Raghupati Dwarakanath Dixit (born 11 November 1974) is an Indian singer-composer, producer, and film score composer who is the frontman for the Raghu Dixit Project, a multilingual folk music band. Dixit prominently works in Kannada cinema as soundtrack composer.
Dixit's music is an amalgamation of Indian ethnic music and styles from different parts of the world. His songs include "Lokada Kalaji","Preetiya Hesare Neenu" "Alemaari" "Just Maath Maathalli" "Munjane Manjalli" "Gudugudiya" and "Ninna Poojege Bande Mahadeshwara" Dixit has produced music for contemporary dance and theatre productions including the Indian contemporary dance group Nritarutya, of which, his former wife Mayuri Upadhya, is the artistic director.
Music
Dixit's self-titled debut album was launched by the music director duo Vishal–Shekhar on their new independent record label Vishal & Shekhar Music which collaborated with Counter Culture Records for this release. Raghu Dixit was the first artist on this new label. The album was also released on world music label Wrasse Records and Sony/ATV on 20 September 2010. The album reached No. 1 on the iTunes World Music charts in the UK. The title music for the show Splitsvilla was also composed and sung by Raghu Dixit. In the season one finale of The Dewarists, the Raghu Dixit Project collaborated with songwriter Rewben Mashangva on the song "Masti Ki Basti".
Collaborating with artists Dixit met during his previous concerts in the UK, the Raghu Dixit Project released their second studio album, Jag Changa. The album released on 23 November 2013. The album consists of eight tracks, in Kannada, Hindi and Tamil languages. In an interview with Vishnupriya Bhandaram of The Hindu, he mentions, "Every 200 kilometres in this country, languages change, the dialects change and the food changes, lives and lifestyles change and my music is unique and probably the USP is that it's sung in a vernacular tongue... its adds mystery."
The Raghu Dixit Project The Raghu Dixit Project is a multilingual folk-rock and world music band formed by Dixit in Bengaluru. Described as "an open house for musicians and artistes from different genres to come together, collaborate and create a dynamic sound", the group performs primarily in Kannada, Hindi, and Tamil, drawing on ancient Kannada poetry and Indian folk traditions fused with contemporary global influences.
The band's self-titled debut album was released in India in 2008 on Vishal–Shekhar's Vishal & Shekhar Music label in collaboration with Counter Culture Records, and internationally in September 2010 on Wrasse Records and Sony/ATV. The album reached number one on the iTunes World Music charts in the United Kingdom. Their second album, Jag Changa, was released on 23 November 2013. A third album, Shakkar, followed in 2024.
The Raghu Dixit Project won the Best Newcomer award at the Songlines Music Awards in 2011. The group has performed in over 30 countries across five continents.
In 2015, the band expanded from five to ten members for a new lineup that debuted at the NH7 Weekender in Pune.
Members
Current members Raghu Dixit – vocals, guitar Sanjay Kumar – guitars, bazouki Akshay Ganesh – violin Joe Jacob – drums Goutham Hebbar – flute, saxophone Naresh Nathan – bass
Former members Bryden Lewis – guitars (c. 2012–2015) Parth Chandiramani – flute (c. 2012–2015) Kavya Lakshminarayanan – trumpet (2015–)
Lewis and Chandiramani met while touring with the group in 2012 and later formed the composing duo Bryden-Parth.
Films In 2008, he debuted as a music director in the Kannada film industry with Psycho. He also composed and sang a song in the Bollywood movie Quick Gun Murugan. His new Kannada films, Just Math Mathalli and Kote, released soundtracks which were a big hit with audiences.
Dixit made his Bollywood debut with the film Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge in 2011. In 2013 he debuted in Malayalam recording with Bijibal for North 24 Kaatham.
Concerts
Dixit has played many shows all over the world including in the United States, the UK, Korea, Japan, Russia, Hong Kong and India. He has performed at many music and cultural festivals, including Anwesha at IIT Patna, Alcheringa at IIT Guwahati, Incident at NITK-Surathkal, Aarohi at VNIT Nagpur, FIESTA at Infosys, the Glastonbury Festival, Mood Indigo, Jayciana at SJCE, Dhwani at College of Engineering Trivandrum, Spring Fest at IIT Kharagpur, MANZAR at Institute of Chemical Technology, the Shrewsbury Folk Festival, at the Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in New Delhi and at MVJ College of Engineering in Bangalore.
In 2010, he appeared on BBC TV's Later... with Jools Holland which led to one of his songs becoming an instant download hit, and since then he has made several appearances at festivals in the UK and in Europe. In the early months of 2011, he gave a concert as part of London South Bank's 'Alchemy' Festival. He also visited the Andrew Marr Show to perform "Waiting for a Miracle" for a Raghu Dixit Session on BBC Radio 3.
In April 2012, he performed for Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip, at a Diamond Jubilee Pageant marking 60 years since her accession to the throne in 1952.
In 2024, he performed at Bangalore Times concert. In 2024, he performed at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Personal life Raghu Dixit was born on 11 November 1974 in Nasik, Maharashtra. His father was K. S. Dwarakanath, a Tamil Brahmin, and mother Malini, a Kannadiga. His only sibling is brother and musician Vasu Dixit. Raghu grew up in Mysore. He obtained a master's degree in microbiology from University of Mysore and worked briefly in the industry.
Dixit was first married to dancer Mayuri Upadhya from 2005 to 2019. In 2025, he married Varijashree Venugopal, a flutist.
Dixit was accused of hugging and kissing an unidentified singer after an ad hoc recording while he was signing her cheque, which was made public by Chinmayi Sripada, a friend of the singer, on 10 October 2018 on Twitter. In response, Dixit issued an apology on Twitter that same day that he completely misread the situation and that he would apologise to the singer again in public.
Discography
As composer Year Film/album LanguageNotes2008 Psycho Kannada2009 Quick Gun Murugan HindiOne song 2010 Just Math Mathalli Kannada2011 Kote Mujhse Fraaandship KarogeHindi2014 Bewakoofiyaan 2016 Aviyal Tamil One song2017 Happy New Year KannadaChef Hindi 2018 Koode MalayalamB. TechTeluguZEE5 Web Series 2019 Gully Boy HindiOne song Composed along with MIDIval Punditz, Karsh Kale2020 GarudaKannada Love Mocktail 2021 Ninna Sanihake 2023 Vallavanukkum Vallavan Tamil Orchestra Mysuru Kannada Mandala: The UFO Incident Kannada
As playback singer Year Film/album Language Song Music director2008Minchina OtaKannada"Hey Premi""Oh Geleya"V. ManoharPsycho"Ee Tanavu Ninnade""Preethiya Manshanthiya"Himself2009Karanji"Ninna Hallige Bandu"Veer SamarthQuick Gun MuruganHindi"The Murugan Song"Himself 2010Just Math MathalliKannada"Munjane Manjalli""Baanina Haniyu""Ee Kanninalli""Just Maath Maatalli"Shankar IPS"Sale Sale" Gurukiran2011Kote"Yelavo Doorutha""Jagave Banna Banna"Himself Mujhse Fraaandship KarogeHindi"Har Saans Mein"2013 North 24 KaathamMalayalam "Porumo" Govind MenonVeeraKannada "Mahalu" HamsalekhaTony "Navu Kooguva" Sadhu Kokila2014BewakoofiyaanHindi"Bewakoofiyaan Title Track"Himself2015 SiddharthaKannada "Ninnida Dooraagi" V. Harikrishna Son of Satyamurthy Telugu "Chal Chalo Chalo" Devi Sri Prasad Srimanthudu "Jaago"2016 Badmaash Kannada "Hare Rama" "Rama Ravivara" Judah Sandy 1944 "Prathi Yedeyalli" Rajesh Ramnath Nannaku Prematho Telugu "Don't Stop"Devi Sri Prasad Janatha Garage "Rock On Bro" Aanandam Malayalam "Khule Rasthon Pe" Sachin Warrier2017 Beautiful Manasugalu Kannada "Soruthihudu Maneya Maligi" Bharath BJ Trigger "Kannada" Chandru Obaiah April Na Himabindu "Iduvarege Badukidella" Bharath BJ Rajahamsa "Janaganamana" Joshua Sridhar Happy New Year "Adda Bidde Madesha" "The Party Anthem"HimselfChefHindi"Shugal Laga De" "Darmiyaan"2018 Tholi Prema Telugu "Break The Rules" S. Thaman Koode Malayalam "Paranne"Himself GultooKannada "VTU We Love You" Amit AnandSamhaara "Raakshasi" Ravi BasrurSankashta Kara Ganapathi "Sankashta Kara Ganapathi" Ritvik MurulidharAttempt To Murder "Pade Pade" Ravidev Jeet Singh Krishnarjuna Yudham Telugu "Urime Manase"Hiphop Tamizha Imaikkaa Nodigal Tamil "Neeyum Naanum Anbe" 2019Gully BoyHindi"The Train Song"Himself along with MIDIval Punditz, Karsh Kale2020ArishadvargaKannada"Gadiyaarake Muppirade"Udit Haritas Love Mocktail "Oh! Oh! Love Aagoithalla" "Kanna Haniyondhu" Himself2021ThimmarusuTelugu"The Thimmarusu"Sricharan Pakala2023Orchestra Mysuru Kannada "Sulla Chandira"Himself"Maadappa"2026Graamaayana"Shatha Shathamaanagalinda"Poornachandra Tejaswi
Filmography
Year Film RoleNotesRef2008 Psycho Guitarist Uncredited appearance 2010 Just Math Mathalli Music director 2017 Chef Himself Hindi film; uncredited appearance2022 Raymo Himself Uncredited appearance2023 Orchestra Mysuru Himself Baang Daddy
Awards 2019 - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the songs in Love Mocktail "Best Newcomer" at the 2011 Songlines Music Awards. Favorite Singer Award at the 2008 SFM Kalaa Awards Best Alternative Act at the UK Asian Music Awards Best Live Performer – GIMA Music Awards 2014 Icon Award - Lokmat Sur Jyotsna National Music Award - 2026
References
Profile from Later... with Jools Holland performance on BBC2 Review The Guardian Sapno Ki Udaan Charity Event in Hubli, Karnataka
External links The Raghu Dixit Project official website