ANTARAGNI

(Raghupathy D. Dixit and his Fire Within - A Profile)

To say that Raghupathy Dixit hits you between the eyes would be an understatement. One moment he knocks the wind out of you with his intensity, the next moment he's touching you deep with his gentleness, and then before you know it, he's making you grin with his youthful enthusiasm and whacky humour! Whatever your taste or mood, this is one guy whom it is impossible to be indifferent to. He is like a heady breath of fresh air, even all by himself, as we saw him perform at the Alliance Frangaise, Bangalore, recently. Singing solo, with only his guitar and his huge heartwarming smile to accompany him, we still experienced the quintessential Raghu. An amazingly powerful voice with textured layers, lyrics which you feel were born out of deep personal feeling and sincere conviction, and a genuine warmth that makes you want to go to him and say: "Hey, 1 understand exactly how you feel"! Yes, this guy rings true, right down to the last lyric. Ask anyone who's heard him sing just once, the reaction is always: "Raghu? Of course I remember him!" But then, how can anyone forget him? It is not everyday that you are shaken up by such music.

A native of Mysore, Raghu brings with him a background rich in the creation of beauty and expression. A trained classical dancer (Vidwat in Bharathanatyam) and a Gold Medal award winner for securing the first rank in his Master's Degree in Microbiology from the University of Mysore, Raghu has never leamt music formally. He created his own way, learning to play the guitar looking into a book. But, the idea of singing songs composed by somebody else never impressed upon him and probably this is why he started writing and composing his own songs, mostly in English. However, Raghu is not averse to experiment with different languages and has started to write in Hindi too. Surprisingly, Raghu's most popular song is in Hindi and is the only song he has written so far in Hindi! Align Me, ....like Cocaine, Father, Chewing Gum and Material Minds are some of his songs which have become favorites among the crowd in Bangalore.

Needlessly to say, Raghu's background of classical dance has influenced his music greatly, molding his music into World Music genre. Mixing subtle Camatic classical notes in between straight western phrases cleverly, Raghu's has been able to create a unique style of singing. A constant pursuit in search of a new sound and flair for experimenting led him to meet a talented violin player H.N. Bhaskar. They formed a duo band called Antaragni, which means 'The Fire Within'. It is with this association with Bhaskar that Raghu's music attained a different dimension. Not far from there, Antaragni had spread its fire to Bangalore. It was here that Antaragni got its recognition as a band with substance and also it's new member in Ravichandra Rao, a flautist and percussionist of repute. By evolving a unique blend of Indian Classical, Folk and Western styles of music, in a short span of 2 odd years 'Antaragni', has carved a niche for itself in the Bangalore-Mysore music scene.

Raghu moved to Bangalore two years back and is presently working as a technical writer in a leading Software Company. From Classical Dance to Microbiology to Computers, music has been the thread tying it all as one for Raghu. As he admits, music is only thing that his life at present revolves around and all his decisions are influenced by his relationship with music.

Raghu's greatest moment in life so far as a musician has been the moment when he heard his own songs being played on none other than the most popular FM radio station of Europe - The RBTF's channel - Radio 21 in Belgium (see the review - interview article published by www.themusicmagazine.com).

Unfortunately, the priorities of Ravi and Bhaskar as professional musicians differed from that of Raghu and Antaragni disbanded in February 2000. Though hit by his friends' departure, Raghu soon got his act back together and started playing solo with only his guitar to his support.

Today, Raghu is well known in the music circles in Bangalore. He is still on the lookout for musicians with expertise who can relate and vibe to his music. The day when the world will recognize his talent is something, which we all pray for him to come soon!

PROFILE OF RAGHU'S CONCERTS:

National Law School Stawberry Fields Rock Contest: December 1998. Got selected into the final six from a total of 26 rock bands from all over India. Could not get a place on the grounds of being only two members in a band. However, bagged the Best Vocalist and Best Instrumentalist awards.

National Law School University Week Concert: May 22,1999. The popularity Antaragni gained during the Stawberry Fields Rock Contest the previous December saw Raghu and Bhaskar being invited to perform a 2-hour long concert for the students of NLS.

SJCE Rock Contest: June 2 - 3,1999. First Place. Best Vocalist award for Raghu and Best Instrumentalist award for Bhaskar.

The World Environment Day Concert: June 5, 2000. Please see the concert review in Asian Age (dated June 11, 1999).

The Nasdaq Meet Concert at Le Meredian: August 1999.

Antaragni being featured on The Radio-21, Belgium: October, 1999.

The Oyelndia.com Roof-Top Jam Concert: April 29, 2000. Please see the review article of this concert.

The Richmond Park Revival Concert: March 28, 2000.

The Beyond-Self Charity Concert for "Dream a Dream": June 3, 2000. Played with Shadrach Solomon on the Keyboards.

The World Music Day Concert at Alliance Francaise de Bangalore: June 21, 2000.

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