Quick Facts
Biography
S. A. Rajkumar is an Indian film music director who hails from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He has composed music for many south Indian films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages. Light-hearted melodies are often considered his forte. He has won three Filmfare Awards for the films Raja,Pudhu Vasantham & Shruthi.
Early life
Rajkumar was born to Selvarajan and Kannammal. The family ancestors belong to Paettai, Thirunelveli District. His father was a vocalist performing in stage shows conducted by popular music directors such as Ilayaraja, Gangai Amaren, Deva among others. Rajkumar admired his father's musical career and developed an interest in music. It was his mother who encouraged his father to make him join music classes. Rajkumar underwent classical music training under the guidance of Subbaiah Bhagavathar for 3 years.
Career
After years of formal music training, Rajkumar began to conduct musical shows on his own and was on the way to look for film opportunities. It was in 1987, director duo Robert-Rajashekar came forward to sign him as the music director for their film Chinna Poove Mella Pesu. This film had Prabhu and Ramki in the lead roles. Since then, Rajkumar has scored for over hundred films in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada film industries. He has scored the films Suryavamsam, Aval Varuvala, Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen, Thulladha Manamum Thullum, Vanathai Pola, Raja (1999 film), Vasantham , Priyamaanavale , "Priyamaana Thozhi".
Rajkumar has composed songs for many hit films in Kannada starring Dr.Vishnuvardhan, a star of 220 movies in five different languages. The hit films in their combination includes Sirivantha, Varsha, Jyeshta and many more. The all time ever green songs of Kannada Cinema, Sevanthiye Sevanthiye sung by Indian play back singer Dr.S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, a song from the Kannada film Surya Vamsha and Premachandrama from another film Yajamana sung by south singer Rajesh Krishnan, was originally composed by Rajkumar.
Awards
- 1990 - Filmfare Award for Best Music Director - Tamil - Pudhu Vasantham
- 1990 - Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada – Shruthi
- 1999 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Telugu – Raja
- 1997 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director – Suryavamsam
- http:// Refer Filmfare Magazine August 1991, 38th filmfare awards south
- http:// Refer Filmfare Magazine August 1991, 38th filmfare awards south
- "Filmfare Awards South - 1998 - Winners & Nominees".
Partial Filmography
Tamil cinema
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Chinna Poove Mella Pesu | |
| Thangachi | ||
| Veeran Veluthambi | ||
| 1988 | Rayilukku Neramachu | |
| Manasukkul Mathappu | ||
| Paravaigal Palavitham | ||
| Kunguma Kodu | ||
| 1989 | En Thangai | |
| 1990 | Pudhu Vasantham | Filmfare Award for Best Music Director - Tamil |
| Thangathin Thangam | ||
| Pudhu Pudhu Ragangal | ||
| 1991 | Perum Pulli | |
| Archana IAS | ||
| Enga Ooru Sippai | ||
| 1992 | Ellaichami | |
| 1996 | Poove Unakkaga | |
| Krishna | ||
| 1997 | Suryavamsam | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director |
| Putham Puthu Poove | ||
| Pistha | ||
| 1998 | Aval Varuvala | |
| Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen | ||
| Ponmanam | ||
| Maru Malarchi | ||
| Simmarasi | ||
| 1999 | Nee Varuvai Ena | |
| Thulladha Manamum Thullum | ||
| Paattali | ||
| Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa | ||
| Suyamvaram | ||
| Kannupada Poguthaiya | ||
| Suriya Paarvai | ||
| Malabar Police | ||
| 2000 | Kuberan | |
| James Pandu | ||
| Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven | ||
| Maayi | ||
| Ennavale | ||
| Vanathai Pola | ||
| Priyamaanavale | ||
| Pennin Manathai Thottu | ||
| RajaKali amman | ||
| Budget Padmanabhan | ||
| Palayathu Amman | ||
| Vanna Thamizh Pattu | ||
| Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela | ||
| Sudhandhiram | ||
| 2001 | Aanandham | |
| Piriyadha Varam Vendum | ||
| Nageswari | ||
| Viswanathan Ramamoorthy | ||
| 2002 | Punnagai Desam | |
| Kamarasu | ||
| Namma Veetu Kalyanam | ||
| Bandha | ||
| Raja | ||
| 2003 | Diwan | |
| Aalukkoru Aasai | ||
| Vaseegara | ||
| Priyamana Thozhi | ||
| Kadhaludan | ||
| 2004 | Manasthan | |
| Kannadi Pookal | ||
| 2005 | Kannamma | |
| 2008 | Valluvan Vasuki | |
| 2012 | Chokkali |
Telugu cinema
- Pelli (1997)
- Subhakankshalu (1997)
- Suswagatham (1998)
- Suryavamsam (1998)
- Rayudu (1998)
- Vaibhavam (1998)
- Sneham Kosam (1999)
- Manavudu Danavudu (1999)
- Manikyam (1999)
- Raja (1999) Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Telugu
- Panchadara Chilaka (1999)
- Preminche Manasu (1999)
- Bobbili Vamsham (1999)
- Kalisundam Raa (2000)
- Ravanna (2000)
- Nuvvu Vastavani (2000)
- Maa Annayya (2000)
- Ninnu Choosaka (2000)
- Chinna (2000)
- Pelli Sambandham (2000)
- Ninne Premistha (2000)
- Simharasi (2001)
- Eduruleni Manishi (2001)
- Kalisi Naduddam (2001)
- Naa Manasista Raa (2001)
- Maa Pelliki Randi (2001)
- Akka Bavekkada (2001)
- Deevinchandi (2001)
- Shubhakaryam (2001)
- Ninnu Choodalani (2001)
- Daddy (2001)
- Bharata Simha Reddy (2002)
- Nee Premakai (2002)
- Siva Rama Raju (2002)
- Police Sisters (2002)
- Vasantham (2003)
- Tiger Harischandra Prasad (2003)
- Leela Mahal Center (2004)
- Keelu Gurram (2004)
- Cheppave Chirugali (2004)
- Kushi Kushiga (2004)
- Puttintiki Ra Chelli (2004)
- Sankranthi (2005)
- Naidu LLB (2005)
- Rajababu (2006)
- Andala Ramudu (2006)
- Asthram (2006)
- Veedu Maamulodu Kaadu (2007)
- Nava Vasantham (2007)
- Gorintaku (2008)
- Punnami Naagu (2009)
- Maa Annayya Bangaram (2010)
- Mouna Raagam (2010)
- Jhalak (2011)
- Mr. Pellikoduku (2013)
- Rani Ranamma (2013)
Kannada cinema
- Shruthi (1990) Filmfare Award for Best Music Director - Kannada
- Gowri Kalyana (1991)
- Maduve(1997)
- Jodi (2001)
- Chandra Chakori(2003)
- Rama Krishna (2004)
- Kanchana Ganga (2004)
- Jyeshta (2004)
- Sirivantha (2006)
- Thandege Thakka Maga (2006)
- Sevanthi Sevanthi (2006)
- Thayiya Madilu (2007)
- Preethigagi (2007)
- Gokula Krishna (2012)
Malayalam cinema
- Vesham (2004)
- Villaliveeran (2014)
Television
- 2010 Kodi Mullai