Yuvan Shankar Raja

**Yuvan Shankar Raja** (born 31 August 1979) is an Indian singer-songwriter, film score and soundtrack composer, and occasional lyricist from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He composed music for Tamil films like his father Ilaiyaraaja. He began his career at the age of 16, when he composed the film music for *Aravindhan*. Then after a long break he composed for "Thulluvatho Ilamai" in the year 2001. In 15 years, Yuvan Shankar Raja has worked on over 100 films. He is particularly known for his use of western music elements and often credited with having introduced Hip hop to the Tamil film and music industry and having started the "era of remixes" in Tamil Nadu.

He is the third and youngest child of musician and film composer Ilaiyaraaja and his late wife Jeeva. He is the younger brother of music director Karthik Raja and playback singer & music director Bhavatharini. His father as well as his siblings have sung many songs under his direction. Yuvan Shankar did his schooling at St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Chennai, and stopped his education after his tenth class. He started learning music from Jacob Master, attending piano classes at "Musee Musical" in Chennai, which is affiliated to Trinity College in London, UK.
## Discography
;As composer

; 

### Onscreen appearances
### Playback singer
### Lyricist
### Non-film works
; Television
* *Perai Solla Vaa*
* *Panchavarnakili*
* *Ananda Bhavan*
* *Ladies Club-Senior Junior*.

;Albums
* 1999 – *The Blast*

;Theatre
* 2014 – *Chicago* upcoming

## Awards
; Cyprus International Film Festival
* Best Musical Score Feature Film for *Raam* (2006)

; South Indian International Movie Awards
* SIIMA Award for Best Playback Singer – Telugu for *Panjaa* (2012)

; Filmfare Awards South
* Best Music Director – Tamil for *7G Rainbow Colony* (2004)
* Special Jury Award for *Oy!* (2009)
* Nominated, Best Music Director – Tamil for *Paruthiveeran*
* Nominated, Best Music Director – Telugu for *Aadavari Matalaku Ardhalu Verule* (2007)
* Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil for *Yaaradi Nee Mohini* (2008)
* Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil for *Paiyaa* (2010)
* Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil for *Naan Mahaan Alla* (2010)
* Nominated, Best Male Playback Singer – Tamil for "Iragai Pole" – *Naan Mahaan Alla* (2010)
* Nominated, Best Male Playback Singer – Tamil for "Kadal Rasa" – *Maryan* (2013)

; Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
* Best Music Director for *Pattiyal* (2006)
* Best Music Director for *Paiyaa* (2010)

; Vijay Awards
* Favourite Song of the Year for "En Kadhal Solla" (*Paiyaa*) (2010)
* Best Background Score for *Aaranya Kaandam* (2011)
* Best Background Score (2012)
* Best Male Playback Singer for "Kadal Rasa" (*Maryan*) (2013) 
* Nominated, Best Music Director for *Paruthiveeran* (2007)
* Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Music Director for *Saroja* (2008)
* Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Music Director for *Siva Manasula Sakthi* (2009)
* Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Music Director for *Paiyaa* (2010)
* Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Music Director for *Kazhugu* (2012)
* Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Music Director for *Anjaan* (2014)

; Other awards
* Ananda Vikatan Award for Best Composer of the Year (2007)
* Ananda Vikatan Award for Best Male Playback Singer of the Year for "Neethane" (*Sarvam*) (2009)
* Swarna Saravanan Excellence in Music Award (2013)
* Big FM Tamil Entertainment Awards – Most Entertaining Music Director of the Year Award for *Paiyaa* (2011)
* Big Tamil Melody Award for Most popular composer-director
* Big Tamil Melody Award for Best Background Score for *Aaranya Kaandam* (2011)
* Cinema Rasigargal Sangam Best Music Director Award for *Billa* (2007)
* CJA Cine Critics' Best Music Director Award for *Kattradhu Thamizh* (2007)
* GAMA Tollywood Music Awards
**Nominated, Best Music Director – Telugu for *Govindudu Andarivadele* (2015)
* GV South Indian Cinematographers Association (SICA) Best Music Director Award (2007)
* Isaiyaruvi Tamil Music Awards
** Isaiyaruvi Album of the Year – *Paruthiveeran* (2007)
** Isaiyaruvi Best Folk Song of the Year – "Oororam Puliyamaram" (*Paruthiveeran*) (2007)
** Miranda Crazy Song of the Year – "Saroja Saamaan Nikalo" (*Chennai 600028*) (2007)
** Isaiyaruvi Sensational Youth Album – *Silambattam* (2008)
** Crazy Song of the Year – "Where Is The Party" (*Silambattam*) (2008)
** Isaiyaruvi Best Remix Song of the Year – "Vechikkava" (*Silambattam*) (2008)
* Jayam Charitable Trust Film Music Awards
** Best Sensational Musician (2007)
** Best Singer of the Year Special Award for "Arabu Naade" (*Thottal Poo Malarum*) (shared with Haricharan) (2007)
* Medimix-Dinakaran Best Music Director Award for *Manmadhan* (2004)
* Mirchi Music Awards South
** Mirchi Music Award for Best Music Composer of the Year for "Oru Kal Oru Kannadi" (*Siva Manasula Sakthi*) (2009)
** Mirchi Music Award for Best Album of the Year for *Paiyaa* (2010)
** Mirchi Music Award for Mirchi Listeners' Choice – Best Song of the Year for "En Kadhal Solla" (*Paiyaa*) (2010)
* Vijay Music Awards
** Best Singer with the Maximum Hits of 2010
** Popular Duet of the Year – "Idhu Varai" (*Goa*) (2011)
** Popular Song sung by a Music Director – "En Kadhal Solla" (*Paiyaa*) (2011)
** Mirchi Listeners Choice of the Year – "Thuli Thuli" (*Paiyaa*) (2011)

## References