Thrissur: C P Rajasekharan, the invisible idol of generations of youngsters who tuned in to the All India Radio, died of heart attack in Thrissur on Sunday. He was aged 71. His glorious career with the public broadcaster was capped by terms as director of the AIR and Doordarshan.
In an era when radio was still the faithful companion in Kerala households, time was marked by Rajasekharan's voice. Even his simple introductory announcement at 2.10 pm - “Akashavani (AIR), Thiruvananthapruam, Thrissur, Alappuzha” - earned him fans.
When he started presenting the youth affairs magazine Yuvavani, he was flooded by fan mails from colleges across the state. He also lent his voice to the women's programme Mahilalayam, various plays and routine items including weather reports.
Born at North Paravur in 1947 to Purushothaman Nair and Parukutty Amma, Rajasekharan secured postgraduation degrees in English and Sanskrit before leaving for the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune to learn television production and direction. He later pursued a diploma in radio production in Germany.
At the All India Radio in Thiruvananthapruam, he was greeted by masters of the trade such as Jagathi K N Achari and Nagavalli. His distinct voice helped him stand apart. Even other announcers were fans of Rajasekharan, fondly called CPR, reminisced M D Rajendran, an AIR artiste and songwriter.
CPR's colleague Thankamani, who retired from the Thrissur station, said his capacity to present small skits even without a script was awe-inspiring. CPR's jovial style made the readers' feedback programme, Ezhuthupetti, a huge hit.
While serving as the station director, CPR presented a phone-in programme titled Snehapoorvam, in which the director himself responded to the audience's queries on anything under the sun. His career guidance programme was another hit. So was his Quran-based programme that ran through the Ramazan season.
CPR's works have been included in the curricula of the Madras and Mahatma Gandhi universities as well as the Central Board of Secondary Education. He had toured Germany, France, Canada and the United States to offer lectures at various universities.
He was a versatile writer too. His oeuvre of 40 books spans drama, children's stories, essays, poems and literary criticism in Malayalam and English. He has also penned lyrics for several Malayalam movie songs.
He was awarded a Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for his work, 'Moonnu Vayasanmar'. His other works include 'Sthree Enna Sthree', 'Doctor Vishramikkunnu', 'Yakshaganam', 'Yathrayile Yathra', 'Namukkoru Nadakam Kalikkam' and 'Vishadam Rogamalla'.
He was honoured by the Kerala Sahitya Akademy, Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Akademy, Doordarhsan and Akashvani. He has won 10 national awards from Akashvani for his scripts and direction in addition to the state television award.
He was awarded India's Best Public Service Broadcaster, Bombay Awaaz Award. He was nominated for an award at the Iran Radio Festival International.
He is survived by wife Shailaja, daughters Raj Keerthi and Bhadra Nair. Manu Nair of NDTV in Delhi and V S Anuraj, a pharmaceutical professional in Ernakulam, are sons-in-law.
CPR's body was cremated by his house at Maithri Line near the Police Academy at Ramavarmaopuram on Monday afternoon.
