In a shocking development, veteran composer Raj, known as one-half of the Raj-Koti duo, passed away from a cardiac arrest on Sunday (May 21), leaving the film and music industries in disbelief. Raj, also known as Thotakura Somaraju, was only 68 years old and is survived by his wife and three daughters. His last rites were conducted at Maha Prasthanam in Jubilee Hills. Numerous celebrities from the film fraternity expressed their condolences over Raj’s untimely demise.
Rest in peace Somaraju Garu …I can never forget the pleasant memories working with Raj-koti in the 80s ❤️🩹🤲🏼🙏🥀🌹💐 pic.twitter.com/xQdwYMyWs1
— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) May 22, 2023
India’s leading music composer AR Rahman took to Twitter to share a photo of Raj and pay a heartfelt tribute to him. Rahman wrote, “Rest in peace Somaraju Garu… I can never forget the pleasant memories working with Raj-Koti in the 80s.” It is well-known that before Rahman established himself as an independent music director, he worked with the Raj-Koti duo as a keyboard player and programmer for eight years.
Rahman shared a deep bond with Raj-Koti, considering them close friends. In several interviews, Rahman mentioned that Raj and Koti held a special place in his heart. Raj and Koti themselves expressed their joy when Rahman won the prestigious Oscar for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, which shook the entire nation.
The passing of Raj has left a void in the industry, and his contributions to the music fraternity will always be cherished.
