Arjun Janya

Last updated

Arjun Janya
Born
Lokesh Kumar

(1980-05-13) May 13, 1980 (age 45)
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Genres Film score, soundtrack
Occupation(s)Composer
singer
Director
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • Keyboard
Years active2006–present
Website arjunjanya.in

Arjun Janya (born Lokesh Kumar on 13 May 1980) is an Indian film score and soundtrack composer, playback singer and director who works primarily in Kannada cinema. He made his debut as a music director with Autograph Please (2006), and rose to prominence with Birugaali (2009), followed by breakthrough success with Sanchari (2010) and Kempegowda (2011). [1] He has composed for successful films including Varadanayaka (2012), Victory (2013), Vajrakaya (2015), Mukunda Murari (2016) and The Villain (2018); his 100th film as a music director was 99 (2019).[ citation needed ]

Contents

Janya is a recipient of the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director (Alemaari, 2012), SIIMA Award for Best Music Director ( Romeo , 2012; Vajrakaya, 2016; Roberrt , 2022), and Filmfare Awards South ( Bhajarangi , 2013). [2] [3]

Early life

Arjun Janya was born Lokesh Kumar in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 13 May 1980. [1] Before becoming an independent composer, he apprenticed under Kannada composers V. Manohar and K. Kalyan, and worked as a keyboard player on approximately 30 films, a period he credits with learning the technical grammar of film music. [4]

Career

Film score

Arjun's first release as a music director was Autograph Please (2006) starring Sanjjanaa and Dilip Raj. Since then, he composed for various films but with little success until he scored the music for the film Birugaali in 2009. All the songs of this film were noticed and appreciated. Following this, he tasted success by scoring for the film Sanchari in 2010.

His mainstream breakthrough came with Kempe Gowda (2011), a remake of the Tamil blockbuster Singam , which was a star-led commercial success. Around this time, he adopted the professional name Arjun Janya, reportedly on an astrologer's suggestion and with actor Sudeepa’s encouragement. [5] Some articles report that a meeting between Arjun and Oscar-winning composer A. R. Rahman changed his fortunes in the music industry. [6]

In 2012, Janya's work on Romeo won SIIMA Best Music Director, while his score for Alemaari received the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director. The period also saw Victory (2013) yield the widely circulated song “Khaali Quarter”. The song became popular and was on top of the charts for many weeks. [7]

Janya remained active across genres with albums for Dil Rangeela , Super Ranga , and Vajrakaya (2015), the latter marking his 50th film composition and winning SIIMA Best Music Director in 2016. [8] Between 2017 and 2019 he scored for Hebbuli , Chakravarthy , The Villain , and 99 (his 100th film as music director). During promotions for 99, he emphasized “nostalgia with freshness” in the album's approach. [9]

In the early 2020s, Janya released albums including Love 360 (2022), Gaalipata 2 (2022), Baanadariyalli (2023), and Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi (2024), while expanding multilingual releases across streaming platforms. [10] [11]

Film direction

Janya's directorial debut, 45, features Shivarajkumar, Upendra, and Raj B. Shetty in lead roles. Pre-release coverage highlighted its extensive use of visual effects (with Canadian studio MARZ's involvement) and an unusual production workflow in which a complete animated previsualization of the film was created prior to principal photography. [12] [13] Janya has described 45 as a commercial film with motifs drawn from Sanatana Dharma and stated that the full-animation previsualization took around 18 months, with the live-action shoot completed in 106 days. [14] [15]

Television shows

Arjun is currently judging the Kannada version of the reality singing show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in Zee Kannada channel along with singer Vijay Prakash and music composer Hamsalekha. [16]

Personal life

Janya is married to Geetha, and the couple has a daughter named Rajitha. [1] In television, he has served as a judge on the Kannada edition of the reality singing show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Kannada on Zee Kannada. [3]

Discography

As a composer

List of Arjun Janya film credits as composer
YearTitleNotes
2006Autograph Please
2007AathmarpaneBackground score only
DadagiriBackground score only
BhakthaBackground score only
Yuga
2008 Slum Bala
Patre Loves Padma
Dheemaku
Baba
2009Machcha
Birugaali Won—South Scope Award for Best Music Director
2010Nayaka
Gubbi
Nam Areal Ond Dina
SanchariWon—Suvarna Award for Best Song
Jugaari
2011 Jarasandha
Rajadhani
Kempegowda Won South Scope Award for Best Stylish Music Album
Won—Kadiri Award for Best Music Director
2012 Rambo
18th Cross
Romeo Won—SIIMA Award for Best Music Director
Dandupalya
Alemaari Won—Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada
Lucky Also made a cameo appearance
Tuglak
2013Guest House
Bhajarangi Won—Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada
Chaddi Dosth
Sweety Nanna Jodi
Dilwala
Barfi
Victory
Jayammana Maga
Case No. 18/9
Auto Raja
Chathrigalu Saar Chathrigalu
Rajanikantha
Varadanayaka Won—SIIMA Award for Best Male Playback Singer
2014 Abhimanyu Also made in Tamil and Telugu as Jai Hind 2
Neenade Naa
Simhadri
Super Ranga
Paramashiva
Tirupathi Express
Adyaksha Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada
Paru Wife of Devadas
Maanikya
Dil Rangeela
Shivajinagara Background score only
Darling Also producer
Angaaraka
2015 Ganga
Dove
Arjuna
Om Namaha
RX Soori
Bullet Basya
Vajrakaya 50th film as a composer [17]
Goa
DK
Raja Rajendra
Jackson
2016 Mukunda Murari Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Music Director (Kannada)
Mungaru Male 2 Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada
Kalpana 2
Lakshmana
Jigarthanda
Style King
Jai Maruthi 800
Mareyalaare
Ricky
Kathe Chitrakathe Nirdeshana Puttanna
John Jani Janardhan
2017 Chowka Only for 2 songs ("Appa I Love You" and "Vande Mataram")
Chakravarthy
Hebbuli
Raaga
Pataki
Sarkari Kelasa Devara Kelasa
Tiger
Dandupalya 2
Raj Vishnu
Tarak
Satya Harishchandra
College Kumar
2018 Dandupalya 3
Raambo 2
Kannadakkaagi Ondannu Otti
Kicchu
Ayogya Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Music Director -Kannada
Victory 2
Ambi Ning Vayassaytho
The Villain
2019 Kavacha
Premier Padmini
99 100th film 96 Movie Remake
Amar
Gimmick
Pailwaan Pan India Movie
Ellide Illi thanaka
Bharaate
Odeya
2020 India vs England
2021 Roberrt
Kotigobba 3
SriKrishna@gmail.com
Rider
Bhajarangi 2
2022 Ek Love Ya
Local Train
Avatara Purusha
Window Seat
Gaalipata 2
Kaneyadavara Bagge Prakatane
Love 360
Shiva 143
Trivikrama
Dilpasand
Raymo
Vedha Kannada & Telugu
Once Upon a Time in Jamaligudda 125th Film as a Music Composer
Padavi Poorva
2023 Love Birds [18]
Kousalya Supraja Rama
Kick Tamil film
Baanadariyalli
Raja Marthanda [19] [20] [21]
Ghost
Mayanagari
WoW: World of Windows [22]
Ardhambardha Prema Kathe [23]
2024 Upadhyaksha
Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi
Karki Nanu BA, LLB [24]
Murphy [25]
Aaraam Arvind Swamy
2025 Brat
Bad
45 Filming.

Also Director Of This Movie [ citation needed ]

TBA KD - The Devil Filming
TBATrishulam
Key
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

As a singer

YearFilmSongNotes
2012 Romeo Belagageddu Coffee
2012 Romeo Smile Vasi
2012 Romeo Romeo Romeo
2012 Lucky Gowramma Baramma
2012 Lucky Naan Yen Madli
2012 Rambo Manethanka Baare
2013 Varadanayaka Baite Baite
2013 Varadanayaka Ondhsari
2014MrugashiraOota Madro Dayavittu
2014 Super Ranga Ninade Nenapu
2017 Kataka Kataka Title Track
Cameo appearance
Television

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Arjun Janya – Biography, Age, Movies". Filmy Focus. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  2. "Soumya Raoh and Arjun Janya win a Filmfare each". The Times of India. 13 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Arjun Janya – Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  4. "Arjuna 'Uvacha'". Chitratara.com. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  5. "Music director Arjun changes his name as Arjun Janya | Flash News Today – Online News Magazine". Flashnewstoday.com. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  6. "Shake hand with Rahman changed my life – Arjun Janya". Supergoodmovies.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  7. "Khali quarter goes viral in Sandalwood". The New Indian Express. 8 August 2013. Archived from the original on 10 August 2013.
  8. "Arjun Janya scores a quickfire 50". The Times of India. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  9. "Arjun Janya Exclusive Talks – 99 Movie Special Interview". YouTube (Anand Audio). 18 April 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  10. "Arjun Janya – Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  11. "Arjun Janya – Discography". Qobuz. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  12. "Composer‑Turned‑Director Arjun Janya Teams Up With MARZ for '45'". Times Now Kannada. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  13. "INTERVIEW-Animation served as a blueprint for '45'". The New Indian Express. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  14. "Arjun Janya: Animation served as a blueprint for '45'". Cinema Express. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  15. "Arjun Janya Interview: Visual effects will be the hallmark of 45". Fun & Flip (aggregated from New Indian Express). 29 March 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  16. "Arjun Janya to share more than just music!". Sify . 30 July 2015. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  17. "Arjun Janya 50 for 50". Indiaglitz. 21 October 2014.
  18. Sharadhaa, A (18 February 2023). "Love Birds Movie Review: A mature take on the highs and lows of marriage". Cinema Express .
  19. "Raja Marthanda Movie Reviews, Cast & Release Date". The Times of India . Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  20. "Dhruva Sarja asks fans to watch his late brother Chiranjeevi Sarja's Rajamarthanda. Watch". The New Indian Express . Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  21. "Dhruva Sarja gives shout-out to late brother Chiranjeevi's 'Rajamarthanda'". India Today . 3 August 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  22. WoW:World of Windows.
  23. "Ardhambardha Prema Kathe - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb .
  24. Sharadhaa, A. (11 September 2024). "'Karki' movie review: This thoughtful, heartfelt adaptation stays true to the original". The New Indian Express.
  25. "Prabhu Mundkur and Roshini Prakash's 'Murphy' set to charm audiences from October 18". Deccan Herald. 16 October 2024.
  26. "After Successful Career in Kannada Music, Arjun Janya to Venture Into Direction". News18.com . 16 June 2022. [...] Arjun is composing music for Trishulam [...]

Notes