Dr. Rajiv Vijayakar
From Molars to Melody : The Inspiring Journey of Dr. Rajiv Vijayakar
– By Megha Vazkar with AI asst.
In a remarkable testament to following one’s passion, Dr. Rajiv Vijayakar, a man of many talents, recently received the prestigious Swarna Kamal Award at the 69th National Film Awards for his book Music by Laxmikant-Pyarelal: The Incredibly Melodious Journey.
With this, he became the first member of the Pathare Prabhu community to be bestowed with such an honor, blazing a trail for others to follow
A Musical Soul Born on the Move
Rajiv’s love for music traces back to his childhood, shaped by his parents’ deep love for cinema. His father, a senior officer with the Reserve Bank of India, was frequently transferred, exposing young Rajiv to life in five different cities before finally settling in Mumbai. His educational journey began in Senior KG and culminated in Senior Cambridge, followed by college at Jai Hind and a degree in Dentistry from Nair Hospital Dental College.
A Dual Career: Dentistry and Journalism
Despite his medical training, music remained Rajiv’s enduring passion. He juggled two demanding careers-practicing dentistry by day and pursuing serious, analytical film journalism in his spare hours. For nearly 25 years, he managed both worlds with relentless dedication.
However, circumstances forced a shift. Harassment from a landlord under Mumbai’s challenging pagdi system and personal stress, particularly while supporting his daughter’s medical entrance preparation, led Rajiv to step away from dentistry. Fortunately, his parallel career in journalism was already well-established, giving him a cushion to fall back on.
Making a Mark in Entertainment Journalism
Unlike the gossip-fueled corridors of entertainment writing, Rajiv carved a niche by focusing on the deeper study of film and, more specifically, film music. This unique angle set him apart.
His first book, The History of Indian Film Music (2010), though limited to Hindi film music, was widely acclaimed and even made its way as a reference literature at UCLA.
Rajiv now plans to re-release an updated and enriched version of the book.
His second book, Dharmendra: Not Just a He-Man, celebrated one of his favorite actors and human beings.
Interestingly, this project came to him serendipitously, when an initial proposal for a different star didn’t work out. Rajiv’s heartfelt admiration for Dharmendra shines through the biography.
His third work, Main Shayar Toh Nahin, though written before the Dharmendra book, was released later as part of a 100-book project commemorating Indian cinema’s centenary.
But it was Music by Laxmikant-Pyarelal that earned Rajiv national acclaim. The richly researched and lovingly crafted tribute to the legendary composer duo struck a chord across India and earned him the Swarna Kamal award.
A Museum, A Jury Seat, and Now… Composing
Rajiv’s contributions extend beyond the written word. He was part of the team that curated the Hindi film music section at the Indian Music Experience Museum in Bangalore-India’s first immersive, digital music museum. “Even if you’re just an average music lover, you’ll end up spending three hours there,” he smiles.
He has also served as a jury member for the 58th and 62nd National Film Awards, covering entries across languages and genres. “Everything was clean and fair, based on consensus,” he notes, reassuringly.
Now, Rajiv has added yet another feather to his cap-composing a song. A passion project, he recently recorded a song he has himself written and sung, arranged and produced by veteran Raju Singh. “The quality of film music today has dropped in lyrics, melody, and vocals,” Rajiv laments. “So I thought, why not try?” Encouraged by Singh, he recorded his first original track in a professional studio-a personal milestone decades in the making. Though he has had no formal training in music, this has been a hitherto-unrealized dream from his teenage years.
Dr. Rajiv has been recently interviewed by Vividbharti reaching his thoughts to remote corners of India.
Advice to the Dreamers
Asked about advice for young people torn between stability and creative passion, Rajiv recalls the film 3 Idiots: “What if Sunil Gavaskar had been forced to become a singer, or Lata Mangeshkar a cricketer?” He urges youngsters to follow their hearts. “Life doesn’t always go according to plan-and that’s okay. Sometimes, destiny takes over. My first song is about that very message-don’t overthink, just accept and move forward.”
A Humble Soul
Despite his accolades, Rajiv remains grounded. “Call me Rajiv,” he insists. “That’s the name my parents gave me, and I’m comfortable with it.”
In a world increasingly defined by rigid career paths, Rajiv’s journey is a heartening reminder that it’s never too late to listen to your inner voice-and follow the music
Indeed, in the hope that we can find our own music we offer Dr Rajiv –
Amcha Manacha Mujra