UDHAYA RAAGAM U K MURALI INNISAI MAZHAI

Udhaya Raagam U K Murali Innisai Mazhai, is a leading light music orchestra that has performed in all South Indian regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and also in Hindi.  It was started in the year 1985 by U K Murali, a young talented singer.  The light music scene in Chennai is a highly competitive one and to be in this field for 16 years and that too among the top orchestras is no joke.  It was sheer hard work coupled with a strong determination to succeed that helped this talented young singer U K Murali bring his orchestra to this level of success.

Speaking about the inspiration to start his own orchestra, U K Murali recounts, "At the time when we started, there were very few light music orchestras and people were still not quite used to making use of their services for occasions like marriages or corporate functions.  The idea of starting Udhaya Raagam -my own orchestra, was born after I came out of a band that had been formed with some of my college friends.  I was very active in college and took part in all cultural activities. So along with some other friends, we started a band called the 'Boys of Madras'.  However, I was not being given a free run over there. So I came out to start my own band to get more exposure and freedom.  That was how Udhaya Raagam was started".

With around 25 - 30 talented young professional musicians and singers, Udhaya Raagam is doing quite well in the southern arena and has even performed in concerts abroad.  In South India alone, they have staged over 3,000 programmes for different occasions like marriage receptions, sabha functions, temple festivals and so on.  Some of their corporate clients include Rallis India, Times of India, Tamil Nadu Petro Products, Voltas Workers Union, Taj Coromandel, Fisherman's Cove, Ramco Cements, Rane Engine Valves, L & T Cement, Hyundai Motors India, Carborundum Universal, TI Cycles and TTK LIG Limited, among others. 

Another unique highlight of Udhaya Raagam is their experience in staging exclusive devotional programmes.  Says U K Murali, "We have staged devotional programmes in Tamil and Malayalam in famous temples like Mahalingapuram Ayyapan temple, Anna Nagar Ayyapan temple, Katchaleeswarar temple, Maangadu temple, Marudeeswarar temple, Mundagakanniyamman temple, Periyapaalayathamman temple and many other temples.  This is something that very few orchestras can boast of".

Having to entertain an audience, which ranges from six-year old children to sixty year old persons is a big task indeed.  And if Udhaya Raagam has managed to do it, it is due to their mastery over new as well as old musical melodies and super hits.  In many of their shows, leading play back singers like P B Srinivas, S N Surendar, T M Soundarrajan, Sabesh, Srinivas, Unni Menon, Unnikrishnan, P Susheela, L R Easwari, Anuradha Sriram, Malgudi Subha, Harini, S P Shailaja, Jamuna Rani, Jikki, P Leela, Sangeetha, Swarnalatha and Shalini have participated. 

Udhaya Raagam has also been honored by leading film stars, music directors and producers like Thespian Dr Sivaji Ganesan, M S Viswanathan, Thenisai Thendra Deva, Kalaimamani Gangai Amaran and Dr Shankar Ganesh.  Udhaya Raagam has also bagged awards with its performance at various concerts - the Pepsi Orchestra Award, Kaviarasar Kannadasan Award, MGR Cultural Academy Award, Ajantha Awards, Priyam Awards, Karishma 95 Award, Tamil Nadu Cinema Kalaimandram Award and Ishwaryam Award and a citation from Lion's Club International.  The orchestra has also performed for the Tamil movie, 'Jodi' featuring Prasanth and Simran.  Very recently, the orchestra has also tried its hand at event management with tremendous success in managing events like Roja 100 - a celebration for actress Roja's 100^th film and Susheela 50 - a program for play back singer Susheela.

Address: Udhaya Raagam U K Murai Innisai Mazhai, # 9, Beena Nilayam, Thiruvanmiyur Beach Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai 600 041.
Phone: Residence - 441 4740, 4417202, Office - 4616669, 461 6670
Fax: 4450303, 495 3464
E-mail: ukmurali@eth.net

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