The CKN Family Lineage
CKN and Rajamani have six daughters and two sons, five granddaughters, 7 grandsons, ten great grandsons and six great granddaughters. All of their children and grandchildren grew up in the environment made always of music, drama, literature and other cultural activities. Children were given the freedom to choose whatever they wanted to, in terms of education and to work in the areas of their interest. The household was always busy with guests from all walks of CKN’s life, relatives, family and the extended families which helped all the children and grandchildren to inculcate the power of co-existence and to understand the value of humanity & human relations. The atmosphere thus created did help their children and for it to percolate down through the generations. And, all the grandchildren and their spouses have excelled in their professional and personal life. They have been very proud of each other and each of the family members.
Daughter Shobha
Daughter Shobha (1939-2016) is the first child of the family married to Giri Rajkumar Shrivastava and held a Master’s degree in Sociology along with a Diploma in Library Sciences from Punjab University in Chandigarh. She completed her Visharada in Hindi and studied Classical music for five years under Gayana Vidyavisharada Veena L. Raja Rao. Shobha was a talented creative artist and had a keen interest in Film music, actively participating in various competitions and earning numerous awards.
She was highly proficient in Hindi, composing poetry and writing articles in the language. She served as a Librarian and worked in the Accounts department at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine for the Indian Air Force in Bangalore for several years before retiring. Following her retirement, she continued her professional journey at Bangalore Hospital. They have two daughters, 5 grandsons and one granddaughter.
Daughter Usha
Daughter Usha married to B.K. Gururaja Rao (1936-2025) is the second child in the family. She has a B.Sc. degree and learnt Classical music with her sister Shobha. After marriage she joined her husband in Canada where he went for his post graduate studies to University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. After he earned his Ph. D in Engineering in 1969, he started working for Saskatchewan Power Corporation in Natural Gas Division and they settled down in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Usha was working in the IT company in Regina for many years until she retired in year 2000. In 1984, Usha’s parents visited them in Regina which was the highlight of their life and they were able to take them to some parts of USA and Canada to meet some family and some Kannada families. They have three sons and a grandson and a granddaughter.
Daughter Mangala
Daughter Mangala is the third child married to K.S. Ananthaswamy(1942-2023). She received her B.A. degree with Music as a Major. She learnt Carnatic music from Gayana Vidyavisharada Veena L. Raja Rao. She has learnt Indian Classical Dance form Bharatanatyam from Guru Chalapati along with her sisters and brothers. She has been a Grade A+ Artist in Akashwani (AIR) Bangalore in Music and Drama divisions for decades. She was popular as a Singer of Light Music giving several performances singing ‘Bhavageethagalu’ and & Janapada Geetegalu’. She has portrayed many characters as a performing artist on stage plays. Her collection of poems is published in her ‘Bhavalahari’ book in 1988. She recognizes Prof. Lingaiah as her mentor in writing her poems.
Recognizing her singing talent in one of the Light music competitions, M.S. Natarajan, who was the Chairman of Mysore State Sangeetha Nataka Academy selected Mangala to be a member of the Inter State Cultural Exchange Troupe representing Mysore State (now Karnataka) in early 1960. The troupe represented Mysore State in the Republic Day celebrations. She was the main singer in the troupe. During that time the troupe had the privilege of meeting with Prime ministers, Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Sastry, President Dr.S. Radhakrishnan, Indira Gandhi and Vijayalakshmi Pundit. The cultural exchange troupe performed in many States in India. She became a popular Stage artist. She performed on stage in the dramas under many lead directors including her father, Gopinath Das of Prabhata Kalavidaru and others. She acted in stage plays ‘Nachiketa’, ‘Sairandri’, ‘Karnataka Vaibhava’(in the role of Akkamahadevi), CKN’s ‘Conduct Medal’, ‘Shabari‘, Mahasati Arundati’, ‘Yayati’ (played the role of Sharmishte) written by Girish Karnad and directed by R. Nagesh of Ranga Sampada drama group.
The role of Chitrakala was played by her sister Geetha Keshavamurthy in the same play. She performed the leading role of Saraswati in the play “Mahasati Saraswati” directed by Vasant Kavali in both on stage and in the Radio Play in Akshwani, Bangalore. This play was adopted by director Vasanth Kavali from the Novel written by Shivarama Karanth. She and her sister Geetha who is also a stage and AIR artist acted in the plays during the Drama Festival organized by United Artists in 1959 at Mumbai.
She has also contributed to Cinema, playing a lead role of Akkamahadevi. She sang also Vachanas and songs for the film Akkamahadevi produced by her father CKN. She was also a playback singer in the film singing songs and Vachanas for the film. Unfortunately, the film could not be completed. She acted in two more films, ‘Mantrashakti’ of Hunasur Krishnamurthy and the National Award winning film ’Pallavi’ of P. Lankesh. She also worked as a dubbing artist for several films more significant being lending her voice for the Heroine of the National Award Winning Film, Kaadu, Directed by Girish Karnad. She also dubbed for Bhoolokadalli Yamaraja, Parasangada Gendetimma, Doddamane Estate etc.
She credits her parents for the support and encouragement she received from themandto her husband who also supported her for participating in Radio plays, Stage plays & Music programs.
Daughter Geetha
Daughter Geetha is the fourth child married to P.Keshavmurthy. She has a B.Sc. degree and learnt Veena from her paternal uncle, Vainika Vidwan C.K. Shankaranarayana Rao who was the founder of music school ’Tarangini Academy’ in Bombay. He has taught Veena to hundreds of students for more than 50 years. She also learnt Veena from her mother also. She is a stage drama artist performing in many plays and received praises for her acting.
She performed in Akashavani, Bangalore for number of years in radio dramas as a Grade A artist. She has written short stories which are published in Kannada magazines and has also written poems. She started her career working first as an apprentice for Punjab National Bank for six months in Bombay and then took a transfer to work in Bangalore Branch. She retired as Asst. Manager from the Commercial Street Branch in Bangalore in Year 2000. They have two daughters, One granddaughter and one grandson.
Son Ganesha
Son Ganesha (1948-2022) is the fifth child married to Sheela Ganesh. His education started from the National Education Society’s Primary school till he graduated with B.Sc. from National college. He earned his License in Rubber industry, UK. His career started in Madras Rubber Factory (MRF) in 1967 in Chennai working as a Technical Assistant, as a Chief Chemist in MRF and Modi Continental.. In 1976, he was sent to General Tire plant in Ohio, Akron, USA for training by J.K. Tire company. In the same year, the first Radial Tires were produced by J.K. Tires.
He joined R & D department of CEAT Tires as Manager in Bombay and retired as the Chief of R & D. After this he worked as a Technical Consultant with Falcon Tyres, Mysore until 2012. He visited many countries including Japan, U.K, Germany, Russia and Sri Lanka on business during his career. He loved to sing film songs in many languages, telling jokes and mimicking people. They have a daughter and a son. Both are interested in music and arts. They have two granddaughters and a grandson.
Son Sarvesha
Son Sarvesha is the sixth child married to Vijaya Sarvesh. He has B.Sc Honours degree in Zoology. He learnt Tabla from his Guru, Dasuswamy. He has interest in music, acting and directing. He was with the group of likeminded friends, an amateur group, Anveshakaru (Explorers) which produced three short films and two of them participated in International Short Film Festivals. This amateur Short Filmmaking team he was in, received encouragement from the award winning Cinematographer, S. Ramachandra who had founded Society of Short Film Makers (Sosfimak) in which Sarvesha was an active member. He accompanied as a percussion artist for his sister Mangala Ananthaswamy’s music performances.
He worked for companies marketing their products that were Industrial Safety, Water Filtration System, Electrical Brazing & Welding Equipments, Industrial Gouging Carbons & Cinema Arc Carbons. He served these companies very successfully.
In 1986, he got into business having 3 Partnership Companies and a Private Limited Company. Currently serving in Healthcare and Finance consulting. Businesses. With the drive he has for social service, he is also associated with few Social Service Organizations, both Indian and International. Sapna Book House published graciously CKN’s novels Pattamahadevi Shantaladevi in 2023(3 rd edition), Veeraganga Vishnuvardhana in 2024(2 nd edition) and Sri Prithvivallabha in 2025(2 nd edition) every year during Kannada Rajyotsava Celebrations considering the request made by Sarvesh. The whole family is indebted to them.
Currently he is also active as the Chief Editor of the Quarterly Magazine of the Community Organization. They have two daughters, two grandsons and a granddaughter.
Daughter Shambhavi
Daughter Shambhavi married to Jagabandhu Acharya is the seventh child in the family. She has a masters degree in Psychology from Manasagangoti, Mysore. She has learnt Sitar under the famous Sitar maestro Ustad Balekhan from Kirana Gharana.
She is a part of the Sitar Tarang group and has given many group performances, apart from giving solo performances. She has a son and a daughter, both interested in music and art.
Daughter Rajalakshmi Rao
Daughter Rajalakshmi Rao is the eighth child and the last one in the family. She has an arts degree. After marriage to Mohan and having two sons, she pursued to get a Bachelor of education degree from Bangalore University to become a teacher. Before marriage, she was a model and learnt Carnatic music under the famous Sangeetha Kalaratna A. Subba Rao for four years.
She is a talented singer. She sings film songs in Hindi, Kannada and other languages. She has also acted in several plays on the stage. She worked in Maldives for several years from 2001 as a teacher till her retirement in 2019. She has looked after her two sons from their very young age as a single parent. She has received the best teacher award for many years in Maldives. Both the sons are very talented.
