Karnataka   

`Digital music is a better choice'

There is no particular age for talent to surface, says N.P. Rajasekharan. K. Satyamurty meets the financial expert who has an interest in choral music

FROM THE high-flying world of international banking and finance to his own consultancy here, N.P. Rajasekharan has made a long and eventful journey from his school days in Trivandrum.

His interest in music, both classical and contemporary, and with an ear attuned to music as sung by church choirs in Kerala, are what make him stand out among financial experts.

"As a child I used to listen while my sister was learning classical music and began developing a taste for it. I now promote light classical music set to the more melodious raagas," he says. While his wife writes the lyrics, he composes the music. Starting with Malayalam, they are now trying their hands with songs in Tamil also.

"Digital music that can be downloaded by people is what I am promoting now. This appears to be a better choice because, unlike an album on a CD, you can promote `singles,' almost going back to the days of the 78 RPM records when most hits of the big rock bands like The Beatles and Rolling Stones first appeared as singles and stayed on top of the charts," says Mr. Rajasekharan.

He is also keen to spot new musical talent and feels talent can surface early or later in life. "There are very good musicians who are just 18 and others who got the opportunity only in their 50s... I want to promote both." Music is something that should please your soul, he believes.

His interest in Malayalam choral music came after finding out about the long research efforts of the late Rev. Thomas Koshy in Kerala.

This priest tried to find out the roots of Malayalam hymns, tracing back their history to a church that is older than those in many regions of Europe.

Apart from Rev. Koshy's research, there was extensive travelling and meeting older members of the churches and poring over century old music notes to get at what it was like generations ago. The result is an unusual album of Malayalam choral music, titled "Manna." Those who played the instruments and those in the choir included talented musicians from various communities, all brought together by their love for music. It takes some effort to bring out another side of his personality. Mr Rajasekharan is also the author of five published novels in Malayalam and 65 short stories: all reflecting his experiences around the world with the touch of today's Kerala and its people. "One book won an award," he says.

His consultancy work involves human resource development and he feels that while individually very good, Indian employees are yet to learn the true spirit of working as a team. "Their sub-identities are often quick to emerge; if they can submerge them as a team, nobody can really beat them in work excellence," he says.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Rajnath Singh criticises UPA's `minority appeasement' policy
Be prepared for midterm elections, Mayawati tells party workers
This portable PC sniffs out a Wi-Fi hotspot
`Digital music is a better choice'
Laurels all the way
Briefly

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu