S. A. Rajkumar

S. A. Rajkumar (born 23 August 1964) is an Indian music composer and lyricist, known for his work primarily in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada cinema.

S. A. Rajkumar
Born	(1964-08-23) 23 August 1964 (age 60) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation	Music director
Years active	1987-2014 2021

Early life

Rajkumar's 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.^[1][2]

Career

After completing his music training, Rajkumar started to organize musical shows on his own and was searching for film opportunities. Come 1987 and director duo Robert–Rajasekar gave him his first breakthrough by signing him as the music composer for their film Chinna Poove Mella Pesu.^[3] Since then, Rajkumar has composed music for over hundred films in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada language films. His compositions for the films such as Pudhu Vasantham (1990), Shruthi (1990), Poove Unakkaga (1996), Surya Vamsam (1997), Aval Varuvala (1998), Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen (1998), Thullatha Manamum Thullum (1999), Raja (1999), Vaanathaippola (2000), Priyamaana Thozhi (2003) and Vasantam (2003) have all been blockbuster musical hits.

Awards

• 1990 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil – Pudhu Vasantham^[4]
• 1990 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada – Shruthi
• 1999 – Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Telugu – Raja ^[5]
• 1997 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director – Suryavamsam^[6]

Discography

Tamil cinema

Year	Title	Notes
1987	Chinna Poove Mella Pesu
	Veeran Veluthambi
	Thangachi
1988	Kunguma Kodu
	Makkal Aanaiyittal
	Poovum Puyalum
	Rayilukku Neramachu
	Manasukkul Mathappu
	Paravaigal Palavitham
1989	En Thangai
	Oru Ponnu Nenacha
	Pasakanal	Movie Not Released
1990	Pudhu Vasantham	Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil
	Thangathin Thangam
	Puriyaadha Pudhir	Remake of Tarka (1990)
	Pudhu Pudhu Ragangal
	Paadi Vaa Thendrale	Movie Not Released
1991	Perum Pulli
	Aasai Kiliye Kobama
	Annan Kaattiya Vazhi
	Enga Ooru Sippai
	Nattai Thirudathey
	Archana IAS
	Idhaya Oonjal
	Manasara Vazhthungalen
	Sivaranjani
	Nenjamundu Nermaiundu
	Anbulla Thangachikku
	Vazhndhal Unnodudhan	Movie Not Released
1992	Thaali Kattiya Raasa
	Palaivana Raagangal
	Ellaichami
	Mangala Nayagan
	Pudhu Varusham
1993	Mudhal Paadal
	Konjum Kili
	Varam Tharum Vadivelan
1994	Purushanai Kaikulla Poottukanum
	Pudhusa Pootha Roosa
	Chella Kiliye Mella Pesu	Movie Not Released
	Vai Jalaam	Movie Not Released
1995	Namma Ponnu Vazhanum	Movie Not Released
	Puthu Ponnu	Movie Not Released
1996	Poove Unakkaga	50th Film
	Krishna
1997	Pistha
	Suryavamsam	Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director
	Nattupura Nayagan
	Putham Puthu Poove	Movie Not Released
1998	Maru Malarchi
	Ponmanam
	Aval Varuvala	Remake of Pelli (1997); six songs reused from said film.
	Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen	one song "Doddabetta Kulir" is based on "Come Come" from Suswagatham
	Simmarasi
	Endrum Anandham	Movie Not Released
1999	Suriya Paarvai
	Thullatha Manamum Thullum	Reused one song from Suryavamsam (1998)
	Suyamvaram
	Malabar Police
	Nee Varuvai Ena
	Kannupada Poguthaiya	Reused one song from Raja (1999)
	Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa
	Paattali
2000	Vaanathaippola	Reused one song from Preminche Manasu (1999)
	Sudhandhiram
	Rajakali Amman
	James Pandu
	Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela
	Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven	Reused one song from Nuvvu Vasthavani (2000)
	Pennin Manathai Thottu
	Kuberan
	Simmasanam
	Maayi	Reused one song from Sneham Kosam (1999)
	Budget Padmanabhan
	Palayathu Amman
	Priyamaanavale	Remake of Pavitra Bandham (1996) One song reused from said film.
	Vanna Thamizh Pattu
	Ennavale
2001	Nageswari
	Piriyadha Varam Vendum	Remake of Niram (1999)
	Aanandham
	Krishna Krishna
	Viswanathan Ramamoorthy
2002	Punnagai Desam
	Shakalaka Baby
	Kamarasu	Reused one song from Suswagatham (1998)
	Raja
	Namma Veetu Kalyanam
	Padai Veetu Amman
2003	Vaseegara
	Kadhaludan
	Priyamana Thozhi	Reused one song from Jodi (2001)
	Diwan
	Aalukkoru Aasai
2004	Manasthan
	Chatrapathy
2005	Kannadi Pookal
	Kannamma
	Plus Kootani
2006	Thodamale
2008	Valluvan Vasuki
2010	Pournami Nagam	Remake of Punnami Naagu (2009); five songs reused from said film.
2013	Chokkali
	Thirumathi Thamizh
2021	Vaa Pagandaya

Telugu cinema

Year	Title	Notes
1997	Subhakankshalu	Remake of Poove Unakkaga (1996), three songs reused from said film.
	Pelli	Telugu debut as a solo composer
1998	Suswagatham	Remake of Love Today (1997); one song reused from Poove Unakkaga (1996).
	Suryavamsam	Remake of Surya Vamsam (1997); five songs reused from said film.
	Raayudu	Remake of Vallal (1997)
	Vaibhavam
1999	Sneham Kosam	Remake of Natpukkaga (1998)
	Manavudu Danavudu
	Manikyam	Remake of Porkkaalam (1997)
	Raja	Remake of Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen (1998); five songs reused from said film. Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Telugu
	Panchadara Chilaka	Remake of Oru Thalai Ragam (1980)
	Preminche Manasu	Remake of Priyamudan (1998)
	Bobbili Vamsam	Remake of Thalaimurai (1998)
2000	Kalisundam Raa
	Ravanna
	Nuvvu Vasthavani	Remake of Thullatha Manamum Thullum (1999); five songs reused from said film.
	Maa Annayya	Remake of Vaanathaippola (2000); six songs reused from said film.
	Ninnu Choosaka
	Chinna
	Pelli Sambandham	Remake of Pooparika Varugirom (1999)
	Ninne Premistha	Remake of Nee Varuvai Ena (1999) five songs reused from said film one song reused from Maayi (2000)
2001	Simharasi	Remake of Maayi (2000); three songs reused from said film, two songs reused from Simmarasi (1998), one song reused from Priyamaanavale (2000).
	Eduruleni Manishi
	Kalisi Naduddam
	Naa Manasistha Raa	Remake of Parthen Rasithen (2000) all songs reused from said film
	Maa Pelliki Randi	Remake of Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga (1999)
	Akka Bavekkada
	Deevinchandi
	Subhakaryam
	Ninnu Choodalani
	Daddy	"Gummadi" is based on "Saamanthi Poovukkum" from unreleased Tamil film Putham Pudhu Poove dubbed in Tamil as Dance Master
2002	Bharatasimha Reddy
	Nee Premakai
	Siva Rama Raju	Remake of Samudhiram (2001) and Simmarasi (1998), one song reused from Samuthiram two songs reused from Simmarasi one song from Suryavamsam (1997)
	Police Sisters
2003	Vasantham	Simultaneously shot with Priyamaana Thozhi (2003) songs reused from said film.
	Tiger Harischandra Prasad
2004	Keelu Gurram	one song reused from Priyamanavale
	Kushi Kushiga	Remake of Chronic Bachelor (2003)
	Puttintiki Ra Chelli
	Cheppave Chirugali	Remake of Unnai Ninaithu (2002); six songs reused from said film.
	Leela Mahal Center	Remake of Amarkalam (1997) one song reused from Chinna Poove Mella Pesu
2005	Sankranthi	Remake of Aanandham (2001); Three songs reused from said film, two songs reused from Punnagai Desam
	Naidu LLB
2006	Rajababu	Remake of Balettan (2003)
	Andala Ramudu	Remake of Sundara Purushan (1996)
	Astram	Remake of Sarfarosh (1999)
2007	Veedu Mamoolodu Kadu
	Nava Vasantham	Remake of Punnagai Desam (2002); three songs reused from said film.
2008	Gorintaku	Remake of Anna Thangi (2005); three songs reused from said film.
2009	Punnami Naagu
2010	Maa Annayya Bangaram
	Mouna Raagam
2011	Jhalak
2013	Mr. Pellikoduku	Remake of Tanu Weds Manu (2011)

Kannada cinema

Year	Title	Notes
1990	Shruthi	Remake of Tamil film Pudhu Vasantham Only one song reused from said film Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada
1991	Gowri Kalyana	Remake of Tamil film Thooral Ninnu Pochchu
1992	Obbarigintha Obbaru
1997	Maduve	Remake of Pelli all songs used from said film
2001	Jodi	Remake of Darling Darling (2000) one song from this film reused in Priyamana Thozhi
2003	Chandra Chakori
2004	Ramakrishna	Remake of Aan Paavam (1985); reused one song from Kannupada Poguthaiya (1999), reused one song from Nuvvu Vastavani (1999)
	Kanchana Ganga
	Srushti	Reused one song from Kadhaludan: "Ithuvarai Yarum" reused as "Hrudaya Thumba"
	Jyeshta	Remake of Valliettan (2000)
2005	Gowramma	Remake of Nuvvu Naaku Nachav (2001); reused one song from Leela Mahal Center (2004)
	Love Story	Remake of Maro Charitra (1978); reused one song from Ek Duuje Ke Liye. Dubbed in Tamil as Uyir Ullavarai
	Siri Chandana
	Varsha	One song reused from Telugu film Suryavamsam
2006	Sirivantha
	Thandege Thakka Maga	Remake of Thevar Magan; three songs reused from said film
	Sevanthi Sevanthi
2007	Thayiya Madilu
	Preethigaagi	Remake of Aniyathipraavu (1997); reused one song from Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997), reused one song from Surya Vamsam (1997), reused one song from Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001)
2010	Jokali
2011	Mallikarjuna	Remake of Thavasi (2001), reused one song from Priyamaana Thozhi (2003)
2012	Gokula Krishna
2014	Paramashiva	Remake of Samuthiram and Simmarasi; score only
2015	Katte	Remake of Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga One song "Sanihake" loosely based on "Oru Thadavai" from Vaseegara

Malayalam cinema

Year	Title	Notes
2004	Vesham	Reused one song from Putham Puthu Poove and Chandra Chakori
2014	Villali Veeran

Television

• 2010 Kodi Mullai

Onscreen appearances

• Pudhu Varusham (1992) – guest role in song "Ovvorthanum Kaadhalikkiren"
• Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen (1998) – himself in song "Vaanambadiyin Vaazhvile"
• Endrendrum Kadhal (1999) – himself in song "Nadodi Nanba"
• Ennavale (2000) – himself
• Priyamanavale (2000) – himself

Singer

Year	Title	Song	Notes
1987	Chinna Poove Mella Pesu	"Ye Pulla Karuppayi"	also wrote lyrics for all songs
1987	Veeran Veluthambi	Vettaveli
1988	Makkal Aanaiyittal	"Dei Dei Payale"
1988	Rayilukku Neramachu	Yela Malai Kaatru
1988	Manasukkul Mathappu	"Vaa Kanmani"
1990	Pudhu Vasantham	Idhu Mudhan Mudhala
1997	Surya Vamsam	"Thirunalu Thaerazhaga"
1998	Maru Malarchi	Kambanukku Kai Koduthu
1998	Ponmanam	Azhaga Azhaga
1999	Simmarasi	Thaaye Thirisooli
2003	Chandra Chakori	"Bellama Bellage Daari Bidu"	Kannada song
2003	Diwan	"Paarthathilla"
2007	Sevanthi Sevanthi	"Mayadanta Male Bantanna"	Kannada song
2021	Vaa Pagandaya	"Saathi Saathi"