One of the prolific music directors of the yesteryears Rajan of the ‘Rajan-Nagendra’ duo completes 60 years of meaningful and melodious career in his life and on his 76th birthday on May 29 (also the birthday of Ambarish) this year a massive musical evening is taking place at Bangalore Palace.

At the age of 16 years Rajan switched his interest to music. The first instrument he learnt was violin from maestro T Chowdaiah in Mysore. A singer in the beginning days learning various instruments started a composer from ‘Sowbhagyalakshmi’ in 1952. Nagendra joining his company the Rajan-Nagendra duo created wonderful results in Kannada and Telugu film music. Kanyadhana, Muthaidhe Bhagya, Mantralaya Mahatme, Veera Sankalpa, Kittu Puttu, Devara Duddu, Parasangadha Gendethimma, Hombisilu, Eradu Kanasu, Naa Ninna Mareyalaare, Bayaludhari, Gandhada Gudi, Chalisuva Modagalu and various other films made the duo unforgettable in Kannada film music.

Rajan-Nagendra duo is the first one to receive the music director award in Andhra Pradesh for the film ‘Panthulamma’ in 1976. After Nagendra died in the year 2000 Rajan slowed down his work but remains active with various progressive works.

With ‘Scientific playback singing’ invention and a notation book Rajan has come to limelight once again. Rajan is upset with the IPRS (Indian Performing Rights Society) new rules and he recommends some changes to it so that the music director gets proper attention.

When Rajan re-tuned his own songs there was objection from the audio companies for this work. He has three Kannada film releases such as ‘Idhu Olle Tamashi Kanri’ in which veteran light music singer Dr C.Ashwath has rendered a song, ‘Acharya’ and ‘Ananda Gokula’ are also set for release.

The right share of respect among the stars Rajan was getting from icon of Kannada cinema Dr Rajakumar and the versatile actor Ananthnag quite often inquires him. Other than Ananthnag today no one even wishes this legendary composer.