Kannada music composer Rajan of Rajan-Nagendra famed duo dies at 87

Noted music composer Rajan (of the Rajan-Nagendra musical duo fame) passed away after a cardiac arrest at his residence in Bengaluru on Sunday night. He was 87. The composer, who had lost his brother Nagendra 20 years ago. The composer duo have lent music for around 375 films over five decades. While they have composed some of the most memorable music in Kannada, they have also composed for music in other Indian film industries including Telugu, Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam and Hindi, as well as for Sinhalese films too.

Rajan's son Ananth informed media that he succumbed to a gastric disorder. Apparently, he used to complain of gastric related pain often and on Sunday, when he complained of the same when he went to sleep, it seemed like the pain was too much and eventually he succumbed to the same. Rajan was working with his son Ananth after he lost his brother in 2000. Rajan and Nagendra have composed lent music for some of the biggest and most successful soundtracks, with them ruling the charts particularly in the 1970s. Some of their most successful soundtracks around that time include Nyayave Devaru, Gandhada Gudi, Devara Gudi, Bhagyavantaru, Eradu Kanasu, Naa Ninna Mareyalaare, Naa Ninna Bidalaare, Hombisilu, Bayalu Daari, Paavana Ganga and Giri Kanye among the others.