Comedian, who convertedtears into laughters

 

 

 

RAJU Srivastava was just like my younger brother, almost 20 years younger to me. He met me in the studios of All India Radio in Mumbai, when he came to me for his training as a “casual announcer’’. Soon he joined me on the stage as a mimic in musical programmes of Padma Shri Mahendra Kapoor and Padma Shri Ravindra Jain and became very popular all over the country.

He was earlier copying popular film actors and his style of copying actor Amitabh Bachchan was liked by the audience. Later, he started presenting his solo shows of comedy and became a very popular and successful comedian. He, in his earlier days, wanted to meet super comedy actor Mahmood and the then most popular comedian Johny Lever and I personally took him with me to the residence of both artists. Mahmood, after seeing his acting, commented, “he is a shining comedian of tomorrow’’. Raju Srivastava bought a new spacious flat in Andheri (West) and I went to his house warming party alongwith the then minister Anil Deshmukh. Raju came to Nagpur to attend the marriage reception of the younger son of Anil Deshmukh and entertained the large gathering.

He was very conscious of his health and went to the gym of hotels whenever he was out of Mumbai. He used to entertain all those who were present in the gym. Unfortunately, a representative of common poor man from Northern India, “Gajodhar”, Raju Srivastava left the world at a very young age. He will be remembered as the man who converted the tears of common man into his laughters. My heartfelt condolences Raju Bhai. (The author is renowned retired Senior Announcer of All India Radio, Orator, Writer.)