Dharmendra Jai Narain
Dharmendra Jai Narain, popularly known as DJ Narain, is an eclectic Indian personality who has achieved national eminence in a wide array of diverse activities in entertainment sector ,arts and academics sector such as music composition, rock band singer and performer ,theatre direction, publishing, film studies and academia , brand& social communication specialist and a civil services. A role model for many youngsters in India to pursue many professions and follow their dreams simultaneously with distinction and eminence .
Education and Civil Services Career
D J Narain has been a student of Lucknow University and IIT Kanpur, where he was pursuing his PhD in Economics. Starting his career as a lecturer of Monetary Economics, DJ Narain joined Indian Civil Services in 1990. He has served on several councils and held esteemed positions such as Director - Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Director General - Films Division, Member Governing Board - National School of Drama, Editor-in-chief - Sainik Samachar, Director of Communications - 12th South Asian Games, Vice Chairman - 2007 Military World Games.
Music and Arts
DJ Narain founded the band Aryans along with 2 more members in 1998. Along with his band and collaborations with other musicians he has released the following albums: Aryans ..The beginning ( 1998-PolyGram Records), Ankhon Mein Tera Hi Chehra ( 1999-PolyGram Records), Yeh Hawa Kehti Hai Kya ( 2000-PolyGram Records), Dekha Hai Teri Ankhon Ko (2002-Universal Music), Best of Aryans ( 2003- Universal Music ), Hai Dil( 2004-Times Music), Kehta Hai Dil Yahi Bar Bar( 2006- T Series), Victory ( Various Artists -2005 –Universal Music). Aryans have often been given the honour of one of the best bands to have emerged in late 90s in India with a wide appeal in a generation that grew up with them. As seen on web , Aryans have also been credited with some the most popular music videos in Pop Rock music in India created in late 90s and early part of this century. D J narain created the theme song "Jeetangay" for the Commonwealth Games Queens Baton Ceremony . Aryans songs have more 34 million hits on youtube as on date. Along with Aryans , he has performed in many concerts all the country .Some of the prominent ones include DSDS Global Climate Summit ,New Delhi 2009 , National Games in Guwahati 2007 ,various public concerts and campus festivals etc.
The music video of Ankhon Mein Tera Hi Chera was also responsible for launching the career of Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor.
Along with The Aryans, he has provided music for the film Woodstock Villa
He has served on the jury of various film festivals LA India Film Awards . He has been holding master classes in studies about film sound design and it's evolution through cinematic history of india . D J narain is a sound designer himself .
He has directed , conceptualised and co-written 2 innovative social and community outreach oriented mega theatre production s"Jamunia ….tasveer badalte bharat ki" (2010) and "Priya Power" (2013).
In 2009, he was awarded the Karmaveer Puraskaar - Artist for change and " Navratna Honour " given by Lucknow University to its eminent Alumini in 2014. He has been described as "perhaps the only person in India who can be dubbed as rockstar and civil servant simultaneously".