Raj Kalesh

Raj Kalesh (born May 1978) is an Indian magician, chef,[1] TV host, stage choreographer, and performer, who hails from the city of Trivandrum, Kerala. He is best known for his cooking shows and magic shows on television. He has been the host on various shows for some National channels, but almost all channels in Malayalam. He had also made his presence on the big screen too, with notable roles in movies such as Sapthamashree Thaskaraha, Ustad Hotel and Lord Livingstone 7000 Kandi.

RAJ KALESHMagician, Chef, Stage choreographer
BornMay 1978
Place of BirthNedumparambu, Kilimanoor, Kerala
EducationBachelor of Arts in English, SN College

Childhood and personal life

Raj Kalesh and his younger brother Raj Mahesh were born in Nedumparambu, Kilimanoor a suburban town near Thiruvananthapuram, in the state of Kerala. Here they were raised by their father Divakaran, who worked as a postmaster and their mother, Sarasamma, a homemaker. Attending school at Nagaroor Nedumparambu Government Higher Secondary School, he went on to complete his Pre-Degree in English at Sree Narayana College, Varkala. Shortly thereafter he graduated with an English Degree from Sree Narayana College, Chempazhanthy.

At some time during his schooling, he won an award for best actor at the State School Youth Festival.

Currently, Raj Kalesh is married to Divya Kalesh. They have two children, Daksha and Darsh. Divya, his wife, is the producer of TV shows such as Taste of Kerala, Hot and Spicy, Little World, and Mathrubhumi Award Night.

Early career

Kalesh's career[2] took the turn into the entertainment industry when he joined a course in Cinematography at the Southern Film Institute. He had been a part of Challenge Arts, an arts promotion club at Nagaroor, where he performed in some amateur theatre performances. He has done an amateur version of dramas by G.Sankarapilai, Kavalam Narayana Panickker, Onam Thuruththu Rajasekharan and Chembur Zakir. On completion, he joined Asianet as an Assistant Director for programs such as Sayahnam and Suprabhatham. He also assisted in the making of various Promotional videos and films. When he wasn't working on his many other projects, he worked as a stage choreographer for the famous Magician Gopinath Muthukad, who inspired him to study magic. In 1999, Kalesh sought his tutelage. He has hence made a name for himself as a magician with State and National reckoning.

The Making of Raj Kalesh

From the foundations laid during the formative years, Kalesh has now built a career recognition as a Magician, TV Host for various Channels, Chef an ability he prides himself in and a stage performer and dancer of some repute. His career timeline has seen him rise from the state level to national and international reckoning.

1999-2001: Assistant Director of Network Television

2002-2005: Assistant Director of Asianet the premier news and entertainment channel in Kerala.

2005: Did his first independent Magic Show on Asianet program-Kudumba Mela.

2006: Hosted the cookery show, Taste of Kerala on Amrita TV. This show still holds the position as the highest rated cookery show in Kerala. The show boast of five hundred thousand views on YouTube.

2007-2011: Hosted the travelogues, Hello Dubai,[3] Taste of Arabia and Hello Americas.[4]

2012: Returned to Asianet with an International Food Travelogue, covering 17 countries in four continents- Europe, Africa, N America and Asia.

2013: He took a break from hosting and enrolled himself in Entertainment Ke Liye- Kuch Bhi Karega- a highly rated multi-talent reality show on Sony Entertainment Television. Here he held the audience and TV viewers spellbound by his amazing magic acts like making the famous Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor into thin air and turning the head of Imran Khan around, thus making a name in North India as well. He walked away with the winner's cup for this show.

2013-2014: Co-Hosted the Music Reality show, Indian Voice Junior on Mazhavil Manorama. Here he made National Award winner KS Chithra, sing in mid-air.

2014-2015: He acted in hit Malayalam movies such as Ustaad Hotel and Sapthamashree Thaskara.

2015: Did an acclaimed cooking show on Surya TV, Avial.

2016-2017: De Ruchi was a highly rated cookery shows on Mazhavil Manorama,[5] hosted by Raj Kalesh. He also did the TV show Vismaya Sanchaaram, a magic-centric show on the National Channel, Doordarshan. The cookery show named “The Treat:” continues to be a show that is still very popular in the Middle East on Media One TV.

2017-present: His quiz oriented game show, Udan Panam, featuring Him, Mathukutty a famous RJ and an Automated Teller Machine, that vends cash with each correct answer, is the number one rated programme on Mazhavil Manorama. This year also saw the program.” The Grand Magical Circus” which promotes and encourages Indian magicians and circus artists, is a programme that will change the quality of Malayalam Television

Raj Kalesh The Author: With the publication of Ruchi Vattam.[2] In Malayalam, published by DC book, Kottayam, Raj Kalesh joined the illustrious ranks of authors. Though this was his first complete book, he had earlier published food oriented articles in various Malayalam Periodicals like Vanitha, Grihalakshmi, Mathrubhoomi Yathra, Kanyaka, Vanitha Paachakam and Madhyamam Ruchi

Rewards and recognitions

Kalesh over his years in the industry has won many awards, for Anchoring, Acting, Magic Performances and Cookery Shows. 2007 & 2009: He won the award for best TV anchor from the State Government

2007: Frame Media Award for Best Anchor

2008: Asian Television Award for Best Anchor[6]

2009: JC Award for the best Cooking Show of the year

2010: Winner of the reality show “Entertainment Ke Liye- Kuch Bhi Karega”

2016: Best Performer award from Mantra International Magic Convention.

Away from television

Kalesh continues to be a performer in or out of camera eyes. His own Magic Troupe, Redinfocus, is a sought-after Magic show at most major events. His production company, Raj Kalesh Productions (P) Ltd, is a production house for such popular TV shows like Hot & Spicy on ACV. He is ably assisted by his wife Divya in his production venture and she herself is a video & movie editor of some repute.

Kalesh resides in his hometown of Trivandrum, when he is not on his sojourns of creating entertaining and magical shows for television.

References

  1. ↑ "After food and magic, Raj Kalesh found his third love". Deccanchronicle.com. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 M, Athira (7 October 2015). "Blend of the best". Thehindu.com. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  3. ↑ "Hello Dubai Mon-Fri 11.30 P.M IST on Amrita TV". Keralatv.in. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Amrita TV New Programs - Hello Americas". Keralatv.in. 1 May 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "'Dhe Ruchi' on Mazhavil Manorama". Times of India. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "2008 Winners - Asian Television Awards". Asiantvawards.com. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
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