Mugen Rao

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Mugen Rao
Mugen Rao.jpg
Rao in 2020
Background information
Birth nameMugen Rao
Born (1995-10-20) 20 October 1995 (age 29)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active2009–present
Website www.mugenrao.com

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. [1] [2] He is also known for playing lead roles in films such as Ghora (2018) and Velan (2021).

Contents

Personal life

Mugen was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, one of three children. [1] His father, Prakash Rao, died in 2020. [3]

Career

He began his singing career with his father, a stage singer, and performed in fifty stage shows. [1] [4] 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. [1]

Rao's career took off in 2016, when his music video "Kayalvizhi" went viral on YouTube. [5] His later music videos include "Anbe Aruyire", "Pogiren", "Mayakkurriye", and "Oththa Thamarai", which was shot in 2022 using virtual production technology. [6]

In 2019, he was the first Malaysian contestant on Bigg Boss Tamil edition, and emerged as the winner. [5] [7] While on Bigg Boss Tamil season 3, he sang the unreleased song "Sathiyama", which was only officially released in 2020. [8] He then moved to Chennai and sought to break into Tamil cinema. [9] [10]

He signed a three-film deal in 2020, [11] and was announced at the time to have a leading role in Vettri. [12] He played the lead in Velan , directed by Kavin Moorthy and released in December 2021. [13] [14] [15] In 2022, he began filming Mathil Mel Kadhal alongside Divya Bharathi. [16]

He later played the lead role in the film Jinn - The Pet (2025) which was directed by TR Bala alongside actress Bhavaya Trikha. [17] [18]

Filmography

Films

YearFilmRole(s)Notes
2018GhoraAdhityaMalaysian film
HaranAbdu
Hey CoffeelopherRam
2019 Venpa Yuvaraj Balakrishnan "YB"Malaysian film (special appearance)
2021 Velan VelanAlso singer and lyricist
2025 Jinn - The Pet Thomas [19]
TBAMadhil Mel KaadhalTBA

Web series

List of web series and roles
YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2023 MY3 Adhitya ChandrasekharOTT Release [20]

Short films

YearTitleNotes
2017I am Peter
2018Light Up Someone's Life

Television

Actor

YearSerial/Telemovie/DramaRoleChannelLanguageNotes
2009Senandung MalamPaperboy Malay
2010Da BombaSupporting Malay
2011 Gerak Khas Supporting TV2 Malay
2012Sindiket FixieSupporting Malay
2012Rumah Kecil ItuSupporting Malay
2014Rembau Ada WiFiSupporting Malay
2016ASTRO Sitcom: BarberMain Cast Tamil
2016Veetuku Oru PaatiMain Cast Tamil
2016Ippadiyum PannalamaMain Cast Tamil
2017Agam Puram Tamil
2018Sekuriti TV2 Tamil
2018Sugamaana Sumaigal Tamil
2019Nee YaarMain Cast TV2 Tamil Best TV Drama Actor award

Reality shows (non fiction)

YearReality Show/Fiction/Live ShowRoleChannelNotes
2016360 Degrees: Season 11Anchor Astro Vaanavil
2017360 Degrees: Season 12Anchor Astro Vaanavil
2017Chinna KabaliAnchor Astro Vaanavil
2017Astro PonggalAnchor Astro Vaanavil
2018Astro PonggalAnchor Astro Vaanavil
2019KL to KK: Let's rollHostAstro Ulagam
2019 Bigg Boss 3 Contestant Vijay TV Winner [21]
2019 Super Singer 7 Guest Vijay TV [22]
2019The WallGuestVijay TV [23]
2020Dancing Super StarsJudge Vijay TV

Music videos

Actor
YearSongMusicNotes
2014"Anbe Aaruyirae"Prashan Sean
2015"Aayiram Sorkal"Emzzie BoiAlso co-lyricist
2016"Kadhal Enbathu Saabama"Lawrence Soosai
"Nanba Vaa" Jose Franklin
2022"Mayakirriye"AniVee
"Othai Thamarai"Sandy Sandellow
2023"Single Aayiten Di" Dharan Kumar
"Makka Makka" Harris Jayaraj

Discography

Singer

YearSongComposer(s)Co-singer(s)Writer(s)Ref.
2014"Kaadhaley Kannir"Coruz HooksA'sha, Coruz HooksMugen Rao
2015"Ring-Eh"Razor RayA Sha [24]
2016"Kayalvizhi"Coruz HooksSolo
2018"Pogiren"Prashan SeanPrashan Sean
"Abinaya"Shane Extreme, Mugen RaoSolo
"Kannu Rapulo" (Telugu) [25]
"Zombie Kadhal"
2019"Yenggedi"Shane ExtremeSolo [26]
"Maya"Mugen RaoSolo
"Sathiyama"Mugen Rao, Shane ExtremePriyashankari
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 [27]
"Thedinen"Mugen Rao, Shane ExtremeSoloMugen Rao
2021 "Sathiyama Sollurandi" Gopi Sundar, Mugen Rao Sivaangi Krishnakumar
"Kaanal Neer Aanathe" Gopi SundarSoloLalithanand
2022 "Mudhal Kaathal" Mugen Rao, VivasvanSoloMugen Rao, Vivasvan
2023"Murugan Cassette Vol.1"Mugen RaoHavoc BrothersMugen Rao

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Bigg Boss Tamil 3: From being influenced by gangster culture in Malaysia to a talented lyricist, lesser known facts of Mugen Rao". Times of India . 24 June 2019. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  2. ↑ Sriram Ranganath (2 October 2019). "Bigg Boss Tamil 3, Day 100 Written Update: How Mugen Rao Made The 100th Day Extra Special". NDTV . Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  3. ↑ "Mugen Rao's father passes away". IndiaGlitz. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  4. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Velan Interview With Malaysian Actor Mugen Rao - Varnam MY". 31 December 2021. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Malaysian Mugen Rao wins India's 'Bigg Boss 3' reality TV show". Malay Mail . 27 October 2019. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  6. ↑ M Suganth (25 March 2022). "Shoot at Site: Mugen's new music video is shot using virtual production technology". Times Of India. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  7. ↑ "Mugen Rao wins Bigg Boss Tamil season 3 MGR". The Hindu . 7 October 2019. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  8. ↑ "WATCH: Mugen Rao's Infamous Tune, Sathiyama is Finally on YouTube! - Varnam MY". 2 May 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  9. ↑ Gautam Sunder (15 October 2019). "Mugen Rao can't wait to conquer the world, beginning with Kollywood first". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "Mugen Rao Ranks 11th on the Chennai Times 30 Most Desirable Men 2019 - Varnam MY". 16 March 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "Malaysian artiste Mugen Rao signs deal to star in 3 Kollywood movies". The Star . 29 September 2020. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  12. ↑ "'Bigg Boss' winner Mugen Rao, Miss India Anukreethy Vas to debut in 'Vettri'". The Hindu. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  13. ↑ "Mugen looked perfect for the role of Pollachi native boy in Velan: Director Kavin". Times Of India. 22 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  14. ↑ Bhuvanesh Chandar (26 April 2021). "Velan to feature Mugen Rao in two looks; first look out". Cinema Express . Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  15. ↑ "Mugen Rao's Velan cleared with a clean 'U' certificate". Times Of India. 7 November 2021. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  16. ↑ Sharanya CR (2 December 2021). "Mugen Rao & Divya Bharathi's Mathil Mel Kadhal is a love story set in Chennai". Times Of India. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  17. ↑ "Mugen's Jinn—The Pet teaser to be out on this day".
  18. ↑ "Teaser of Jinn- The Pet starring Mugen Rao to be released on Christmas".
  19. ↑ Kumar, Akshay (2 May 2025). "Mugen Rao's Jinn—The Pet gets a release date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  20. ↑ "'MY3': First look of Hansika, Shanthnu, Mugen's web series out". www.thehindu.com. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  21. ↑ "Bigg Boss winner Mugen Rao continues to dream bigger dreams". www.nst.com.my. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  22. ↑ "WATCH: Mugen Rao Performs with Anirudh at the Super Singer Finale - Varnam MY". 11 November 2019. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "The Wall: Bigg Boss Tamil 3 fame Mugen Rao and Tharshan Thiyagarajah have a blast". The Times of India . 25 October 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ↑ "Ring Eh Song Lyrics - Mugen Rao (MGR, 2014)". www.exlyrics.com. 30 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  25. ↑ "MugenRao MGR".
  26. ↑ "Mugen's 'Yenggedi' Receives Praises From India's Popular Playback Singer Suchitra On Twitter! - Varnam MY". 14 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  27. ↑ "Mugen Rao Joins Kamal Hassan and Other Big Names for the Track Arivum Anbum! - Varnam MY". 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
Preceded by Bigg Boss Tamil Winner
(Series 3) 2019		Succeeded by
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