Charan Raj (kannada Composer)

Charan Raj (kannada Composer) Biography

Charan Raj is a well-known Kannada film music composer. He is one of the most sought and successful music composers of Kannada cinema at present. In 2019 he won the prestigious Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director for his acclaimed work of 2018 – Jeerjimbe. The Grammy Award winning album - Winds of Samsara (2014) contained Charan's Vocals. His 2016 work Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu earned him a nomination at Filmfare. He is credited to giving the first break to the youth sensation Sanjith Hegde through the movie, Dalapathi in 2017.

M. R. Charan Raj was born in Kodagu, Karnataka. He trained in Carnatic music with famous Carnatic vocalist and Malayalam film music composer Perumbavoor G. Raveendranath. He also learnt Classical music with Neecia Majolly, followed by a grade eight certificate in piano from the London School of Music. In 2008 he composed a Malayalam album called Thaalam. In 2014 he collaborated with Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman for Winds of Samsara, won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 2015. The album also featured vocals by Raj. Very soon he bagged multiple offers from Kannada film industry.

As a film composer his first break in Kannada movies happened through Harivu in 2014. It was followed by Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu, Mandya to Mumbai, Pushpaka Vimana, Tagaru, Dalapathi and Jeerjimbe, thus completing 6 more Kannada projects. Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja, Kavalu Daari and Avane Srimannarayana are his upcoming movies. “Naa Ee Sanje Ge”, a track he composed for Hemant Rao’s Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu is one of his popular songs. The debut song - “Gunu Gunuguva" from the film Dalapathi sung by Sanjith Hegde was the top song of year 2017.

Published: February 27, 2019

Updated: February 27, 2019