| Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
|---|---|
 Yuvan Shankar Raja at the audio launch of Oy!, May 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| Also known as | Yuvan, YSR, U1 |
| Born | August 31, 1979 Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Origin | Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Genres | Film score |
| Occupations | Film composer, music director, instrumentalist, arranger, singer, songwriter, lyricist |
| Instruments | Guitar, keyboard/piano, vocals (playback singing) |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Website | yuvanshankarraja.net |
Yuvan Shankar Raja (Tamil: யுவன் சங்கர் ராஜா ; born 31 August 1979) is an Indian film score and soundtrack composer, singer and occasional lyricist. He has predominantly scored music for Tamil films of Kollywood as well as Telugu and Kannada films. In 1997, at age 16, his musical career began as he composed the film score for Aravindhan. He subsequently composed film scores for a variety of South Indian films, which include blockbusters such as Dheena, Paruthiveeran, Billa and Aadavari Matalaku Ardhalu Verule as well as critically acclaimed films such as Kaadhal Kondein, 7G Rainbow Colony, Pudhupettai and Kattradhu Thamizh. Within half a dozen years, Yuvan Shankar Raja had established himself as a leading composer of Tamil cinema.
Within a span of 13 years, Yuvan Shankar Raja has scored for over 75 films. Considered a highly versatile composer, he has explored and used elements of various genres in his compositions that range from folk to heavy metal and often strives for different, innovative and stylistic music. He is particularly known for his use of western music elements in his pieces and often credited with having introduced Hip hop to the Tamil film and music industry and having started the "era of remixes" in Tamil Nadu.[1][2] Being immensely popular among the younger generation, he is considered the "Youth Icon of Tamil Film Music".[2] In addition, Yuvan Shankar Raja is recognized for his background score in films that have fetched him high praise among critics.
He has won one Filmfare Award in 2004 for his score in the drama 7G Rainbow Colony at age 25, remaining the youngest winner of the award. Besides, he received two nominations for Filmfare Awards, one Tamil Nadu State Film Award in 2006 and the Cyprus International Film Festival Award in 2006 for Raam, becoming the first and only Indian composer to win it.
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Early life
Born on 31 August 1979, in Chennai, India into a musically affluent Tamil family, Yuvan Shankar Raja is the third and youngest child of legendary musician and film composer Ilaiyaraaja and Jeeva. He is the younger brother of music director Karthik Raja and playback singer-cum-music director Bhavatharini. Yuvan once confessed, that his brother Karthik Raja is more talented than him, but did not get a successful break into the music business, since he didn't get a "good team to work with".[3] His father as well as his siblings have sung many songs under his direction.
Noted film director and film composer Gangai Amaran and late R. D. Bhaskar are his uncles and their sons Venkat Prabhu, Premji Amaran and Parthy Bhaskar,Vasuki Bhaskar who are working in the Tamil film industry as well, are his cousins. Moreover, Yuvan Shankar and both the sons of Gangai Amaran, do often associate with each other and have often worked together, the results of which have been very successful. Venkat Prabhu's films have had all musical score by Yuvan, while Premji had assisted him composing music for some years,[4] before becoming an independent composer aside form the fact, that both have sung several songs under the direction of Yuvan Shankar Raja.
Yuvan Shankar did his schooling at St. Bede's school in Chennai before studying at Loyola College, Chennai. He started learning music from Jacob Master,[5] attending piano classes at "Musee Musical" in Chennai, which is a branch of the prestigious Trinity College in London, UK.[6]
Yuvan Shankar Raja stated, that he always wanted to become a pilot and travel "all around the world", but as grew up "with music around him", he eventually became a musician.[5] He admires the work of his father and other composers such as S. D. Burman, R.D. Burman, M. S. Viswanathan and Naushad and the voices of singers Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, P. B. Sreenivas and P. Susheela.[5]
Career
Film score and soundtracks
In 1996, at the age of 16, Yuvan Shankar Raja got the opportunity to compose a film score, when T. Siva, the producer of the Tamil language film Aravindhan, asked to compose music for a trailer of the film after hearing some tunes, Yuvan had composed for his album. Impressed of which, Siva gave him the assignment to compose the entire film score including a soundtrack for that film. His entry into the Tamil film industry had happenend, which he says was, in fact, purely accidental.[7]
Subsequently he broke into the Kollywood music scene by composing film scores and soundtracks for Vasanth's Poovellam Kettuppar and it was received well. He then composed for Kasthuri Raja and Selvaraghavan's Thulluvadho Ilamai, A. R. Murugadoss's Dheena and Bala's Nandha, which were lauded, got immensely popular and proved his talent and versatility.[8] He produced music scores for Manmadhan, Kaadhal Kondein, 7G Rainbow Colony, and Kanda Naal Mudhal. His soundtracks for the films Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Billa, Satham Podathey, Manmadhan and Vallavan established him as a leading composer. Soundtracks of films like Pudhupettai, which featured a traditional orchestral score played by Chapraya Symphony Orchestra in Bangkok,[9] or Kattradhu Thamizh were critically acclaimed.[10] Yuvan Shankar Raja’s collaborations with directors such as Selvaraghavan, Ameer Sultan, Vishnuvardhan, Silambarasan, Venkat Prabhu and Vasanth have resulted in highly successful soundtracks. By 2003, in a career spanning less than a decade and at the age of merely 24 years, Yuvan Shankar Raja established himself as one of the leading and most sought after music directors in the Tamil film industry, without scoring for any high-budget films or any leading actors as Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan or Vijay.[11] Also he remains the youngest Tamil Filmfare Award winning music composer, which he received at the age of 25 for his highly praised score of 7G Rainbow Colony.
He has been heralded as one of the top music composers in Chennai. His album with Sony is an eagerly expected one and other than this, he has a long list of 16 other films for which he is the composer. He is also well known for his re-recording/background music in his films like Pudhupettai, 7/G Rainbow Colony, Raam, Kadhal kondaen,etc. He is also the only music director in the Tamil film industry to win the best music composer award for the film 'Raam' in the Cyprus International film festival. Also his "Theme music" tracks have won much acclaim, particularly the music pieces of Kaadhal Kondein, 7G Rainbow Colony and Billa.
Besides Tamil films, he has also scored music for films in other South Indian languages. Around 25 of the Tamil films, for which he had composed music, were afterwards dubbed into Telugu, Kannada or Malayalam languages as were the respective soundtracks. Apart from these ones, he also worked "straightly" on Telugu projects such as Seshu, Malli Malli Chudali, Happy, Raam, Raju Bhai and Aadavari Matalaku Ardhalu Verule, making him a well-known composer in Andhra Pradesh, too. His latest Telugu album Oy! has become a grand success as it topped the charts for several weeks. It is said, that he may also enter the Hindi film industry, Bollywood, very soon, since talks are going on regarding two Hindi films.[12]
His latest soundtracks, which got popular among the masses, include Sarvam, Siva Manasula Sakthi, Silambattam, Aegan and Saroja and currently, he has around 15 projects on his hand, including Yogi, Venkat Prabhu's Goa, Lingusamy's Paiyya and Silambarasan's Valiban.
He has also scored music for Indian Acting Legends, Megastars, Mammootty and Mohanlal for the films Junior Senior and Pop Carn respectively.Now he is next to Isai Puyal A.R.Rahman to have more fans in Tamil Nadu
Other works
Besides scoring film music and soundtracks, he also produces personal music albums from time to time. In his very early years, in 1999, when he was not familiar to most people yet, he made the Tamil pop album The Blast, that contained 12 tracks, featuring vocals by Kamal Haasan, Unnikrishnan and Nithyashree.[13] However, the album went downright unnoticed. Currently he is working on his second album, the rights of which have been acquired by Sony BMG and is yet to be titled.[14][15][16] It is reportedly a bilingual album produced in both Tamil and Hindi and is due to release.
In January 2009, Yuvan announced his first live performance, which was planned to be held at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada on 25 April 2009. According to Yuvan, the show, titled Yuvan - Live in Concert, will feature around 30 songs, which will be sung by singers like Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Vijay Yesudas, Shreya Ghoshal and his father Ilaiyaraaja, as well as some stage dances in between by actresses Sana Khan and Meenakshi.[17][18][19] However, in April 2009, it was reported, that the concert has been postponed, with Yuvan Shankar stating, that he was working on novel ideas to make the show memorable and hence, postponed the concert.[20]
In October 2009 then, he announced that a world tour, titled "Oru Naalil", is planned with a three-hour mega stage show to be held in various cities all over the world.[21] The tour is scheduled to begin with a show on 1 December 2009 at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates,[22][23] which will be followed by shows in Canada, the U. S. and South Africa.[21] The shows would feature performances by singers like Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan, Karthik, Harish Raghavendra and Silambarasan and professional dancers from Mumbai.[21] Also it is planned to conduct the shows in Muscat, Oman and Kuwait.[21][23]
Personal life
Yuvan Shankar Raja married his longtime girlfriend Sujaya Chandran on 21 March 2005, at Mayor Sri Ramanathan Chettiyar Hall in Chennai, India.[24][25] He met Chandran, who was a "fan" of him, in 2002 at a music cultural program in London and both fell in love later.[26] Chandran was a London-based singer and the daughter of Dr. C. R. Velayutham and Dr. Sarojini Chandran.[27] They had a secret registered marriage in September 2003 in London, before the formal public wedding was held in 2005 with the consent of their parents.[26]
In August 2007, they filed for divorce with mutual consent, which was granted in February 2008, after 6 months.[26][28] The reason for the divorce was said to be "irrevocable differences".[28]
Discography
Film scores and soundtracks
Released films/ soundtracks
- #Only soundtrack, film score composed by someone else
- #2Only film score, no soundtrack released
- The year next to the title of the affected films indicates the release year of the either dubbed or remade version in the named language later than the original version.
- • indicates original language release. Indicates simultaneous makes, if featuring in more languages
- ♦ indicates a remade version, the remaining ones being dubbed versions
Forthcoming soundtracks
- 2009 - Goa
- 2010 - 16
- 2010 - Aaranya Kaandam
- 2010 - Kadhal 2 Kalyanam
- 2010 - Baana
- 2010 - Eerpuu
- 2010 - Surangani
- 2010 - Naanum En Sandhyavum
- 2010 - Pesu
- 2010 - Thillalangadi
- 2010 - Naan Mahaan Alla
- 2010 - Boss Engira Bhaskaran
- 2010 - Cheri
- 2010 - Maa
- 2010 - Valiban
- 2010 - Kannabiran
- 2010 - Striker
Albums
Released albums
Forthcoming albums
- 2009 - Untitled Sony Music album
Awards
- Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) for 7G Rainbow Colony (2004)
- Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director for Pattiyal (2006)
- Cyprus International Film Festival Award For Best Musical Score Feature Film for Raam (2006) [29]
- Aanada Vikatan Best Composer of the Year Award (2007) [30]
- Cinema Rasigargal Sangam Best Music Director Award for Billa (2007) [31]
- CJA Cine Critics' Best Music Director Award for Kattradhu Thamizh (2007)[32][33]
- GV South Indian Cinematographers Association (SICA) Best Music Director Award (2007) [34]
- Isaiyaruvi Tamil Music Awards [35][36]
- Isaiyaruvi Album of the Year - Paruthiveeran (2008)
- Isaiyaruvi Best Folk Song of the Year - "Oororam Puliyamaram" (Paruthiveeran) (2008)
- Miranda Crazy Song of the Year - "Saroja Saamaan Nikalo" (Chennai 600028) (2008)
- Isaiyaruvi Sensational Youth Album - Silambattam (2009)
- Crazy Song of the Year - "Where Is The Party" (Silambattam) (2009)
- Isaiyaruvi Best Remix Song of the Year - "Vechikkava" (Silambattam) (2009)
- Jayam Charitable Trust Film Music Awards [37][38]
- Best Sensational Musician (2007)
- Best Singer of the Year Special Award for "Arabu Naade" from Thottal Poo Malarum (shared with Haricharan) (2007)
- Medimix-Dinakaran Best Music Director Award for Manmadhan (2004) [39]
- Spell Bound Best Music Director Award for Vallavan (2006) [40][41]
Nominations
- Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Telugu) for Aadavari Matalaku Ardhalu Verule (2007) [42][43]
- Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) for Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008)
- Vijay Award for Best Music Director for Paruthiveeran (2007)
- Vijay Award for Best Music Director for Saroja (2008)
References
- ^ "Yuvan Shankar Raja's Profile". SS Music. 2009-12-20. http://www.ssmusic.tv/artist_profile.php?Opt=1&Language=&artId=20071100001. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
- ^ a b "Yuvan, the new youth icon". The Hindu. 2009-12-20. http://www.thehindu.com/fr/2006/04/14/stories/2006041400260400.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
- ^ "On a creative trip". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/11/07/stories/2008110750070300.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ "Devotion and music go hand in hand". The Hindu. http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/03/04/stories/2005030400060200.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ a b c "On a creative trip". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/11/07/stories/2008110750070300.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ "chip of the old block". geocities.com. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/7862/kraja/articles/krajagenart.html. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ "YSR in London". tfmpage.com. http://www.tfmpage.com/forum/archives/20550.03.13.03.html. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ "Masterpieces of Ilayaraja". nilacharal.com. http://www.nilacharal.com/enter/review/ilayaraja.html. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ "Pudhupettai - Music Review". indiaglitz.com. 2006-01-25. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/musicreview/8073.html. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ "Audio Review : Tamil M A - Yuvan’s symphonies shine through!". musicindiaonline.com. http://www.musicindiaonline.com/ar/i/movie_name/9327/0/. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ "Generation NEXT". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/10/27/stories/2003102700060300.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
- ^ "Yuvan to score music for Bollywood". Oneindia. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/exclusive/2008/yuvan-shankar-raja-sunny-deol-150508.html. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ "The Blast". musicindiaonline. http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music/pop/m/music_director.1046/. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ "Sony BMG signs more talents". Oneindia. 2007-06-11. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/music/news/sony-bmg-kailash-kher-110607.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ "Yuvan records private album for Sony". indiaglitz.com. 2007-06-15. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/31796.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ "Sony BMG acquires music rights of 'Dasavadharam'". indiaglitz.com. 2008-02-02. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/36303.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ "Yuvan To Go Unplugged In Canada". indiaglitz.com. 2009-01-21. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/gallery/Events/17293.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ "Yuvan Shankar’s traffic connection". Times of India. 2009-01-24. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/Yuvan_Shankars_traffic_connection/articleshow/4022814.cms. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ "Yuvan says ‘yes’". The Hindu. 2009-01-26. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/01/26/stories/2009012650440800.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ "Yuvan Shankar Raja cancels his concert". Behindwoods. 2009-04-24. http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-09-04/yuvan-shankar-raja-24-04-09.html. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
- ^ a b c d "Yuvan Unplugged". The Hindu. 2009-10-24. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/10/24/stories/2009102451541200.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
- ^ "Yuvan to go global with Oru Naalil". indiaglitz.com. 2009-11-26. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/52083.html. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
- ^ a b "Yuvan to light up Sharjah Cricket Stadium". The Hindu. 2009-11-26. http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/nov-09-04/yuvan-shankar-raja-shankar-mahadevan-hariharan-26-11-09.html. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
- ^ "Yuvanshankar Raja weds Sujaya Chandran". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/lf/2005/03/22/stories/2005032211030200.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ "Illaiyarajah's son Yuvan Weds Grand Daughter of Jaffna". tamilweek.com. http://www.tamilweek.com/Illaiyarajah_Son_Yuvan_Weds_Grand_Daughter_of_Jaffna.html. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ a b c "Yuvan submits divorce papers!". Oneindia. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/exclusive/yuvan-sujaya-file-divorce-papers-090807.html. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ "Yuvan weds Sujaya!". allindiansite.com. http://kollywood.allindiansite.com/g/80ta.html. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ a b "Yuvan-Sujaya part ways". indiaglitz.com. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/36521.html. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ "Cyprus International Film Festival: 2006". imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Cyprus_International_Film_Festival/2006. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ "Top 10 songs and best singer of the year 2007". Oneindia. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/exclusive/top-ten-songs-singer-311207.html. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
- ^ "Rajini and Nayan awarded". behindwoods.com. 2008-09-08. http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/sep-08-02/rajini-nayanthara-08-09-08.html. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ "Cine Critics Award Distributed". indiaglitz.com. 2008-10-13. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/gallery/events/16504.html. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ "Film Critics’ Awards". tamilwire.com. 2008-10-13. http://www.tamilwire.com/film-critics’-awards/. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ "GV SICA AWARD TAMIL FILMS 2007". v4entertainersindia.com. 2008-05-01. http://v4entertainersindia.com/sicaawards2008.html. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ "Isayaruvi Sunfeast Tamil Music Awards 2008". mirchigossips.com. http://www.mirchigossips.com/music/isayaruvi-music-awards-2008/. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
- ^ "Stars, Songs and an Award". expressbuzz.com. http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Stars,%20Songs%20and%20an%20Award&artid=nu8FZrdcKLc=&SectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=rSY. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
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- ^ "Vijay and Jothika bag Medimix-Dinakaran awards". cholaiyil.com. http://www.cholayil.com/news_detail.asp?news_id=8. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
- ^ "'Kanavu Devathai' Namitha". Behindwoods. http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news/aug-07-05/31-08-07-namitha.html. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
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External links
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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Yuvan Shankar Raja |
- Yuvan Shankar Raja at the Internet Movie Database
- Profile at Nilacharal
- Yuvan Shankar Raja at Joint Scene
- Tamil and Telugu film database of Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Songs sung by Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Unofficial Website of Yuvan Shankar Raja
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