[2] Although Rajeev held a PhD in literature, he decided to give up his career as a Professor and Head of English Literature at Regional Engineering College, Tiruchirappalli (REC-T), which was later renamed as National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli (NIT-T), and then went to Calcutta, where he began his musical training under the tutelage of Ali Akbar Khan.

He received some of India's highest national honours including the 2019 Padma Shri award and the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1999-2000.

[3] Taranath was respected for his in-depth understanding as he unfolded the raga, the tonal quality and power of his strokes.

According to the New York Times, "RAJEEV TARANATH'S sarod improvisations Sunday at Soundscape mixed the spiritual and the spirited".

He composed the music for many internationally acclaimed Indian films including Samskara, Kanchana Sita and Kadavu.