Who was Raj, Telugu music composer who died aged 68
What's the story
The Telugu music industry is mourning the loss of prominent music composer Thotakura Somaraju, affectionately known as Raj of the Raj-Koti duo, who died on Sunday. He was 68. Tragically, Raj had a fall in the bathroom, leading to a cardiac arrest due to the shock, reportedly. The final rites will be performed on Monday. Raj is survived by his wife and three daughters.
Condolences
Veteran actor Chiranjeevi shared heartfelt tribute on Twitter
Raj's sudden demise deeply saddened the Tollywood industry, and veteran actor Chiranjeevi expressed his grief through a heartfelt tweet in Telugu. Translated into English, the tweet read, "Raj has played a major role in the success of my films by giving many wonderful popular songs in the early stages of my career. Raj's untimely demise is a great loss to the music world (sic)."
Twitter Post
Take a look at Chiranjeevi's tweet here
ప్రముఖ సంగీత దర్శక ద్వయం రాజ్-కోటి లలో 'రాజ్' ఇక లేరు అని తెలవటం దిగ్భ్రాంతికి గురి చేసింది. ఎంతో ప్రతిభ వున్న రాజ్ , నా కెరీర్ తొలి దశలలో నా చిత్రాలకందించిన ఎన్నో అద్భుత ప్రజాదరణ పొందిన బాణీలు, నా చిత్రాల విజయాలలో ముఖ్య పాత్ర వహించాయి. నన్ను ప్రేక్షకులకు మరింత చేరువ… pic.twitter.com/uPifYfmtFE
— Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) May 21, 2023
Statement
'My Raj will be forever in form of our songs…'
In a heartfelt interview, Koti (Saluri Koteswara Rao) expressed his emotions upon hearing the news. Reflecting on their longstanding relationship, Koti stated, "Both of us worked as assistants to Chakraborty. We gave many blockbuster hits. We both created a trend in Telugu. I am very sad that my Raj is not there today. My Raj will be forever in the form of our songs."
About the composer
Life and music legacy
Born to stalwart composer TV Raju, Raj was part of the esteemed music director duo Raj-Koti—which left an indelible mark on the Tollywood industry with their stirring songs. Raj made his debut with Pralaya Garjana, in 1982. Over the next 13 years, the duo worked together in around 180 films, including Yamudiki Mogudu (1988), Khaidi No 786 (1988), and Hello Brother (1994) among others.
Did you know?
AR Rahman has worked under Raj-Koti as a keyboard programmer
The Raj-Koti duo composed music for over 180 films, which was mostly sung by renowned singers SP Balasubrahmanyam and Chitra. Their musical prowess and geniuses earned them accolades, including the prestigious Nandi Award for Best Music Composer for the film Hello Brother in 1994. Interestingly, music legend AR Rahman has had the privilege of working under Raj-Koti as a keyboard programmer for eight years.
Solo career
The director duo Raj-Koti parted ways in 1995
In 1995, the music director duo parted ways owing to creative differences, and Raj embarked on his individual journey. During this period, he composed music for several films, and one notable film in his solo career was Sisindri (1995), featuring Nagarjuna. The film holds a special place in fans' hearts as it marked the first on-screen appearance of Akhil Akkineni, as a baby.