https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=2409%3A40F3%3A2017%3A3E3F%3A8000%3A0%3A0%3A0Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]2026-11-05T02:22:02ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=R._K._Shekhar&diff=561857R. K. Shekhar2026-09-11T06:08:35Z<p>2409:40F3:2017:3E3F:8000:0:0:0: </p>
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<div>{{Short description|Indian composer (1933–1976)}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}<br />
{{Indian name| Shekhar|Rajagopala or Kulashekharan}}<br />
{{Infobox musical artist<br />
| name = R. K. Shekhar<br />
| image = R. K. Shekhar.jpg<br />
| caption = Photo of R. K. Shekhar<br />
| birth_name = Rajagopala Kulashekharan Shekhar<br />
| birth_date = 7 November 1933{{efn|Some sources list his birth date as 21 June 1933; however, authoritative biographical sources state 7 November 1933.}}<ref name="scroll"/><ref name="cinemaazi"/><br />
| education = [[Carnatic music]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|1976|09|10|1933|10|df=y}}<br />
| origin = [[Tiruvallur]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[British Raj|British India]]<ref name="cinemaazi"/><br />
| instrument = [[Pump organ|Harmonium]]<br />
| genre = [[Film score]], [[Classical music|classical]]<br />
| occupation = [[Film composer]], [[music director]], [[Arranger]], [[Music conductor]]<br />
| years_active = 1964–1976<br />
| spouse = Kareema Begum (Kasthuri)<br />
| label = [[Saregama]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Rajagopala Kulashekharan Shekhar''' (7 November 1933{{efn| 7 November 1933.}}<ref name="scroll">{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/reel/897662/his-fathers-son-how-ar-rahmans-father-rk-shekhar-made-his-mark-as-a-composer-and-arranger|title=His father's son: How AR Rahman's father RK Shekhar made his mark as a composer and arranger|work=Scroll.in|date=11 October 2018|access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref> – 10 September 1976) was an [[India]]n [[music composer]] who worked primarily for [[Malayalam cinema]].<ref name="mathai">{{cite book|last=Mathai|first=Kamini|year=2009|title=A. R. Rahman: The Musical Storm|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=9788184758238}}</ref> Shekhar served as a music conductor for over 100 films and composed scores for 52 films.<ref name="cinemaazi">{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/people/r-k-shekhar|title=R K Shekhar|work=Cinemaazi|access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref> He pioneered the early integration of [[Western classical music]] orchestration techniques into South [[Indian film music]]. He is the father of [[A. R. Rahman]] and [[A. R. Reihana]].<br />
<br />
His grandchildren [[A. R. Ameen]], [[Khatija Rahman]], [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]], and [[Bhavani Sre]] are involved in the music and film industries.<br />
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His debut song as a music director was "Chotta Muthal Chudala Vare" ("from cradle to grave"), which was a big hit in [[Kerala]]. This was composed for the film ''[[Pazhassi Raja (1964 film)|Pazhassi Raja]]'' (1964).<ref name="tributes">{{cite web|url=https://rkshekhar.tributes.in/|title=Mr. Rajagopala Kulashekhara, Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu Tribute|work=Tributes.in|access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref></div>2409:40F3:2017:3E3F:8000:0:0:0