Kannada Kannadigaru: Raju Ananthaswamy

Raju Ananthaswamy was also called Raja and Rajjo which often made him tease since it was a girl's name.

He was a Kannada composer, singer and music director. He worked on Sugama Sangeetha for more than 15 years. He was the son of vocalist Mysore Ananthaswamy. He died in 2009, at the age of 39.

Career

Raju Ananthaswamy displayed great musical aptitude from a young age and began playing tabla in his father’s troupe. In addition to tabla, he could play a variety of other musical instruments including the guitar, mandolin and keyboard.

Raju’s compositions and singing style was unique as well as greatly influenced by his father, late Mysore Ananthaswamy. His songs, Krishna Yenabaarade, Madhava, Beldingal raathrili, Tunge Dadadalli, Heege ondu Raathri are milestones among his compositions and authenticate his unique style of composing.[1] He was very well known for his song Yaava mohana murali kareyitu from America America and Hottare yedbittu from movie Rishi.

Raju was an artiste in All India Radio and regularly appeared on Radio City, Doordarshan, Udaya TV, Zee Kannada and ETV TV channels. He performed with his troupe all year round. He used to set aside his weekends to teach sugama sangeetha to several students. Though Raju had set to tune more than 200 poems, he enjoyed singing his father’s compositions, which he also aspired to preserve and promote, during his performances. He was able to pass these on to the younger generation as well as his many students, through his Sugama Sangeetha schools in Mysore and Bangalore.

Notable performances

Hampi Utsava

SAARC Summit Cultural Evening

Vasanta Habba

All India Lawyers Meet *Dasara Utsava

International Trade Fair in Delhi

Berkely Film Awards

Albums

Tribute to My Father(Mysoru Anantaswamy)

Ananta Namana

Hoovu

Deepotsava

Savitha

Hale Beru Hosa Chiguru

Hari ninna murali

Madhava

Bere Madhuveke

Rathnana Padagalu

Hari Ninna Murali

Concert tours

Australia-2004

Abu Dhabi and Dubai-1994

Malaysia-2004

New Zealand-2004

Singapore-2001 & 2004

UK-April 2008 (upcoming)

USA-1988 & 1998

Original score for TV serials

Ranjini

Dum dum digadiga

Yello jogappaninnaramane

Manthana

Geethadarshana

Nela mugilu

Mussanje katha prasanga

Movie-Galige Asst. Music Director

Movies (acted in)

Amrithadhare

Jackpot

Chigurida Kanasu

Abhi,

Kalaasipaalya

Abbabbaa Yentha Huduga

ooh la la

Death

Raju Ananthaswamy developed kidney complications on Thursday night (January 15, 2009) and was admitted to Sagar Apollo Hospital, his condition deteriorated rapidly and his death was attributed to kidney failure on January 17, 2009. He is survived by his mother Shanta Ananthaswamy and three sisters.

"Raju Ananthaswamy has been the most talented singer in recent times. His death is a real loss to the Kannada music world. He has died at a young age, but has left behind a pool of great music compositions. His genius was not fully exploited," said C. Aswath, veteran music director.

Reactions

Ananthaswamy’s death came as a massive shock to Kannada film and music fraternity. “Raju Ananthaswamy has left behind a pool of great music compositions. His genius was not fully exploited,” said C Ashwath, Late veteran music director.

Acclaimed film director Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar expressed deep sadness at his demise and said, “Raju was a very good friend and a great person. He will be remembered for his creativity and sense of humour”. Raju’s biggest film music success, the memorable 'Yaava Mohana Murali Kareyithu' came in Chandrashekar's film America America. Incidentally, he was originally cast in a comic role in Chandrashekhar’s forthcoming film Olave Jeevana Lekkachara but Raju’s poor health didn’t allow him to fulfill his commitments.

Playback singer Manjula Gururaj expressing shock said “Raju was highly talented and losing him at such an early age is a great loss.” She remembered an incident during a recording session with his father and said “Mysore Ananthaswamy, himself was astounded by Raju’s talent and the way in which he conducted the orchestra. At that time he felt that his son will go on to achieve more than he did, but sadly it was not meant to be.”

Well known playback singer M.D Pallavi described Ananthaswamy as her guru (teacher) and said it would be difficult to pick the best out of his music compositions.

"As a singer he was the best and most of his music compositions were top class. I sung most of his music compositions. It would be difficult for me to choose the best song rendered by him or the best song composed by him," Pallavi said.