Rajs voice had the smoothness & depth comparable to PB Srinivos. His voice was capable of greater vivacity, noticeable in songs like Thai Thai Bangari, Naa Ninna Mareyalare, Le le Appana Magale and Aradhisuve. Adept at rendering his voice to different moods - romantic, sentimental, devotional and semi-classical, his songs about Kannada language and culture such as Jenina holeyo, Maanavanagi huttidmele and Huttidare are immensely popular. He even sang a complete English song in one of his bond films. Interestingly, he lent voice for SPB in Muddina Mava and comedian Narasimharaju in Devasundari. Naadamaya, a classical song in Raga Thodi, which won him the national award for best playback singing proves his versatility as a singer with its complex graces as it progresses with other ragas. He switches between ragas with ease and sings Swara patterns just like a professional. Kalidasas shlokas, songs which are based on ghazals like Sadaa Kannali, Kanneera Dhaare, Gelathi Baradu and Yaava Kaviyu have also been very melodious and popular. Besides films, he rendered his voice for many devotional songs. The money got from the recording companies were utilised for charity purposes.
I share most of the sentiments expressed by the author, except for a factual inaccuracy. "Rajkumar first sang for himself in the movie Sampathige Savaal as late as 1974",this statement is factually incorrect. If my memory remembers right, he first sang a song "Tumbithu Manava, thandithu sukhava",in the movie " Mahishasure Mardini", which was a very old black & white movie. He has sung that song with soft tones, to bring out the inherent romance. I had wondered since then " why he never sang for himself untill 1974"?.His singing is an example of the richness of "Indian Theatre". So good was his commitment & dedication that he used to rehearse the songs & lyrics for weeks before the recording. As a matter of fact he used to memorise his songs. His pronounciation was impeccable. The sanskit song "Manika Veena Mupalalayanthim" of the poet Kalidasa is a point in case. He could easily express all emotions, still all emotions fade in contrast with "devotion". "Vara banthamma" is a case in the point again. We all kannadigas miss him enormously. From a non-entity he rose to become a part & parcel of every kannadiga family, so sub-consciously that none realised how. Dr.Raj RIP
