# Arunraja Kamaraj

Arunraja Kamaraj is an Indian singer, lyricist, actor and director in Tamil-language films. He is known for his works as lyricist in films such as Jigarthanda, Theri, Pencil and Kabali. He also debuted as an actor in Raja Rani and appeared as Neruppu Kumar in the film Maan Karate. He has written and sung the songs "Ding Dong" for the movie Jigarthanda and written "Kaavaalaa" for the movie Jailer which were critically acclaimed. He has also written and sung the song "Neruppu Da" in Rajinikanth's film Kabali. His other notable works includes movies such as Demonte Colony and Trisha Illana Nayanthara.

## Life and career

Arunraja Kamaraj was born in Parali near Kulithalai town in Tamil Nadu. Studied schoolings at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Kulithalai and higher secondary schoolings at Bishop Heber Higher Secondary School, Trichy. He graduated from J. J. College of Engineering and Technology, Tiruchirappalli. One of his college mates was actor Sivakarthikeyan. He is an excellent cricketer, during his college days, he represented JJCET as an all-rounder and won many university trophies and cups, he is nicknamed as Tikolo by the teammates in reference to the Kenyan cricket captain Steve Tikolo. He worked as an assistant director in Nelson Dilipkumar's Kolamaavu Kokila. Later, he went on to name a character in his movie Kanaa after Nelson Dilipkumar which was played by Sivakarthikeyan.

## Personal life

Arunraja Kamaraj was married to Sindhuja, who died of COVID-19 in 2021. They had two daughters together. Arunraja Kamaraj remarried in late 2022.

## Filmography
### As director and writer

| Year | Film | Notes |
| 2018 | Kanaa | |
| 2022 | Nenjuku Needhi | |
| 2023 | Label | Hotstar Web series |

### As actor

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2013 | Raja Rani | Udumbe | |
| 2014 | Maan Karate | Neruppu Kumar | |
| 2016 | Pencil | Selvam | |
| 2016 | Remo | Arun | Cameo appearance |
| 2017 | Maragadha Naanayam | Nesamani | |
| 2017 | Yaanum Theeyavan | Arun | |
| 2018 | Kaathiruppor Pattiyal | Kuttipuli | |
| 2019 | Natpuna Ennanu Theriyuma | Manikandan | |
| 2020 | Ka Pae Ranasingam | Gunasekhar | |
| 2023 | Japan | Himself | |

## Discography
### As lyricist

| Year | Film | Song(s) | Notes |
| 2012 | Pizza | "Rathiri" | |
| 2012 | Pizza | "Engo Odugindrai" | |
| 2013 | Pizza II: Villa | "Boomiyil" | |
| 2013 | Uyir mozhi | | |
| 2014 | Jigarthanda | "Ding Dong" | |
| 2015 | Darling | "Vandha Mala" | |
| 2015 | Kaaki Sattai | "Im So Cool" | |
| 2015 | Kaaki Sattai | "Shake That" | |
| 2015 | Demonte Colony | "Dummy Piece-u", "Trap of the Beast" | |
| 2015 | Trisha Illana Nayanthara | "Trisha Illana" | |
| 2016 | Pokkiri Raja | "Taaru Taara" | |
| 2016 | Theri | "Dub Theri Step" | |
| 2016 | Theri | "Eena Meena Teeka" | Rap part of the song |
| 2016 | Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum | "Pangali" | |
| 2016 | Sawaari | "Paani Poori" | |
| 2016 | Pencil | "Why Machi Why", "LED Kannala" | |
| 2016 | Kabali | "Neruppu Da" | |
| 2016 | Kodi | "Kodi Parakutha" | |
| 2016 | Wagah | "Aaniyae Pudunga Venandaa" | |
| 2016 | Enakku Innoru Per Irukku | "Myma" | |
| 2017 | Bairavaa | "Varlam Varlam Vaa" | |
| 2017 | Bruce Lee | "Naan Thaan Goppan da" | |
| 2017 | Kavan | "Happy New Year" | |
| 2017 | Baloon | "Vaanam Dhaane" | |
| 2017 | Baloon | "Mazhai Megam" | |
| 2017 | Baloon | "Uyirile Uyirile" | |
| 2017 | Baloon | "Shutup Pannunga" | |
| 2017 | Shivalinga | "Chinna Kabali" | |
| 2017 | Nibunan | "Vaa Daa Modhi Paakalam" | |
| 2018 | Kaala | "Semma Weightu" | |
| 2018 | Kaala | "Thanga Sela" | |
| 2018 | Kaala | "Katravai Patravai" | |
| 2018 | Kanaa | "Kanne En Kannazhage" | |
| 2018 | Kanaa | "Othaiyadi Pathaiyila" | |
| 2019 | Sarvam Thaala Mayam | "Peter Beatu Yethu" | |
| 2019 | Sarvam Thaala Mayam | "Dingu Dongu" | |
| 2019 | Namma Veettu Pillai | "Jigiri Dosthu" | |
| 2019 | Namma Veettu Pillai | "Namma Veettu Pillai Theme" | |
| 2019 | Asuran | "Vaa Ezhundhuvaa" | |
| 2019 | Darbar | "Kannula Thimiru" | |
| 2019 | Gurkha | "Chowkidar" | |
| 2020 | Plan Panni Pannanum | "Plan Panni" | |
| 2021 | Master | "Kutti Story" | |
| 2021 | Dikkiloona | "Cycle Wheela Pola" | |
| 2023 | Jailer | "Kaavaalaa" | |
| 2024 | Captain Miller | "Rise of Miller" | |

### Singles as lyricist

| Year | Song | Album | Composer | Notes |
| 2017 | "Kombu Vacha Singam da" | Non-album single | G. V. Prakash Kumar | Independent single for Jallikattu |
| 2024 | "Chennai Formula 4 Racing – Theme Song" | Non-album single | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |

### As singer

| Year | Film | Song(s) | Composer | Notes |
| 2014 | Jigarthanda | Ding Dong | Santhosh Narayanan | |
| 2015 | Demonte Colony | Trap of the Beast | Keba Jeremiah | |
| 2015 | Trisha Illana Nayanthara | Trisha Illana Nayanthara | G. V. Prakash Kumar | |
| 2016 | Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum | Pangaali | Santhosh Narayanan | |
| 2016 | Theri | Dub Theri Step | G. V. Prakash Kumar | |
| 2016 | Kabali | Neruppu Da | Santhosh Narayanan | |
| 2016 | Kabali | Nippu Raa | Santhosh Narayanan | Telugu version |
| 2016 | Oru Mexican Aparatha | Kalippu Katta Kalippu | Manikandan Ayyappan | Malayalam film |
| 2016 | Kodi | Kodi Parakutha | Santhosh Narayanan | |
| 2016 | Bairavaa | Varlam Varlam Vaa | Santhosh Narayanan | |
| 2017 | Bruce Lee | Naan Thaan Goppan da | G. V. Prakash Kumar | |
| 2017 | Balloon | "Shutup Pannunga" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| 2017 | Shivalinga | Chinna Kabali | S. S. Thaman | |
| 2017 | Nibunan | Vaa Daa Modhi Paakalam | S. Navin | |
| 2018 | Kaala | Katravai Patravai | Santhosh Narayanan | |
| 2018 | Kaala | Nikkal Nikkal | Santhosh Narayanan | |
| 2019 | Asuran | Vaa Ezhunduvaa | G. V. Prakash Kumar | |
| 2019 | 50/50 | Bin Laden (Theme) | Dharan Kumar | |
| 2019 | Gurkha | Chowkidar | Raj Aryan | |
| 2019 | Bharathi Kannamaa | Bharathi Kadhaliyae Kannamaa | Himself | Serial |
| 2024 | Captain Miller | Rise of Miller | G. V. Prakash Kumar | |
| 2024 | Laandhar | Kaalam Kodiyadhe | M. S. Prraveen | |

## Other works
### Television

| Year | Name of Television Show | Role | Network |
| 2024 | Super Singer Season 10 | Guest performer | Star Vijay |

## Awards and recognitions

* BOFTA Galatta Debutant Awards 2019 - Best Debut Director (People Choice)
* Colors Tamil Galatta Nakshatra Awards 2019 - Online Musical Sensation
* JFW Movie Awards 2019 - Best Director for Kanaa
* Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards 2019 - Best Social Awareness Award for Kanaa (as director)
* Zee Cine Awards Tamil 2020 - Best Debut Director for Kanaa