Rajan Somasundaram

Rajan Somasundaram, best known as Composer Rajan, is a composer, drummer, violinist and music producer based in New York City. He rose to prominence with the creation of a new Carnatic raga (music scale), Svadhya. He composed the theme song of the 10th World Tamil Conference with many international musicians as a tribute to Sangam period poet Kaniyan Pungundranar.[1] Tamil writer S. Ramakrishnan appreciated the selection of Yathum Oore poem as the theme song to portray the Tamil cultural identity.[2]

Rajan Somasundaram
Born
Thiruvarur, India
OccupationComposer
Violinist & Drummer
Music producer

Early life and education

Rajan was born in Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu state and started learning Carnatic music since he was 9 years at the birthplace of Shyama Shastri. He graduated with a master's degree in Engineering.[3]

Career

In 2017, Rajan created a new Carnatic Raga, Svadhya, and released a single titled ‘Maya- The reflection of Self’ composed in the raga. In 2018, he released the first ever musical form for the prominent Sanskrit Advaita classical literature, Ashtavakra Gita Saksi I, in the raga Svadhya. Rajan has worked on jingles, corporate commercials and documentaries including 'Welcome to North Carolina'.

Rajan composed the theme song of the 10th World Tamil Conference scheduled at Chicago. He has composed the first ever musical form for the 2000 year old poetry, Yathum Oore, written by Sangam Period poet Kaniyan Pungundranar.[4] Rajan mentioned that as a tribute to one of the most progressive ancient poetry that calls for unity and equality, he composed the theme song to cover multiple genres of music and brought in many international musicians of varying genres, ethnicity and languages. Singers Karthik (singer) and academy nominated Bombay Jayashri sang the song along with various international artists.[5]

In January 2020, Rajan released the first ever music album on ancient Tamil Sangam poetry collaborating with Durham Symphony and leading international artists, titled Sandham- Symphony Meets Classical Tamil[6]. The Hindu music review called the album "A Major event in the world of Music". [7]

References
  1. ""யாதும் ஊரே யாவரும் கேளிர்" - உலகத் தமிழாராய்ச்சி மற்றும் பேரவை - சிகாகோ மாநாட்டு பாடல் அமெரிக்காவில் சிறப்பாக வெளியிடப்பட்டது". Valaitamil.com. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  2. "யாதும் ஊரே". Sramakrishnan.com. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  3. "இணையத்தைக் கலக்கும் 'யாதும் ஊரே' கீதம்". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  4. "பூங்குன்றனார் பாடலை பூரிக்கவைத்த தமிழர்!". Kamadenu, Tamil Hindu. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  5. "உலக கலைஞர்களின், கணீர் குரலில் உலகத் தமிழ் ஆராய்ச்சி மாநாட்டு பாடல்". Dinamalar. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  6. "NC based Composer Rajan revives ancient Tamil poetry with leading singers and musicians from India and USA". www.wrde.com. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  7. "A Major event in the world of Music- The Hindu Music Review". The Hindu Tamil. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
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