Pradeep Kumar | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Pradeep Rangaswamy Vijayakumar |
Born | Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India | 12 May 1986
Genres | Playback singing |
Occupation(s) | Singer, Music Director |
Years active | 2010–present |
Spouse | Kalyani Nair |
Pradeep Rangaswamy Kumar (born 12 May 1986) is an Indian playback singer and music director who has worked in Tamil language films. After beginning his career as a Carnatic musician, in the 2010s, he has regularly collaborated with composers Santhosh Narayanan and Sean Roldan.
Born to a police inspector father and a music teacher mother, Pradeep Kumar grew up in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. His mother, Lalitha Vijayakumar, taught Carnatic music through private lessons and at a government school in the area, meaning that Pradeep Kumar was constantly exposed to Carnatic music as a youngster and often joined his mother in singing at home. He later was introduced as a playback singer in Tamil cinema through the film Attakathi by Santhosh Narayanan [1] He later began studying music under J. Venkataraman from the Aalathur School of music, who became his first guru. [2]
Outside music, Pradeep Kumar studied science, wrote the engineering entrance examination and joined an engineering college in Thanjavur hoping to become a theoretical physicist. However, after a week, he decided to opt out of college. As a backup career plan, he instead pursued a diploma course in audio engineering, which also taught him more about sound composition. [2] In 2003, Pradeep Kumar visited Chennai to participate in a competition conducted by the music studio, Carnatica. K. Shashikiran of Carnatica heard him sing and requested that he stay back in Chennai and subsequently from 2003 to 2005, Pradeep Kumar stayed in Chennai to collaborate with Carnita, and his parents joined him later. [2] He continued to perform in katcheris across Chennai and abroad, while also briefly serving as the secretary of the Youth Association of Classical Music, Chennai. [2] Pradeep Kumar later became nuanced in western classical music after apprenticing with Augustin Paul, and also worked as an audio engineer for four years. [3] In 2014, he worked on a documentary called Arunagiri Perumale, which was a live concert recording of a three-piece Indian band along with a 16-piece chamber symphony orchestra, which had taken place in 2014, in Boston. [4] He described the venture as his "pet project", and relied on crowd-funding to get it completed by 2017. [3] [5] During the same period, he married his fellow singer, Kalyani Nair. [6] He also worked as a composer on his first film album for the Telugu project, Maine Pyar Kiya (2014). [7]
Through his work as a musician, Pradeep Kumar became acquainted with composer Santhosh Narayanan. The pair had first met in Trichy when Pradeep Kumar was 18 and then continued to jam together, while studying for the same course in audio engineering. After Santhosh Narayanan became a film composer, Pradeep Kumar regularly worked as his acoustic guitarist. [3] He later featured prominently as a singer, often collaborating with Santhosh Narayanan and another friend Sean Roldan in their albums including Jigarthanda (2014), Irudhi Suttru (2016) and Kabali (2016). [3] [8] He had also worked as a lyricist in Jigarthanda. [9] In 2016, a music critic from The Hindu labelled the three as "the new-age musical trio of Tamil cinema". [10]
In 2017, Pradeep Kumar made his debut as a music composer in Tamil cinema after Santhosh Narayanan had convinced the producers of Meyaadha Maan to allow him to work on the film. [11] Subsequently, Rathna Kumar who directed Meyaadha Maan selected him as a music director for Amala Paul's next film, Aadai. [12]
Year | Film | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Maine Pyar Kiya | Telugu | |
2017 | Meyaadha Maan | Tamil | 2 songs only. |
2019 | Aadai | Tamil | |
2019 | Sillu Karupatti | Tamil | |
2020 | Andhaghaaram | Tamil | |
2021 | Methagu | Tamil | |
2021 | Vaazhl | Tamil | |
2022 | Veyil | Malayalam | |
2022 | Kuthiraivaal | Tamil | |
2024 | Nalla Perai Vaanga Vendum Pillaigale | Tamil | Also producer |
Year | Song title | Film | Language | Music director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Chitti Dance Showcase | Enthiran | Tamil, Telugu, Hindi | A. R. Rahman | |
Adi Sarale | Chikku Bukku | Tamil | Colonial Cousins | Colonial Cousins - Hariharan, Lesle Lewis, Pravin Mani | |
2012 | Aasai Oru Pulveli | Attakathi | Tamil | Santhosh Narayanan | |
Vazhi Parthirundhen | |||||
Mogathirai | Pizza | ||||
Naanaga Naanindri(Ennavo) | Uyir Mozhi | ||||
Oru Murai | |||||
2013 | Boomiyil | Pizza II: Villa | |||
2014 | Agasatha | Cuckoo | |||
Kodaiyila | |||||
Jigar | Jigarthanda | ||||
Maatra Paravai | Vaayai Moodi Pesavum | Sean Roldan | |||
Kadhal Kanave | Mundaasupatti | ||||
Aagayam Theepiditha | Madras | Santhosh Narayanan | Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Tamil South Indian International Movie Award for Best Male Tamil Playback Singer Vijay Award for Best Male Playback Singer | ||
Yemarum Jename | Sathuranga Vettai | Sean Roldan | |||
Thanniyila | Aadama Jaichomada | ||||
Poo Avizhum Pozhudhil | Enakkul Oruvan | Santhosh Narayanan | |||
2016 | Poda Poda | Irudhi Suttru | |||
Aval | Manithan | ||||
Maya Nadhi | Kabali | Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Male Playback Singer | |||
Veera Thurandhara | |||||
Vaanam Paarthen | |||||
Thoondil Meen | |||||
Jadoo Rawan Rawan | Kabali | Hindi | |||
Taare Saare Chupke | |||||
Kalavani O Nadhi | Kabali | Telugu | |||
Gunde Ninda Yenno | |||||
Inaivom | Maaveeran Kittu | Tamil | D. Imman | ||
2017 | Nee Kavithaigala | Maragatha Naanayam | Dhibu Ninan Thomas | ||
Pogaadhey Kanmaniye | Veera | Leon James | |||
Marete Hodenu | Dayavittu Gamanisi | Kannada | Anoop Seelin | ||
Pogatha Yennavittu | Vikram Vedha | Tamil | Sam C.S | ||
Idhuvum Kadandu Pogum | Nibunan | Navin | |||
Ammukkutiye | Gemini Ganeshanum Suruli Raajanum | D. Imman | |||
Enno Enno Bhaavaley | Yuddham Sharanam | Telugu | Vivek Sagar | ||
Azhagazhaga | Karuppan | Tamil | D. Imman | ||
Manavi Alakinacharadate | Mental Madhilo | Telugu | Prashanth R Vihari | ||
Kaadhalaada | Vivegam | Tamil | Anirudh Ravichander | ||
Enna Naan Seiven | Meyaadha Maan | Pradeep Kumar | also lyricist | ||
Megamo Aval | Santhosh Narayanan | ||||
Rail Aaraaro | Nenjil Thunivirundhal | D. Imman | |||
Azhagile Enai | Kaathiruppor Pattiyal | Sean Roldan | |||
Mudalaothonda | C/O Surya | Telugu | D. Imman | ||
2018 | Kannamma | Kaala | Tamil | Santhosh Narayanan | |
Thanga Sela | |||||
Raaye Naa Range Leela | Telugu | ||||
Sone Ki Tu Ek Murat | Hindi | ||||
Sengathire | Kadaikutty Singam | Tamil | D. Imman | ||
Kalavarame | Thamizh Padam 2 | Kannan | |||
The Life of Ram | 96 | Govind Vasantha | |||
Thaabangale | |||||
Iravingu Theevai | |||||
Kaarkuzhal Kadavaaiye | Vada Chennai | Santhosh Narayanan | |||
2019 | Kodi Aruvi | Mehandi Circus | Sean Roldan | ||
Agam Thaanai | Sillu Karuppatti | Pradeep Kumar | |||
Pranthan Kandal | Thottappan | Malayalam | Leela L. Girish Kuttan | ||
Kaathellam Poo Manakka | Gypsy | Tamil | Santhosh Narayanan | ||
Very Very Bad | |||||
Oru Naal | Aadai | Pradeep Kumar | |||
Mailaanji | Namma Veettu Pillai | D. Imman | |||
2020 | Life of Ram | Jaanu | Telugu | Govind Vasantha | |
Maragatha Maalai | Takker | Tamil | Nivas K. Prasanna | ||
Marandhaye | Teddy | D. Imman | |||
Maatra Thendral | Dharala Prabhu | Bharath Shankar | |||
Suzhalum Irulil | Andhaghaaram | Pradeep Kumar | |||
2021 | Kanavil Kan Malarum | Kabadadaari | Simon K. King | ||
Kalalo Kanupaape | Kapatadhaari | Telugu | |||
Aahaa | Vaazhl | Tamil | Pradeep Kumar | ||
Inba Visai | |||||
Pudhu Vidha Anubavam | |||||
Semmaan Magalai | |||||
Vaazha Vaa | |||||
Naan | |||||
Bandeena Bandeena | Raja Raja Chora | Telugu | Vivek Sagar | ||
Thala Kodhum Elangathu | Jai Bhim | Tamil | Sean Roldan | ||
Penne Penne | Sabhaapathy | Sam C. S. | |||
Raavil | Minnal Murali | Malayalam | Sushin Shyam | Kerala State Film award for best playback singer 2021 | |
Ye Porapato | Sakala Gunabhirama | Telugu | Anudeep Dev | ||
Parimitha Neram | Madhuram | Malayalam | Govind Vasantha | ||
Ullam Urugudhaiya | Etharkkum Thunindhavan | Tamil | D. Imman | ||
Ennai Aalum Pennilave | Velan | Gopi Sundar | |||
Kaanal neeraai | Writer | Govind Vasantha | |||
2022 | Nizhal Tharum Idham | Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa | Pradeep Kumar | ||
Mother Song (Version 2) | Valimai | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |||
Mother Song | Valimai | Telugu | |||
Thanga Sela | Anbarivu | Tamil | Hiphop Tamizha | ||
Uyir Thirandhu | Infinity | Balasubramanian G | |||
Thozhi | Hey Sinamika | Govind Vasantha | |||
Ice Katti Kuruvi | D Block | Ron Ethan Yohann | |||
Unaraa Unarvaey | Mr.Murali | Barath Dhanasekar | |||
Varayaatha Oviyam | Koorman | Tony Britto | |||
Yaar Varuvaar | |||||
Parandhu Pogindren | Kuthiraivaal | Pradeep Kumar | |||
Maname | Veyil | Malayalam | |||
Nenjorama | Madhil Mel Kaadhal | Tamil | Nivas K. Prasanna | ||
Engirundho Vandhaan | Oh My Dog | ||||
Nedumaram | J.Baby | Tony Britto | |||
Vaanam Yaavum | O2 | Vishal Chandrashekhar | |||
Dhooram | Vezham | Jhanu Chanthar | |||
Dhooram (sad) | |||||
Idam | |||||
Thangamey | My Dear Bootham | D. Imman | |||
Kanneeraey | Poikkal Kudhirai | ||||
Un paarvai | Cadaver | Ranjin Raj | |||
Kadavul Thantha | Yugi | Ranjin Raj | |||
Nee Podhum Enakku | Michael | Sam C. S | |||
Ilakana Kavithai | Banaras | B. Ajaneesh Loknath | |||
2023 | Adiyae Adiyae | Nandhivarman | Jerard Felix | ||
Uchathula Vennilavu | Thalaikoothal | Kannan | |||
Yaar Arindhadho | |||||
Kaatrodu Pattam Pola | Ayothi | N. R. Raghunanthan | |||
Ottamuri Vakkumayi | Romancham | Malayalam | Sushin Shyam | ||
Ponniyamma | Harkara | Tamil | Ramshanker | ||
Podhum Podhum | Chandramukhi 2 | Tamil | M M Kerravani | ||
Arikil Onnu Vannal | Pulimada | Malayalam | Ishaan Dev | ||
Neela Vaanile | |||||
Kangal Etho | Chithha | Tamil | Dhibu Ninan Thomas | ||
2024 | Nedumaram | J Baby | Tony Britto | ||
"Nebulakal" (Travel Song) | Manjummel Boys | Malayalam | Sushin Shyam | ||
"Chillanjirukkiye" | Lubber Pandhu | Tamil | Sean Roldan |
Year | Song | Notes |
---|---|---|
2017 | Kaatru Veliyidai Kannamma | Released (on YouTube): 15 April 2017 (collaboration with BP Collective) |
2021 | Konjam Pesu | Released (on YouTube): 9 July 2021 |
Kaatrile | Released (on YouTube): 13 Aug 2021 | |
2022 | Mayakural Ondru Ketkuthey | Released (on YouTube): 13 March 2022 |
Maayavi Nee | Released (on YouTube): 27 July 2022 | |
2023 | Isai | Released (on YouTube): 14 July 2023 |
Year | Category | Song | Film |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer (male) | "Ravil" | Minnal Murali |
Year | Category | Song | Film |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Best playback singer (Male) | "Aagayam Theepiditha" | Madras |
2017 | Best playback singer (Male) | "Maya Nadhi, Vaanam Paarthen" | Kabali |
Year | Category | Song | Film |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Best Tamil Male Playback Singer Award | "Aagayam Theepiditha" | Madras |
Year | Category | Song | Film |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Best Tamil Male Playback Singer Award | "Aagayam Theepiditha" | Madras |
Year | Category | Song | Film |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Best Male Playback Singer Award | "Aagayam Theepiditha" | Madras |
Year | Category | Song | Film |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Best Male Playback Singer Award | "Maya Nadhi" | Kabali |
Year | Category | Song | Film |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Best Singer (Male) | "Kadhalaadaa, Enna Naan Seiven, Pogatha enna vittu" | Vivegam |
Music of Tamil Nadu has a long tradition and history going back thousands of years. Music is a very important aspect of marriage and temple festival Tamil people.
Attakathi is a 2012 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Pa. Ranjith, a former assistant of Venkat Prabhu. Produced by C. V. Kumar, it stars Dinesh, Nandita Swetha and Aishwarya Rajesh. The film garnered attention after being praised and promoted by several acclaimed directors. Attakathi fetched positive reviews and emerged successful at the box office.
Santhosh Narayanan is an Indian film composer and musician who has worked predominately worked in Tamil cinema, while also having some Telugu and Malayalam films to his credit.
Jigarthanda (transl. Cold-heart) is a 2014 Indian Tamil-language crime comedy film written and directed by Karthik Subbaraj and produced by S. Kathiresan. The film stars Bobby Simha, Siddharth, Lakshmi Menon, Karunakaran, Guru Somasundaram and Aadukalam Naren. Gavemic U. Ary was the cinematographer, making his debut in Tamil cinema, and Vivek Harshan was the editor. Santhosh Narayanan composed the songs and background score.
Raghavendra Raja Rao, known by his stage name Sean Roldan is an Indian composer, musician, and lyricist who predominantly works in the Tamil film industry. He has worked on Carnatic music, independent music, and film scores for the Tamil film industry. He rose to fame after gaining critical acclaim for his work in Balaji Mohan's Tamil-Malayalam bilingual Vaayai Moodi Pesavum / Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram (2014).
Anthony Daasan is an Indian folk singer, who is currently working in the Tamil film industry. He is known for contributing a powerful voice to fusions of Tamil-folk, country, jazz, electronica and rock styles. Before this phase of playback singing, he worked as a travelling festival folk singer artist, collaborating with players of Nadaswaram, Thavil and Thappu, dancers and acrobats among others. He has performed with influential movie industry veterans such as Usha Uthup.
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Meyaadha Maan is a 2017 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Rathna Kumar in his feature directorial debut and produced by Karthik Subbaraj's Stone Bench Creations. The film stars Vaibhav and Priya Bhavani Shankar in the leads, with Vivek Prasanna, Indhuja Ravichandran, Arun Prasath, and Amrutha Srinivasan in supporting roles. It is an adaptation of Kumar's own short film Madhu, which he had directed for the Stone Bench Creation's anthology film Bench Talkies. This is the screen debut of both Priya and Indhuja.
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Rathna Kumar is an Indian film director and writer. He is known for directing Meyaadha Maan (2017).
Madhu is a 2014 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy short film written, directed and produced by Rathna Kumar, starring Sananth, Roshini Abraham and Vivek Prasanna. The music for the film is composed by Javed Riaz, with cinematography handled by Vijay Kartik Kannan and editing done by Sridharan G. K. It was released through YouTube on 6 June 2014.
Vada Chennai is the soundtrack album for the 2018 action crime film of the same name directed by Vetrimaaran, starring Dhanush in the lead role. The film featured music composed by Santhosh Narayanan in his maiden collaboration with Vetrimaaran. Vada Chennai also marks the 25th film of Narayanan as a composer in his career. The album in its entirety was released on 23 September 2018 to positive response from critics and audiences. At the 12th Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards held in Chennai, Santhosh received an award for Best Music Director also for his work in Kaala and Pariyerum Perumal.
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Gulu Gulu is a 2022 Indian Tamil-language road action comedy film written and directed by Rathna Kumar and produced by Raj Narayanan's banner Circle Box Entertainment. The film was distributed by Udhayanidhi Stalin under his banner Red Giant Movies. The film stars Santhanam and Athulya Chandra. The music is composed by Santhosh Narayanan with cinematography handled by Vijay Kartik Kannan and editing by Philomin Raj. The film was released theatrically on 29 July 2022 to mixed to negative reviews from critics and audiences.
Chithha is the soundtrack to the 2023 Tamil-language drama film of the same name directed by S. U. Arun Kumar starring Siddharth, Nimisha Sajayan and Anjali Nair. The film's soundtrack featured three songs composed by Dhibu Ninan Thomas and one song composed by Santhosh Narayanan. Preceded by three singles, the soundtrack was released through Think Music on 27 September 2023. At the 69th Filmfare Awards South, both composers won the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil.
The music for the 2014 Tamil-language crime drama film Jigarthanda (transl. cold-hearted) is composed by Santhosh Narayanan. The film directed by Karthik Subbaraj and produced by S. Kathiresan, stars Siddharth, Bobby Simha, Lakshmi Menon, Karunakaran and Guru Somasundaram. The music for the film released under two different albums—one contains the original songs which had lyrics written by Muthamil, Arunraja Kamaraj, Anthony Daasan, Pradeep Kumar and Sean Roldan, and the other contained several cues of original music underscored in the background. The first album was released on March 2014, five months before the film's theatrical release with the second album being unveiled after the film's release. Both the albums were distributed under the Think Music label. Santhosh's work met with acclaim, both from critics and audiences, regarding it as one of his best works.