# Mugen Rao

Mugen Rao (born in 20 October 1995) is a Malaysian singer and actor who predominately appears in Tamil films. In 2019, he participated in the reality show Bigg Boss 3 and later emerged as the winner. He is also known for playing lead roles in films such as Ghora (2018) and Velan (2021).

## Personal life

Mugen was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, one of three children. His father, Prakash Rao, died in 2020.

## Career

He began his singing career with his father, a stage singer, and performed in fifty stage shows. He made his acting debut in the Malay TV show Senandung Malam, then had small parts in films including Gerak Khas and Ghora, in shorts, TV films, and advertising.
Rao's career took off in 2016, when his music video "Kayalvizhi" went viral on YouTube. His later music videos include "Anbe Aruyire", "Pogiren", "Mayakkurriye", and "Oththa Thamarai", which was shot in 2022 using virtual production technology.
In 2019, he was the first Malaysian contestant on Bigg Boss Tamil edition, and emerged as the winner. While on Bigg Boss Tamil season 3, he sang the unreleased song "Sathiyama", which was only officially released in 2020. He then moved to Chennai and sought to break into Tamil cinema.
He signed a three-film deal in 2020, and was announced at the time to have a leading role in Vettri. He played the lead in Velan, directed by Kavin Moorthy and released in December 2021. In 2022, he began filming Mathil Mel Kadhal alongside Divya Bharathi.
He later played the lead role in the film Jinn The Pet which was directed by TR Bala alongside actress Bhavaya Trikha. The film released on christmas day of 2024.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Film | Role(s) | Notes |
| 2018 | Ghora | Adhitya | Malaysian film |
| 2018 | Haran | Abdu | Malaysian film |
| 2018 | Hey Coffeelopher | Ram | Malaysian film |
| 2019 | Venpa | Yuvaraj Balakrishnan "YB" | Malaysian film (special appearance) |
| 2021 | Velan | Velan | Also singer and lyricist |
| 2024 | Jinn The Pet | Thomas | |
| TBA | Vettri | TBA | |
| TBA | Madhil Mel Kaadhal | TBA | |
| TBA | Kaadhal Enbathu Saabama | TBA | |

### Web series

List of web series and roles :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2023 | MY3 | Adhitya Chandrasekhar | OTT Release | |

### Short films

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2017 | I am Peter | |
| 2018 | Light Up Someone's Life | |

### Television
#### Actor

| Year | Serial/Telemovie/Drama | Role | Channel | Language | Notes |
| 2009 | Senandung Malam | Paperboy | | Malay | |
| 2010 | Da Bomba | Supporting | | Malay | |
| 2011 | Gerak Khas | Supporting | TV2 | Malay | |
| 2012 | Sindiket Fixie | Supporting | | Malay | |
| 2012 | Rumah Kecil Itu | Supporting | | Malay | |
| 2014 | Rembau Ada WiFi | Supporting | | Malay | |
| 2016 | ASTRO Sitcom: Barber | Main Cast | | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Veetuku Oru Paati | Main Cast | | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Ippadiyum Pannalama | Main Cast | | Tamil | |
| 2017 | Agam Puram | | | Tamil | |
| 2018 | Sekuriti | | TV2 | Tamil | |
| 2018 | Sugamaana Sumaigal | | | Tamil | |
| 2019 | Nee Yaar | Main Cast | TV2 | Tamil | Best TV Drama Actor award |

#### Reality shows (non fiction)

| Year | Reality Show/Fiction/Live Show | Role | Channel | Notes |
| 2016 | 360 Degrees: Season 11 | Anchor | Astro Vaanavil | |
| 2017 | 360 Degrees: Season 12 | Anchor | Astro Vaanavil | |
| 2017 | Chinna Kabali | Anchor | Astro Vaanavil | |
| 2017 | Astro Ponggal | Anchor | Astro Vaanavil | |
| 2018 | Astro Ponggal | Anchor | Astro Vaanavil | |
| 2019 | KL to KK: Let's roll | Host | Astro Ulagam | |
| 2019 | Bigg Boss 3 | Contestant | Vijay TV | Winner |
| 2019 | Super Singer 7 | Guest | Vijay TV | |
| 2020 | Dancing Super Stars | Judge | Vijay TV | |

### Music videos
#### Actor

| Year | Song | Music | Notes |
| 2014 | "Anbe Aaruyirae" | Prashan Sean | |
| 2015 | "Aayiram Sorkal" | Emzzie Boi | Also co-lyricist |
| 2016 | "Kadhal Enbathu Saabama" | Lawrence Soosai | |
| 2016 | "Nanba Vaa" | Jose Franklin | |
| 2022 | "Mayakirriye" | AniVee | |
| 2022 | "Othai Thamarai" | Sandy Sandellow | |
| 2023 | "Single Aayiten Di" | Dharan Kumar | |
| 2023 | "Makka Makka" | Harris Jayaraj | |

## Discography
### Singer

* Note: When he is credited as the composer, he is credited as Mugen Rao MGR.
| Year | Song | Composer(s) | Co-singer(s) | Writer(s) |
| 2014 | "Kaadhaley Kannir" | Coruz Hooks | A'sha, Coruz Hooks | Mugen Rao |
| 2015 | "Ring-Eh" | Razor Ray | A Sha | Mugen Rao |
| 2016 | "Kayalvizhi" | Coruz Hooks | Solo | Mugen Rao |
| 2018 | "Pogiren" | Prashan Sean | Prashan Sean | Mugen Rao |
| 2018 | "Abinaya" | Shane Extreme, Mugen Rao | Solo | Mugen Rao |
| 2018 | "Kannu Rapulo" (Telugu) | | | Mugen Rao |
| 2018 | "Zombie Kadhal" | | | Mugen Rao |
| 2019 | "Yenggedi" | Shane Extreme | Solo | Mugen Rao |
| 2019 | "Maya" | Mugen Rao | Solo | Mugen Rao |
| 2019 | "Sathiyama" | Mugen Rao, Shane Extreme | Priyashankari | Mugen Rao |
| 2020 | "Arivum Anbum" | Ghibran | Kamal Haasan, Ghibran, Anirudh Ravichander, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Shankar Mahadevan, Bombay Jayashri, Sid Sriram, Devi Sri Prasad, Shruti Haasan, Andrea Jeremiah, Siddharth | Kamal Haasan |
| 2020 | "Thedinen" | Mugen Rao, Shane Extreme | Solo | Mugen Rao |
| 2021 | "Sathiyama Sollurandi" | Gopi Sundar, Mugen Rao | Sivaangi Krishnakumar | Mugen Rao |
| 2021 | "Kaanal Neer Aanathe" | Gopi Sundar | Solo | Lalithanand |
| 2022 | "Mudhal Kaathal" | Mugen Rao, Vivasvan | Solo | Mugen Rao, Vivasvan |
| 2023 | "Murugan Cassette Vol.1" | Mugen Rao | Havoc Brothers | Mugen Rao |