User:Rathish Shankarr/sandbox

Rathish Shankarr (born November 6, 1990) is an Indian singer, musician, composer, music producer, record producer and songwriter. Beginning his professional career as an independent musician in 2012, he currently is also a playback singer. Rathish is well-known for his talents as a versatile singer and has a unique style of triggering soulful emotion in his songs. His gentle voice has attracted huge fan-following for his music.

Biography
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Early life
Rathish hails from Poovakote, a family with a lot of professional musicians and music lovers from Cherpulassery in Palakkad district of Kerala, India. His father PV Soman is a businessman and is settled at Chathamangalam in Kozhikode district and his mother PK Rathidevi is from Cherpulassery. Famous poet PP Sreedharanunni and famous film director and screenwriter Raghunath Paleri are his paternal uncles. Ratish was introduced to film music just like any other kid was in his childhood. His grandfather Gopalakrishnan Nair was among the first to lead Rathish into the world of Carnatic music when he was a kid. Rathish’s mother’s lullabies stimulated him to listen to music in his early childhood. In 2001, he moved with his parents to Kozhikode (Calicut) where he was exposed to the great world of Hindustani music, Ghazals and Sufi music -- the taste of Kozhikode. His father, Soman noticed his talent in singing and provided training and nurtured his talents. Rathish won many prizes in competitions throughout his schooling and college life. .



Career
Rathish’s first album was Varnotsavam (album of Onam songs) in 2005 made for malayalam TV Channels, in which he appeared for the first time infront of camera. He also sang ‘Ozhukumeethennalil’, a beautiful song composed in ragams Amrithvarshini & Malhar. He launched his official band Aahir in 2013 for Music Mojo Show, Kappa TV, for which he started recording in 2005. Soon after, he recorded many devotional songs across religions, While Rathish used to perform on stages even during his childhood, Kairali TV’s ‘Gandharva Sangeetham’ -- a reality show in the name of legendary singer KJ Yesudas -- changed his confidence level and helped him realise how great his style is. After his first song, he was hugged by music director Johnson for singing ‘Devanganangal’ with such a positive attitude and feel and was widely appreciated by the other judges who were singers like Sreenivas, Sujatha Mohan, and Anuradha Sreeram and received a standing ovation by the audience. After graduation in music, he started recording romantic songs with the first one being ‘Aavani pournami’ in ragam Hamsanadam. This became the turning point of his life to opt for music as his career.

Rathish’s passion to record his version of Lalitha Sahasranamam and Vishnu Sahasranamam chanting was one of his most difficult goals that he achieved. His hard work to record traditional chanting albums are praiseworthy as it needed intensive work and dedication. Even though he was pursuing a degree in Carnatic music and doing music and classical dance concerts, his focus was on film music and light music all the time. This made him focus on Hindustani music, especially ghazals, after post graduation. He continued training in Hindustani music.

Another remarkable feat in his career was singing for a telefilm ‘Niracharthu’ with actor Nedumudi Venu and famous poet Kavalam Narayana Panicker. Famous art director Sabu Sivan introduced him to pianist Stephen Devassy, which changed Ratish’s live performance arena by collaborating with legendary musicians all over India. Ratish has had the honour of performing live and recording albums with famous playback singers Srinivas, Karthik, Naresh Iyer, Madhu Balakrishnan, Sudeep Kumar, Najim Arshad, KS Chithra, Sujatha, Swetha Mohan.

Initiatives and Humanitarian Work
Rathish Shankarr has organized music workshops for music lovers using multimedia presentation, for many schools and educational Institutions especially for (NITC) National Institute of Technology, Calicut. He is the founding member of the ‘Great Charitable Foundation’ for helping the poor and needy. He also runs a music institution named ‘Nadakshetra – International Institute of Arts and Research’. This institution is affiliated to Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy. He also provides music therapy sessions for the differently-abled and autistic kids.

TV Shows
After being a finalist in ‘Gandharva Sangeetham’ 2007 (Kairali TV), Rathish started appearing in many channels with his music. He anchored many episodes of musical live telecast programme ‘Sing N Win’ for Kairali TV along with playback singers like Akhila Anand. He has performed ‘Music Mojo’ for Kappa TV with his band Aahir. Rathish had performed Carnatic music for the festival rendering programme for Doordarshan Kendra, Trivandrum, Kerala, along with other famous musicians. He also sang for a film named ‘Kudumbanadhan’ in 2012.

Awards and Honours
Swaraj Welfare Association Award - 2014, Rotary Club Award for Best male singer - 2013, Rotary Club Award for Best male singer - 2012, Devaragotsavam Award - 2007, Swaralaya Mathrubhumi Study Circle Appreciation -2004, Kalimuttam Samskarikavedi Special Appreciation - 2002.

Achievements
Rathish had performed in the Navarathrimandapam of Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple, Trivandrum, which is a rare opportunity that happens through the invitation of Travancore Royal family.

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References/Notes and references
1. https://www.manoramaonline.com/music/music-news/2017/05/17/lovers-medley-music-video.html 2. https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/music/tattvam-asi-devotional-album-1.2528355