About Praveen Duth Stephen (Stephen Prayog)

Praveen Duth Stephen, otherwise fondly known as Stephen Prayog, born on March 18, 1967 to Philip Stephen and S. Pramila in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, is a Composer and Musician. He was born to a family that inherited rich musical credentials. His family's plush musical heritage began in the city of Mysore ( known to be a city with thriving grounds for Musical Prodigies) with his Great GrandFather who was a Violinist and his GrandFather who was an Organist. His Mother's two elder brothers Gurumurthy and Prasad, also hailing from Mysore, were both Hindustani Musicians. The former is a Sitarist and the latter is a Tablist.

At the age of 10, Stephen Prayog, began to learn Guitar, Western Music and Western Notation from his father Philip Stephen, who was a renowned singer and a Guitar teacher, popularly known as "Cha-Cha" and "Mysore Mohammad Rafi". Philip Stephen also has the privilege of being a teacher to many musicians in Bangalore including Shri. Hamsalekha (a Music Director for over 300 Feature Films and Lyricist for 300 odd Feature Films in the Kannada Film Industry). On one hand if Philip Stephen was wheedling out talent instilled in Stephen Prayog's veins, on the other, his mother S. Pramila was instrumental in initiating the Journey of Music in his life by buying him his first Bass Guitar. Till date Stephen Prayog treasures this Gift from his Mother.

During his early years, Stephen Prayog learnt vocal Karnatic Music for 3 years under Sri. Vidwan M Venkatappa, well-known as Harmonium Venkatappa. He went further ahead to learn Hindustani Vocal Music under Pandit Parameshwar Hegde, who was a disciple of Pandit Basavaraj Raj Guru. With passion to learn more Music burning in his belly he went ahead to train for Western Music under Sri. S.K. Joseph, a renowned musician and a retired Band Master of the Indian Navy. Sri. S.K. Joseph has the acclaim of having taught a number of leading Musicians in Chennai and Bangalore. Praveen Duth Stephen, Maestro Sri. Illayaraja (one of the legends of Indian Music) and Sri. L. Vaidyanathan were among his students.

Stephen Prayog has trained himself to play instruments such as the Guitar, Bass Guitar and the Piano. He learnt to play the Piano from Sri. Felix Joseph, Palace Band Master, Mysore and also got trained from Sri. Rajgopal Iyer. Classical Guitar was taught to him by Sri. Victor Albert.

Early Life :

Stephen Prayog took his first step into the Music Industry in the year 1986 at the age of 19 as a Rhythm Guitarist by joining the Blue Boys Orchestra. After 2 years, in the year 1988, he joined the Mohan's Jimpets Orchestra as a keyboard player and thereafter moved ahead to play the Bass Guitar. Here he got to meet Layendra (a versatile drummer) who is the elder brother of Sadhu Kokila (present Actor, Film and Music Director in Kannada Film Industry) and Shabbir Ahmed (a talented keyboardist and a great musician from Dharwad, Karnataka). It is believed that Shabbir played a pivotal role in Stephen's early years by inspiring and encouraging him to step further ahead to learn Indian Music, Hindustani Music in particular.

In course of this time Sri. Sadhu Kokila gave Stephen Prayog an opportunity to play the keyboard for one of his records on a devotional theme. This was Stephen's first chance in his Career to play in a studio recording. And soon after that as he lived up to expectations he grew up to become a Studio and Session Musician.

Soon, Stephen joined an Orchestra by the name "Melody Creators" in 1989. The owner of this Orchestra was Sri. Shankar, who was basically a singer, was also an Income Tax Officer by profession. He had tremendous confidence in Stephen and always cheered him to attain greater heights. It was here that Stephen teamed up with Shabbir Ahmed, Guitar Srinivas and Keyboard Harikrishna (at present a Music Director) to form a team that would deliver quality Film Songs.

Subsequently in the year 1990, another opportunity knocked on Stephen Prayog's door. He got a chance to work with Music Director Mr. Manoranjan Prabhakar and Mr. Damodar as an Assistant, Music Arranger and Conductor. It was at this juncture that his journey as Music Arranger and Conductor began.

Consequently Stephen Prayog got to work with a lot of diverse personalities in the Kannada Cine field. On one such occasion, while working with Mr. C. Aswath (Music Director/Composer) for the movie "Kottreshiya Kanasugalu", he met celebrated Writer, Novelist and Director Sri. Nagathihalli Chandrashekar, the Director for this movie. Stephen Prayog believes that this was the turning point in his Musical Career.

Impressed by his skills Sri. Nagathihalli Chandrashekar called upon Stephen Prayog to work as an Assistant Music Director/ Arranger/ Conductor to Mr. Manomurthy from California, US for his next movie venture "America America". Mr. Manomurthy was the Music Director for this Movie. From then on, since 1996, Stephen Prayog has been assisting Mr. Manomurthy in all his Films.

"America America" brought Stephen the recognition he needed. In 1997, a couple (Ravi Ravindranath and his wife Sandhya) from US, California met Stephen Prayog in Bangalore through a common friend, Mr. Peenya Gopi, after they heard his Musical Composition, Arrangements and Orchestration for Mr. Mano Murthy's songs in "America America". They were quite impressed with Stephen's work and called for him to work on their dream project- Music Album's- "Sandhyaa", "Divya", and "Vishwa Kannada". Prior to that Ravindranath (maternal uncle to Anil Kumble - celebrated Indian Cricketer) had composed a number of Bhavageethe's and Patriotic Songs. And his wife had been a good lyricist for a number of songs. The albums proved to be a step ahead in Stephen's career and brought both the couple and Stephen into closer acquaintance.

In the Year 1995 while Stephen was working with Sri. V. Manohar for the movie "Lali", he happened to associate with Sri. Dinesh Baboo (Film Director). He was so amazed by Stephen Prayog's Musical Arrangements and Programming that he offered an open opportunity in 1998 to score Music for his Movie "Premothsava", Starring Mr. Vishnuvardhan (Celebrated Actor in Kannada Film Industry).

This was Stephen Prayog's first break as an Independent Music Director.

Career Life :

In the year 2002 Sri. Nagathihalli Chandrashekar asked Stephen Prayog to work as a Music Director for his forthcoming Movie "Paris Pranaya". Stephen composed 8 songs for this movie. In particular, two songs, "Rome Rome"(sung by Sonu Nigam) and "Krishna Ne Begane Baaro" (sung by Shreya Ghoshal) turned out to be popular crowd pullers. His work was broadly appreciated by the Local Press and Media and Stephen went ahead to bag his First State Award for the Best Music Director.

For Stephen Prayog that was just a beginning as a second Award was on its way.

While working for a Kannada Movie, by the name "Santhosha" directed by Sri. Mr Ramesh (Director of the Film "Cyanide"), another public figure was sitting silently and observing Stephen Prayog's work. He was known to Stephen as Mr. Ramesh's Guru. He was none other than Mr. R.V. UdhayKumar (a versatile Tamil Film Director who has 9 Box Office Hits to his credit including the movie "Yejamaan" starring Mr. Rajinikanth). He was so impressed by Stephen's style of work that he immediately asked Stephen if he was interested in composing Music for a Tamil Movie. And that too his next Directorial venture by the name "Karka Kasadara".

Surprised by Mr. UdhayKumar's move, both Mr. Ramesh and Stephen were awe struck. Mr. Ramesh leapt up and requested Stephen to not miss this opportunity and assured Mr. Udhaykumar that he could rely and trust Stephen completely as he had the capability to tread something great. Stephen Prayog couldn't believe in his thoughts and readily agreed and made no mistakes in doing that as the songs for that movie composed by him went on to become a massive hit for that year. Especially the Numbers "Nuthana…" and "Minmini Kangal…" were blockbuster record hits. Yet again he lived upto expectations. It didn't stop there as Stephen Prayog went on to win the Kannadasan Award for the Best Debut Music Director for that Tamil film.

Assignments (Music Direction) :

Kannada Films :

• Premothsava directed by Mr. Dinesh Baboo
• Paris Pranaya directed by Sri. Nagathihalli Chandrashekar (Recipient of Best Music Director Award)
• Monda directed by Mr. Teshi Venkatesh
• Santosha directed by Mr. M. Ramesh
• Nayaka directed by Mr. P. C. Shekar
• Breaking News directed by Mr. Nagathihalli Chandrashekar
• Vasundara directed by Mr. T. S. Nagabharana
• Last Bus directed by Mr. S. Aravinda

Tamil Films :

• Karka Kasadara directed by Mr. R.V. Udhaykumar (Recipient of Best Music Director (debut) Award)
• Kadhalae En Kadhalae directed by Mr. P.C. Shekar

Accomplishments :

• In a 60 piece orchestra conducted by Mr. Sandeep Chowta, Bombay, Stephen Prayog was the only Arranger and Conductor from Karnataka.
• Stephen has composed Music for an Israeli Album by Jack Jacob Shemech.
• He has composed a song "Oh Meri Ma" for the Kargil Cause.
• He has Arranged Music and Conducted for the National Games Music under Sri. C. Aswath.
• Stephen also has composed music for a number of Devotional, BhavaGeethe and Folk genres.
• He has also composed music for a couple of tele-films such as "Sangama" directed by Ashok Kashyap and "L O C" directed by Nikhil.

Stephen Prayog also has the distinction for composing music for a number of T V Serials…

• Aathma, Hejjegalu and Nanda Gokula Directed by Ashok Kashyap.
• Apartment and Olave Namma Badhuku Directed by Sri. Nagathihalli Chandrashekar
• Chakra Directed by Sri. Yoghraj Bhat.
• Shuba Lagna Directed by Nikhil.

Stephen Prayog has the reputation for having arranged Music and Conducted for the Blockbuster Kannada Movie "Mungaru Male" which is known to have broken all records in the Indian Film Industry. The Guitar Music pieces composed by him for one of the songs "Anisuthide…" in that film became the most popular Downloaded Caller Tune in the year 2007.

Sri. S.P. Balasubramaniam (Renowned Playback Singer in the Indian Film Industry) immensely appreciated Stephen in the popular ETV show "Edhe Thumbhi Hadidhe" for his exquisite Musical Arrangements and Orchestration for the Kannada Movie "Mungaru Male" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec4avfhAXGc)

It is widely believed that Stephen Prayog's Background score for Kannada Movies like Mungaru Male, Cheluvina Chithara and Milana have set benchmark standards as his approach towards Composing and Arranging Music for Title Songs and Background score has changed the line of work in the Kannada Music Industry.

Stephen's Service under well-known music directors :

• Trained and worked under Music Director Sri. G.K. Venkatesh for Three years From 1991-93.
• Worked with Music Director Sri Hamsalekha as an Assistant Music Director, Conductor and Arranger from the year 1998 to 2002.
• Worked with Music Director Sri. Mano Murthy for 12 years from 1996 to 30th Sept 08.

Related links : 

• Listen to Stephens' musical arrangements on Catholic Time

Watch Video : Shubodaya Karnataka | Praveen Duth Stephen (Stephen Prayog) | DD Chandana

Compiled by Catholic Time staff with inputs from Stephen Prayog's website http://www.stephenprayog.in