Two composers I expect a lot from....

I had, in one of my previous posts, talked about my music preferences. To the list of the composers I like, I would like to add two more names: GV Prakash Kumar and Rahulraj T.

 

GV Prakash Kumar probably needs no introduction to ARR fans. He has sung a number of songs for ARR. Perhaps more than this fact, it is this factoid that will pop some eyeballs: he is ARR's nephew. He started off singing with 'Chikku Bukku Raile' (Gentleman); he went onto sing a number of other songs for ARR. In the meanwhile, he took up Audio Engineering and has worked as programmer for a number of music directors, viz Vidyasagar, Harris Jayaraj, etc. He has worked as a programmer for ARR from Swades onwards. Meanwhile, he also sang the hit number 'Kadhal Yanai' (Anniyan). IMO, his most notable work as an assistant is the recently-released Hindi flick 'Jaanemann - Let's fall in love again'. Yes, the music was by Anu Malik, but it was GV Prakash's music arrangements that stood out. The songs ended up sounding like ARR's and till one newspaper highlighted the contribution of GV Prakash, everyone was under the impression that Anu Malik had improved! GVP has made his filmy debut as composer through director Shankar's production 'Veyil'. The songs were good and became hits too. Of course, he teamed up with ARR's crew (notably 'flute' Naveen and H Sridhar) and there are some who say his real skills will be on display only if gets a team of his own. I see promise in this guy.

 

Rahulraj too would require no introduction to the Mallu fans of ARR and to observers of music scene. He is the one behind the soulful theme of Amrita TV and also some programmes on the same channel. He has also given music to some album tracks, most notably Tom George's 'En Jeevane' and Sreenivas' 'Aaril Aaro'. He has composed some jingles too. His filmy debut will be the Mohanlal-starrer 'Chotta Mumbai'. He has a voice very much similar to ARR's and that's why I said he is no stranger to ARR fans; his rendering of the Amrita TV theme had many wondering whether it is not by ARR himself. I have had the good fortune to get in touch with this talented young man and it was a wonder to learn about his musical sojourn. I look forward to his works eagerly.

 

What is common to both GV Prakash Kumar and Rahulraj is that both of them are good singers, but with voices that are slightly different from what we usually consider normal. Another common factor is the ARR connection. They are both talented and no lover of good music will dismiss their works lightly.