The Hindu : National : Mysore S. Rajaram passes away

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Mysore S. Rajaram passes away

Ranjani Govind

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

S. Rajaram.

BANGALORE: Mysore S. Rajaram, Carnatic musician and composer, who served the Kalakshetra, Chennai, for nearly two decades died here on Monday. He was 85.

Grandson of the legendary Mysore Vasudevachar, Mr. Rajaram earlier worked as a senior executive in AIR and was intensely associated with several facets of Carnatic music, even as he had imbibed composing and vocal skills of his grandfather. Apart from being a strict sampradaya vocalist, he composed music for several dance dramas.

Vasudevachar, who worked and taught music in Kalakshetra, had taken up the work of setting to music Valmiki Ramayana’s dance drama. After his demise, Mr. Rajaram took up the task and completed nearly half of the work. An accomplished musician and Sanskrit scholar, Mr. Rajaram was among the few musicians who were the repository of Vasudevachar’s compositions.

Mr. Rajaram worked tirelessly to bring the vision of Kalakshetra to life. He took over as Director from Sankara Menon and headed the institution from 1995 to 2005. Says Leela Samson, his successor: “Rajaram was a father figure to many at Kalakshetra and it was he who stabilised its functioning following the turmoil after Sankara Menon’s death. Kalakshetra owes a deep sense of gratitude to him and he richly deserved the Sangeet Natak Academy Award for Music for his lifetime’s work.”

Rich tributes were paid at a condolence meeting held at Kalakshetra. G. Saraswati, Registrar, College of Fine Arts, said that apart from his music skills Rajaram’s simplicity and modesty spoke volumes of his great persona.

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