Charan Raj (composer)

M. R. Charan Raj is an Indian composer and singer known for his work in Kannada cinema. For his work in Jeerjimbe (2016), he was awarded the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director.

Charan Raj
Background information
Birth nameM. R. Charan Raj
BornKodagu, Karnataka, India
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • music director
  • arranger
Years active2014–present
Associated actsRicky Kej

Early life

Raj trained in Carnatic music with Perumbavoor G. Raveendranath and in Classical music with Neecia Majolly. He also holds a grade eight certificate in piano from the London School of Music.

Career

Raj's first major success came when Winds of Samsara, an album of Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 2015. The album also featured vocals by Raj.[1][2] During the time, he also worked as an arranger for composers such as Prashant Pillai.

Raj's first work in Kannada films came in Harivu in 2014.[3] He received acclaim for his work in Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu.[1] He scored for Pushpaka Vimana. For his work in Jeerjimbe (2016), he was awarded the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director.[4]

Raj received praise for his music in the 2018 film Tagaru. The soundtrack included tracks with blend of "electronic score" and "traditional sounds".[5] It was composed with each track based on a different "human emotion" "such as love, anger and fear" rather than situation-based nature of tracks.[6] In its review of the film, the New Indian Express wrote, "Charan Raj's music raises the tempo of the narrative with good songs, and lets it flow seamlessly with the right background score."[7]

Discography
YearAlbumLanguageNotes
2008ThaalamMalayalamAlbum
2014Winds of SamsaraVocals
Grammy Award for Best New Age Album[1]
HarivuKannadaFeature film
2016Godhi Banna Sadharana MykattuKannadaNominated—Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada
Mandya to MumbaiKannada
2017Pushpaka VimanaKannadaNominated—SIIIMA Award for Best Music Director – Kannada
2018TagaruKannadaNominated—SIIIMA Award for Best Music Director – Kannada
Nominated- Filmfare Award for Best Music Director - Kannada
DalapathiKannada
JeerjimbeKannadaKarnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director[8]
2019KavaludaariKannada
Avane SrimannarayanaKannada2 Songs only.
2020 Popcorn Monkey TigerKannada
Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja Kannada
Salaga Kannada
Mysuru DiariesKannadaSongs only.
JamesKannada

Awards

References
  1. Nathan, Archana (6 June 2016). "'A confluence of the past and present'". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  2. "'Winds of Samsara' by Bengaluru-based composer Ricky Kej wins Grammy". Deccan Herald. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  3. Sibal, Prachi (8 September 2016). "The reel changemakers". India Today. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  4. "Sruthi Hariharan is best actress; Kirik Party is entertaining film". Bangalore Mirror. timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  5. Suresh, Sunayana (18 January 2018). "Charan Raj creates an anthem for fear in Tagaru". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  6. Desai, Dhwani (17 February 2018). "Meet the man behind the hit Tagaru album". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  7. Sharadhaa, A. (24 February 2018). "Tagaru review: Shivrajkumar's gangsta flick fall into the 'classics' category, Suri style". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  8. "Karnataka State Film Awards 2016 on TOI".
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