a singer (S.P. Balasubramanyam) acting in a movie!
On his third death anniversary, two very contrasting numbers—the very classical Naada maya ee lokavella from Jeevana Chaitra, which fetched him the big prize; and Jeeva hoovagide from Neenu nanna gellalaare.
Also read: Dr Raj Kumar‘s top-11 songs
Raj Kumar’s rich musical landscape
Tags: Churumuri, Dr Raj Kumar, Dr Rajkumar, Gubbi Veeranna, Gubbi Veeranna Company, Ilayaraja, Jeevana Chaitra, Nee Nanna Gellalaare, S. Janaki, S.P. Balasubramanyam, Sans Serif, SPB
12 April 2009 at 3:41 pm
Annavarige Jayavagali!
The question is not what you are asking, but what i will be. “If not for the good acting and legend he was about to become, would brahmins likened the growth of Dr.Raj as a singer?”
My assertion is NO.
But it was beyond their hands, and there was a man who also believed work is worship—learning, unlearning and relearning how to sing each day. So there was no stopping and also pushing him onto the pedestal by his already maniac fans.
Now even if some of you believe PBS was better than Dr Raj and the only reason Dr Raj came to the limelight was because of his fans, I’d say that was still good!
Look at how conniving you Brahmins were and are. Look how this writer weaves a story that brings the grey element of the actor (and his family)’s injustice to PBS as a singer. And then sandwiching a layer of goodness onto Dr.Raj. Its a clear trait of putting your caste before your chore!
There is nothing wrong in putting across the caste, like i do in my pen name here, but don’t use it for shallow intentions.
Raga anthe, thala anthe, swara anthe….puskul badanekayi. Look at the west man they created genres to suit tones and voices. You guys expected voices to suit you established genre!
–Aye chicken thinorge nallige thirugolla antha helli helli, navu thurukara sangeethakey thale aadisonge madodru!
12 April 2009 at 5:56 pm
What a talented man! Excelled in everything he did, including in his simple personal life.
Contrast him with his children!! They are wasting a legacy!
12 April 2009 at 7:56 pm
Gowda.Boy
Naanu Bmin kanri.. aadre Namma Annavra Big Fanoo ….
12 April 2009 at 8:58 pm
Thanks Churumuri for the remembrance.
The 3rd anniversary gets a second mention in the midst of the election buzz.
Thanks again Churumuri for putting it up prominently.
13 April 2009 at 2:22 am
Third anniversary!
So, will the admirers lynch a poor policeman or two to demonstrate their admiration?
13 April 2009 at 3:32 am
One of my all-time favorite movies is Babruvahana. There were two different Rajkumars in the movie. The young Babruvahana, and the elder, authoritative and arrogant Arjuna. What was amazing to me was that he was able to pull those roles off like a piece of cake (to the viewer) — as if there really were two DIFFERENT people playing the roles of Babruvahana and Arjuna. I wonder if a part of the reason for that is that both PBS and Dr. Raj sang for one character each.
A correction: Babruvahana is not ‘one of my all-time’, but it is my single, all-time favorite movie!
13 April 2009 at 4:20 am
Rajkumar was great singer..no doubts about it. There is no need to put spins on PBS stopping play back singing for Rajanna.
In fact, Rajanna had sung his first song in Mahishasura Mardhini, under the baton of G K Venkatesh and subsequently, in Srinivasa Kalayana, under Rajan Nagendra baton. Even though, both songs were excellent, for whatever, reason, they were not so popular and hence PBS continued to do the playback singing for Rajanna. Till, the all time hit from Sampathige Saval, “Yaare Koogadali”, PBS sang for Rajanna and even after that upto to some point PBS always had one song in every Rajanna’s movie.
So churmuri, stop creating controversies where none exists.
14 April 2009 at 10:59 am
Gowda Boy is crazy! Where is the question of brahmin or any other caste. Raj Kumar is the personality whom everybody in Karnataka liked him, was fond of him, adored him, irrespective of caste or creed, man or woman, boy or adult. When we were listening to one of his Dasara Padagalu on the radio, my aged mother, a devout woman commented “Aa thayi sharade avna naalige mele nalidatha iddale”. We should not attribute caste and religion at least to the artistes and players. We like the nadaswaram of Sheikh Chinna Maulana Sahib and Arunachalam equally. Kunnakudi and Chowdaiah are equally respected. Jesudas, Subbulakshmi and any other singer are at par. When we watch them or listen to such persons, the question of caste or religion never crosses in our minds.
7 September 2009 at 12:02 am
Please see the movie ‘sanaadi appanna’ and the sequence right after raj and jayaprada get married. There is a scene where both of them happily just hum or do alapana. (raj and S.Janaki). I don’t know which raaga it is, there is no lyrics for it. But it is fabulous and brings tears to one’s eyes.