DiscoverBangalore is pleased to introduce Lakshman Sriram, an acclaimed Multi lingual Karaoke Singer and Rajalakshmi Sriram, a Mathematics teacher.

Mathematics and music make strange partners, but not when they are Lakshman Shriram and Dr.Rajyalakshmi. Shriram is an acclaimed Karaoke singer and teacher and Rajyalakshmi, a professor of Mathematics in the community college at Crestville USA. Music is the language of emotions, no doubt, but when governed by reason and intellect it morphs into the unique digital mode of Karaoke singing that’s Shriram’s hallmark. Sriram spends 4 months each year in his home town Bangalore-Malleshwaram to be precise. Popularly known as the walking Juke box, he can recall 500 hit film songs from memory in Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Tamil. He is planning to sound the Limca records on this feat. No wonder, across the US, audiences flock to hear this Ram-R andom A ccess M emory who is also a good mimic. 12 singing greats are brought to life in his voice and it’s palpable that Music is the very essence of his life. Because of the karaoke mode he is limited to the availability of the tracks, but he need not rely on live orchestra that is hard to come by.

An untrained singer, this self taught musician practices by listening music nearly 20 hours a day so much so he knows each beat in a song. He believes nobody has gone beyond the sapta swaras. Rama mandira in Malleswaram was his inspiration when in the 70’s he used to religiously listen to the songs rendered by great singers viz M.S., Jesudas, SPB, P B Srinivas etc in this temple.

Grounded in tradition and humility this wonderful couple believe in the binding force of the family. Talking to Rajyalkshmi who is so full of energy and life, one does not realize that she faced the most trying of times being polio affected at the age of five. She says ‘Going to the US for treatment at age 22, I utilized the spare time to get my second Master’s degree and a doctorate in Mathematics, as a professor there saw my ability in Math. So at Arlington with his help I got a scholarship and started my independent life. Sister Pankaja and my husband’s support have seen me embracing life as anybody else without seeking the concessions of the differently abled. My left hand even to this day is just an ornamental appendage. In 1986 I started my teaching career in Springfield, Missouri. My students are from kindergarten to those majoring in math. Writing for my thesis and on the board when teaching has brought life into my limbs. I have thus built all the muscles, and can now drive quite comfortably. Sri Ram has an elephantine memory, remembering events and happenings with the date and time which I can never do. Pankaja gave life to me and Sriram made me the person that I am today. We have both gone through many uncertainties of life, but that has only brought us closer and appreciative of the small mercies of life.”

You know, “I never failed in my life but I failed 5 times in the driving test. Life was never kind to me, recalls Rajalakshmi. Odds were always stacked against me but my persistence took me ahead. There was lots of prejudice while submitting my thesis or when applying for a job. But when I proved myself I was given my due. My job at Florida, teaching in the community college was the memorable happening in my life. I got this assignment from the commendation letters of my students. I love to teach specially to those students who are inhibited by math. My philosophy is if I teach in a way the students love the subject then they will pass it on and that is rewarding. I innovate my teaching as I come from a family of generations of teachers.”

In 1976 Sriram started his singing career with the Chamarajpet Sarasvani that has a unique 100 plus orchestra on a handsome fee of Rs 5/= per song. Sriram says ‘I was a regular at Napoli, Luciya International, Hotel Ashok, Savoy-Ooty singing 365 days, sometimes three shows on Sundays when the jam concept was gaining ground. I am born to sing everybody’s songs, but then I innovate. I went to the US in 1985. I had stints at the US army, national guards, an aircraft company, Post office, Phillip Morris advertising wing, pharmacy, real estate, stock brokerage.” This sharp shooter is a licensed realtor, but the calling was always music.

Singing at small parties, Sriram’s popularity took him to different states for performing at the annual happenings of the Kannada koota association.He was the first karaoke singer to sing at the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations. It was at an Atlanta show that he tried his voice to Karaoke. He further adds-“Karaoke is extremely difficult, accuracy is very much needed and one miss of the beat the song goes awry.Atleast the live musicians can cover up but in this digital medium it’s impossible. And then started my journey as a karaoke singer in 1995. I called my one man show Unknowns honouring the unknown musicians who scored the back ground music. All my earnings from music are spent in stocking my collection of CD’s. From the last two years I have been learning classical music to hone my skills.”

He has more than a dozen CD releases. In Madura Nenapu he has sung the Kannada version of vintage Hindi sings i.e. in Kannada lyrics. The voice is so seasoned that he brings the nuances of the emotion in Kannada too. He takes the trouble of knowing the meaning of a song in Bengali, Gujarati, and Malayalam when he sings in these languages. He has sponsored a ‘houseful’ program last year at Bangalore as a tribute to Raj Kapoor calling it ‘Ramu remembers Raju’ in style. His latest program at the world culture was on the sandya ragas. His 21 year old son Subhash does the computer work involved in the karaoke. “My dreams -- to research the depths in our classical music. Being an ardent admirer of Balachander I want an opening for a musical role in his film.”

With pride Rajyalakshmi tells me “Both my sons at times join Sriram in concerts. My sons listen to the music their father listens and are not wired to listen to their kind of music as youngsters of their age. His audiences of tiny tots, teenagers and the elderly unconsciously sway to his music. First time audiences take away the mike to believe that he is not miming. His complete involvement does not allow him to be distracted. Across the US, Chennai and Bangalore he has been feted. He teaches singing but to a select few as karaoke- sab ki baat nahin hai dost. We believe in the efficacy of Gayatri mantra. He goes to sleep with the strains of music. He could not pronounce Ra because of the tongue tie, but with speech therapy he is able to overcome the disability. (With a laugh) He is a fox without tail.

Sri.Raghavachar is Ram’s paternal grandfather, who assisted Annie Besant.

Ello hudukide illada devara Kallu mannugala gudi olege

Ille iruva preethi snehagala guruthisa dadevu namma olege……..

He can be contacted at karaokeram@yahoo.com

In a chat with Githa.U.Badikillaya

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