RK Sekhar

Rajagopala Kulasekhara Sekhar, popularly known as RK Sekhar was born on June 30th, 1933, in Madras to Malayali parents. He composed the music for songs in about 52 films in Malayalam and Tamil and set the background score for about a hundred films.

RK Sekhar’s first film was Jnana Sundari for which he scored the background music. Pazhassi Raja (1964) was the first movie for which he composed songs. Chotta Muthal Chdala Vare from this film is still popular among music lovers.

Thaamarathoni, Taxicar and Miss Mary were movies that proved his mettle as a music composer.

Sekhar passed away on September 30th, 1976 at the age of 46. He is survived by his wife Kasthuri and four children. One of his sons is noted music director AR Rahman.

AS Dileep Kumar became AR Rahman when he along with his mother and siblings converted to Islam in the eighties. Rahman assumed the role of head of the family after his father’s death. Kasthuri is Kareema Begum today and lives with her son Rahman who is following in his father’s footsteps as a musician.

Prepared by: Remitha Satheesh