Charan Raj is an Indian composer and singer known for his work in Kannada cinema. For his work in Jeerjimbe (2016), he was awarded the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director.
Early life Charan Raj attended Sri Ramakrishna Vidya Shala, a residential school in Mysore. He was part of the music group there. Raj is trained in classical Carnatic music with Perumbavoor G. Raveendranath and in Western Classical music with Neecia Majolly. He also holds a grade eight certificate in piano from the London School of Music.
Career Raj's first major success came when Winds of Samsara, an album of Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 2015. The album also featured vocals by Raj. During the time, he also worked as an arranger for composers such as Prashant Pillai.
Raj's first work in Kannada films came in Harivu in 2014. He received acclaim for his work in Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu. He scored for Pushpaka Vimana. For his work in Jeerjimbe (2016), he was awarded the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director.
Raj received praise for his music in the 2018 film Tagaru. The soundtrack included tracks with blend of "electronic score" and "traditional sounds". It was composed with each track based on a different "human emotion" "such as love, anger and fear" rather than situation-based nature of tracks. In its review of the film, the New Indian Express wrote, "Charan Raj's music raises the tempo of the narrative with good songs, and lets it flow seamlessly with the right background score."
In 2023, Raj joined forces with Sanjith Hegde and Prassanna Hegde for Coke Studio Bharat's first Kannada song "Geejaga Hakki" which draws inspiration from various retellings of Raja Harishchandra's story. The song became an instant hit among the audience.
Saptha Sagaradache Ello movie which was released as two part Romantic drama in 2023 fetched him more accolades with his varied music and heart stirring background score and songs. The Entire album was a hit among critics and Audience. The film marked his third combination with Hemanth Rao who has been his go to collaborator.
Discography + List of Charan Raj music credits Year Album Notes 2008 Thaalam Malayalam Album2014Winds of Samsara VocalsGrammy Award for Best New Age AlbumHarivu Feature film2016 Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu Mandya to Mumbai 2017 Pushpaka Vimana 2018 Tagaru Dalapathi Jeerjimbe 2019 Kavaludaari Avane Srimannarayana 2 Songs only2020 Popcorn Monkey Tiger Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja 2021 Salaga 2022 James Special Appearance Head Bush 2023 Sapta Saagaradaache Ello – Side A Sapta Saagaradaache Ello – Side B Bad Manners2024 Somu Sound Engineer Bheema 2025Royal UttarakaandaBackground score only Ekka Also sang "Ekka Maar" and "Rowdy Rhymes" 2026Maarnami Mango Pachcha Also sang "Hasaravva"Operation Dream Theater
Awards Film Award Category Result RefGodhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu64th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Music DirectorWinners: 64th Jio Filmfare Awards 2017 (South)6th SIIMA AwardsBest Music Director Pushpaka Vimana7th SIIMA AwardsBest Music Director Jeerjimbe 2016 Karnataka State Film Awards Best Music Director Tagaru66th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Music Director 8th SIIMA AwardsBest Music Director Kavaludaari9th SIIMA Awards 2019Best Music Director Avane SrimannarayanaBest Music Director Popcorn Monkey Tiger9th SIIMA Awards 2020Best Music Director Best Male Playback Singer Salaga67th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Music DirectorSapta Saagaradaache Ello69th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Music Director
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