KRK : A budding Independent Artist from A&N Islands

KRK : Artist from the islands finds name in the world of independent music

By Debkumar Bhadra  |  Musings of an Islander  | South Andaman

It was a sunny day turned cosy when I had a chance meeting with K Raja Kumarr, the budding Creative Director, Ad-film maker, Lyricist, Singer and Composer from these islands who shot to fame following release of his second music album titled Avalae Varuvalaa.

Fondly known as KRK, the guy is quite youthful, energetic and joyous in his approach towards life and work. Recollecting his early days he says, he has been just another guy in the crowd until he decided it is high time to listen to his heart. In the process he sacrificed his career in Engineering and join Bachelor Degree course in Visual Communication, which according to him, brought several positive changes in life. He is happy that he is able to do what he likes the most; creating music and movies.

Born in a tamil family, K Raja Kumarr had his initial schooling at Kamraj English Medium School at Port Blair. Later he was admitted to a boarding school at Chennai, where he developed fondness for music and movies. He also participated in various state level Volley Ball tournaments and enjoys swimming as a hobby. In his spare time, he would surf the net and try to understand the nuances of Graphics, VFX, Editing, Animation and other aspects associated with visual media.

After completing basic schooling, KRK joined Engineering college where he fared average in academics but contended since he was able to show his talent in the field of extra-curricular activity to a larger audience out there. Notable being his participation in a Short Film Competition while studying in BE Civil – II Year. One of his peer said communicating a message through short movie is a challenge which KRK accepted and his 10 min short movie was adjudged “Winner” of the competition. Thus KRK’s creativity with camera got an audience, and appreciation poured in from every quarters including members of the jury. Success in the competition brought KRK in contact with eminent film makers and also the chance to make new friends who would later fund his creative ideas.

The feedback his short movie received changed his outlook towards his career. He understood it is high time he must listen to his heart. Raja eventually discontinued engineering and switched to Bachelor Degree course in Visual Communication. However opting a career which his parents could not associate with job prospect was never easy. But his brother and sister backed him in his pursuit. He also took up part time job to fund his studies and simultaneously enrolled for a couple of other short term courses relating to visual communication.

By the time he completed his BSc degree in Visual Communication, hard work and the urge to learn new things saw him acquire a set of soft skills related to Editing, VFX and Post Production techniques. Later KRK along with three friends launched his own production house and did quite a number of Ad-films.

Looking back, KRK refers to his first music album Ek khwab me released during early 2014. The album, though in Hindi, could not get the audience he expected since owing to work pressure he could not promote the album. Whereas the second album Avalae Varuvalaa though in tamil got over 14000 views in just a month of release, all because of social media presence. Today he is being contacted for assignments from far off places through social media contacts thus urge fellow Independent Artist to harness the potential of social media.

KRK has also done a short vedio feature on Andaman Tourism which gives viewers an overview of the places of tourism interest in the Andaman group of islands. The CD was released on 24 April, 2016 by Ankita Mishra Bundela, IAS, Secretary (Tourism) during Beach Festival at Carbyn’s Cove.

He thanks the Directorate of IP&T, Andaman and Nicobar Administration for giving him the unique opportunity to showcase his creativity. He says the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are full of talented people who could do wonders provided they get the right kind of support and the freedom, to pursue a career of their liking. He believes one must opt for a career by choice and pursue it with full dedication. KRK did not forget to thank his parents, brother and sister, friends and his producers, specifically Deepesh who invested his hard earned money in producing his second album but could not live long to share its success.

As on date KRK Raja Kumarr has over 40 Ad-films and two music vedios under his belt, yet he is as energetic as he was before.


This article has been carried in the Port Blair edition of Echo of India dated 08 May, 2016.