# Rajan Somasundaram

Rajan Somasundaram, best known as Raleigh Rajan (Malayalam: റാലെ രാജൻ, Tamil:ராலே ராஜன்), is a composer, drummer, violinist and music producer based in Raleigh. He is known for making the first ever music album on Tamil Sangam period poetry in association with Durham Symphony and prominent international musicians. The album became Amazon's Top#10 bestseller under 'International Music albums' category in July 2020. The album was called a "A Major event in the world of Music" by The Hindu Music review. He composed the theme song of the 10th World Tamil Conference with many international musicians as a tribute to Sangam period poet Kaniyan Pungundranar.

## Early life and education

Rajan was born in Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu state and started learning Carnatic music since he was 9 years old at the birthplace of Shyama Shastri. He graduated with a master's degree in Engineering.

## Career

In 2017, Rajan created a new Carnatic Raga, Svadhya, and released a single titled ‘Maya- The reflection of Self’ composed in the raga. In 2018, he released the first ever musical form for the prominent Sanskrit Advaita classical literature, Ashtavakra Gita Saksi I, in the raga Svadhya. Rajan has worked on jingles, corporate commercials and documentaries including Lexus cars and Xansa.
Rajan composed the theme song of the 10th World Tamil Conference scheduled at Chicago. He has composed the first ever musical form for the 2000 year old poetry, Yathum Oore, written by Sangam Period poet Kaniyan Pungundranar. Rajan mentioned that as a tribute to one of the most progressive ancient poetry that calls for unity and equality, he composed the theme song to cover multiple genres of music and brought in many international musicians of varying genres, ethnicity and languages. Singers Karthik (singer) and academy nominated Bombay Jayashri sang the song along with various international artists. Tamil writer S. Ramakrishnan appreciated the selection of Yathum Oore poem as the theme song to portray the Tamil cultural identity.
In January 2020, Rajan released the first ever music album on ancient Tamil Sangam poetry collaborating with Durham Symphony and leading international artists, titled Sandham- Symphony Meets Classical Tamil. The Hindu music review called the album "A Major event in the world of Music".
His Pop-Rock single 'Girl Power' sung by KiRA Mazur became Top#10 most requested song on Chicago FM in June 2021. His background score for the documentary movie 'Anthara nadai' on Poet Abi was widely appreciated.
Rajan's music for the movie 'A Tribute to Venmurasu' featuring legendary Actor Kamal Haasan among others was released by Movie Director Mani Ratnam in a virtual public event. The movie taken to celebrate the successful completion of World's longest Tamil Novel Venmurasu was developed into a music album titled A Musical Tribute to Venmurasu includes a 12 minute musical tribute sung by Kamal Haasan, Sriram Parthasarathy, Saindhavi and Rajan Somasundaram. Rajan selected some highly poetic lines from Neelam, one of the Venmurasu Novels and created this Musical tribute. Writers A.Muttulingam, Director Vasanthabalan and Nanjil Nadan appreciated the unique combination of melody, rhythm and grandeur in creating a fitting musical tribute to Venmurasu. The album was released worldwide through Apple iTunes and Spotify.

### Discography

| Year | Album | Song | Description | Notes |
| 2018 | Ashtavakra Gita Saksi 1 | kathaṁ jñānam | The first musical form for Ashtavakra Gita, the Advaitha scripture in Sanskrit | |
| 2020 | Sandham- Symphony Meets Classical Tamil | Collection of 7 Sangam period poems | The First album on Sangam poetry, collaboration with Durham Symphony, Sung by Bombay Jayashri, Karthik, Saindhavi,Pragathi Guruprasad | Album that featured in Amazon Top#10 International Music Category |
| 2020 | Bharathi’s Oozhikkoothu | Vedipadum | Sung by Sathyaprakash, Collaboration with German Brass band highlighting the explosive nature of the poem | |
| 2021 | Palum Thelithenum | Palum Thelithenum | First musical form, sung by Priya Krish | |
| 2021 | A Tribute to Venmurasu | Kannanai Kaanbathumanai | Part of the documentary on Venmurasu by Jeyamohan sung by Kamal Haasan, Sriram Parthasarathy, Saindhavi and Raleigh Rajan | Released by Director Mani Ratnam, Director Vasanthabalan, Writers Appadurai Muttulingam in October 2021 |
| 2023 | Tribute to A Muttulingam | Kadavul Thodangiya Idam | Sung by Srinivas, Vithusayni, Sinmaye | |
| 2023 | Jayakanthan Poems | Ver Vittu | Poems written by Jayakanthan | Released by Bava Chelladurai, Bharathi Baskar |
| 2024 | Devi Mahatmya | Ya Devi | Part of Markandeya Purana scripture sung by Rajalakshmee Sanjay | |
| 2025 | Kambaramayanam | Kadalo Mazhayo | Poem from Kambaramayanam sung by Priya Krish | Launched by Sikkil Gurucharan, Nanjil Nadan and Jeyamohan |
| 2025 | Mark Twain Jazz | Love is not a product | Quotes on Love, attributed to Mark Twain, sung by UK based Singer, Actor Chris Weeks. Composed, arranged and produced by Rajan | Part of the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of '4 Seasons' movie |
| 2025 | Gopalla Grammam | Gopalla Gramam Kummi | The folk song mentioned in the novel Gopalla Gramam by Ki. Rajanarayanan set to music for the first time. The song is referenced as about 500 years old and sung by the original settlers of Kovilpatti area. Sung by Ananya Bhat, Rajalakshmi Senthil, Raleigh Rajan and Priya Krish. | |

### Documentaries

| Year | Title | Description | Notes |
| 2019 | Andharanadai | Documentary Film on Poet Abi | Documentary film on Poet Abi (Habibullah), a pioneer that introduced abstract, metaphysical style of poetry in Tamil |
| 2020 | Tharcheyalgalin varaipadam | Documentary Film on writer Sureshkumara Indrajith | |
| 2021 | A Tribute to VenMurasu | Documentary Film on the world’s longest Novel VenMurasu | Released in theaters in 14 major cities across the USA and Canada, the film features interviews with Ilaiyaraaja, Kamal Haasan, Ashokamitran among others. The music tracks composed for the movie were released by Director Mani Ratnam |
| 2021 | Veedum veedhigalum | Documentary Film on poet Vikramadityan | Film launched by Jairam Ramesh |