GS RAJAN founded -
Malabarians - with his musician friends and presented his thematic
orchestral compositions in 1995 in New Delhi. Since then his group has
been performing in many leading cities of the world. The group has received
appreciation from both press and people who are highly musical. Rajan
calls his compositions - RAGA SYMPHONY - since all his works
are based on Indian ragas though it has an international flavour.
For his thematic orchestral
compositions, Rajan was hounoured by none other than the great maestro
Zubin Mehta in Munich when Rajan presented his work. GS RAJAN also
got the prestigious Akashwani Award from All India Radio for
his compostion titled 'Oasis'.
In 2005, Rajan was awarded
with a special fellowship by the Government of France as a composer.
Thus Rajan lived in France for more than eight months and compsoed raaga-symphony
with French musicians and presented these compositions at the Cite de
la Musique.
Besides vocals, the group
has Violins, Banjo, Mandolin, Bass Guitar, Mridangam, Tabla, Keyboards,
Rhythm Machines etc.

I want to evaluate and highlight
the creative efforts of a young musician, namely, GS RAJAN, who has
achieved significant success in orchestrating Indian music which has
its emphasis more on melody and individual interpretations than harmony.
It is in this context that I found that his orchestral presentation
entitled REFLECTIONS at the Kamani Auditorium under the auspices of
Art India, a landmark. . . . . . . . . This is not an easy matter since
Indian music does not easily lend itself to orchestration as this technique
demands inducting chords, counter-puntings, which are alien to it. RAJAN
has made successful inroads in the field of Shrutibheda - transposition
of scales so that other ragas, as different from the basic one taken
for the first line, blossom into different ragas embedded in the scale
by shifting the basic note. . . . . . . It was clear that RAJAN had
done his home work thoroughly as in none of the pieces presented, was
there a single loss of cue. I have no hesitation in saying that if RAJAN
had been born in the West he would have been encouraged, nurtured and
enabled to blossom into a great creative composer and conductor."
Subbudu (PV Subrahmanyam)
Seniormost Music Critic
"In the incomprehensible
depths of the human mind, one doesn't need to know art or culture, to
know music or dance to know that something good is in front of you.
To know that that which is happening perhaps surpasses this or that
school of thought, this or that school of music, this or that school
of dance, but that it is something which produces resonance in the depths
of the human mind. Would you believe it if I told you that each and
every one of the pieces which have been rendered so far, I thought,
Rajan had specially created for me. ...Rajan, thank you. ...Thank you
for producing such an ensemble. What you have rendered us this evening
will keep ringing in my ears for many, many days to come. ...May you
produce much more so that you will touch the hearts of men and women
throughout this country and throughout the world. Thank you."
TN SESHAN Chief Election
Commissioner(retd.)