“I used to keep trying to create my own set of musical phrases and sounds on the piano and keyboard in my childhood,” said Ramesh Kumar Kannan, a Los Angeles- based music composer hailing from Salem district in Tamil Nadu, who has been recently nominated for the sixth annual Hollywood awards for the movie Labyrinth (directed by Ping Wen Wang).
He started learning music when he was five years old. “I learnt classical piano and music theory from Mr Camilus and Mr Abdul Sattar – my teachers,” Ramesh said.
He added that he comes from a family of musicians who are also professional medical doctors.
He received his Associate Diploma in music from Trinity College, London and later studied Visual Communication at the University of Madras to understand film scripts and drama better in order to create music for films.
He then moved to California and enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Southern California in Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television, graduating in 2013. Sharing his experience, he said, “I was fortunate to learn from academy award nominated composer Bruce Broughton among many other professors.”
He has been part of music-composing teams for movies like The Minions, Begin Again, Killing Season, Game of Assassins and Gatchaman.
When asked how it feels to be working as a music composer in Hollywood movies, he said, “waking up with having some music to be written, be it for film, TV, video games, a record or stage, is all I ever wanted for myself. And yes! I am very happy doing what I am doing.”
Love for Music
Apart from Ramesh Kumar Kannan, Sir Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Thomas Newman and Danny Elfman are the other nominees for the Hollywood media awards this year in different categories. This event is a precursor to the Golden Globe and Oscars. The winners will be announced at The Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on November 11, 2015.
I am grateful to be able to follow my passion. Now when I’ve come to know that I am getting recognised for my work over a much-celebrated platform like the Hollywood music in media awards, really, what more can I ask for?
Ramesh Kumar Kannan
His love for Indian music can be understood from the excitement in his voice.
I never had the chance to learn formally. But somehow, I learned what I could from my parents and sister. I incorporate elements from it in my writing when the subject calls for it.
Ramesh Kumar Kannan
Besides composing music, Ramesh likes travelling, photography, reading and cooking.
Currently, he is working on three songs for a theatrical play premiering this December. He also recently wrapped up the music score of a film called “Life of Janka” directed by Luis Vilora.
I’m looking forward to opportunities to work in India with all eagerness.
Ramesh Kumar Kannan
(The writer Pheba Mathew works with The News Minute.)
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