# Arjun Janya (ಲೋಕೇಶ್ ಕುಮಾರ್)
**Arjun Janya** (born Lokesh Kumar, ಲೋಕೇಶ್ ಕುಮಾರ್, in 1980) is an Indian film score and soundtrack composer, playback singer, and film director who works primarily in [Kannada cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannada-cinema). He debuted as a music director with *Autograph Please* (2006), rose to prominence with *Birugaali* (2009), and had his mainstream breakthrough with *Kempegowda* (2011); by 2019 he had scored his 100th film, *99*, and by 2025 his name was attached to more than 150 Kannada films.[1](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/kannada/interviews/2025/Dec/20/arjun-janya-45-explores-aspects-no-one-has-touched-in-indian-cinema) In 2025 he moved into direction with the pan-India fantasy action drama *45*.[1](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/kannada/interviews/2025/Dec/20/arjun-janya-45-explores-aspects-no-one-has-touched-in-indian-cinema)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Output | 100th film as music director was *99* (2019); more than 150 Kannada films by 2025[1](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/kannada/interviews/2025/Dec/20/arjun-janya-45-explores-aspects-no-one-has-touched-in-indian-cinema) |
| Directing debut | *45* (25 December 2025), starring Shivarajkumar, Upendra, and Raj B Shetty[1](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/kannada/interviews/2025/Dec/20/arjun-janya-45-explores-aspects-no-one-has-touched-in-indian-cinema) |
## Early life and apprenticeship
Before becoming an independent composer he apprenticed under the Kannada composers [V. Manohar](https://www.edgepedia.org/v-manohar) and K. Kalyan and worked as a keyboard player on approximately 30 films, a period he credits with teaching him the technical grammar of film music.[2](https://www.moviebuff.com/arjun-janya)
## Career as a composer
**Slow start, then breakthrough.** His first release as a music director was *Autograph Please* (2006). His mainstream breakthrough came with *Kempe Gowda* (2011), a remake of the Tamil blockbuster *Singam* starring Sudeep.[2](https://www.moviebuff.com/arjun-janya) Around this time he adopted the professional name Arjun Janya, reportedly on an astrologer's suggestion and with Sudeepa's encouragement.[2](https://www.moviebuff.com/arjun-janya)**Hit run.** Through the 2010s he scored a string of commercially successful films, including *Varadanayaka* (2012), *Victory* (2013), *[Vajrakaya](https://www.edgepedia.org/vajrakaya)* (2015), *Mukunda Murari* (2016), and *The Villain* (2018); his 100th film as a music director was *99* (2019). The song "Khaali Quarter" from *Victory* (2013) went viral and stayed at the number one position for weeks.[3](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/kannada/music-director/arjun-janya) In a 2019 interview he said he had no fixed criteria for accepting a film: he composed for anyone who came saying they wanted him specifically, whether newcomer or veteran.[4](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/celebrity-interviews/exclusive-interview-with-music-director-composer-arjun-janya-po144n) Later credits include *[Roberrt](https://www.edgepedia.org/roberrt)* (2021), *Bhajarangi 2* (2021), *Ghost* (2023), and *[Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi](https://www.edgepedia.org/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi)* (2024).[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/arjun_janya) • [6](https://kannadascreens.com/2024/08/15/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-is-the-story-of-love-after-marriage/)
**Awards.** His work on *Chakravarthy* (2017) earned a fifth [Filmfare Awards South](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards-south) nomination.[7](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-janya/26987/)
## Television and other work
Janya has served as a judge on the Kannada version of the reality singing show *Sa Re Ga Ma Pa* on Zee Kannada, alongside singer [Vijay Prakash](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-prakash) and composer [Hamsalekha](https://www.edgepedia.org/hamsalekha), and has also judged dance reality shows.[8](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/sandalwood/kannada-music-composer-arjun-janya-best-15-songs-on-his-birth-day-qa9h31) He has described music-based reality shows as a launchpad for raw talent, and has given singing breaks to contestants from the show, including the North Karnataka singer Balu Belagundi in the film *Brat*.[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/reality-shows-are-a-blessing-for-aspiring-singers-they-act-as-a-launchpad-for-raw-talent-and-give-them-a-space-in-the-industry-says-arjun-janya-on-sa-re-ga-ma-pa-kannada/articleshow/121593040.cms) • [10](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/tv-talk/musician-arjun-janya-gave-chance-to-baalu-belagundi-to-sing-in-darling-krishna-brat-movie-sat-stxz0j) His multilingual work includes the high-voltage song for the Shivarajkumar film *Ghost* (2023), with lyrics in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.[11](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2023/epaper/september/hyderabad-english-edition-2023-09-23.pdf)
## Move to direction: *45*
Janya debuted as a director with *45*, a pan-India fantasy action drama produced by Ramesh Reddy under Suraj Production, starring Shivarajkumar, Upendra, and Raj B Shetty, with Janya also handling the story and music.[1](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/kannada/interviews/2025/Dec/20/arjun-janya-45-explores-aspects-no-one-has-touched-in-indian-cinema) • [12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6H0F0YeySo) He said direction was never planned: he wrote the story intending to hand it to Shivarajkumar, who urged him to direct it himself.[1](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/kannada/interviews/2025/Dec/20/arjun-janya-45-explores-aspects-no-one-has-touched-in-indian-cinema) The film's inspiration came from his late brother Kiran, who died during the Covid pandemic, and Sanatana Dharma serves as an underlying layer of the narrative.[13](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/Sep/30/interview-animation-served-as-a-blueprint-for-45) Before shooting began he showed the lead actors a full animated version of the film as a previsualization blueprint, after roughly nine months of pre-production.[13](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/Sep/30/interview-animation-served-as-a-blueprint-for-45) • [14](https://tv9kannada.com/entertainment/sandalwood/arjun-janya-first-directorial-venture-movie-45-starts-in-mysore-shiva-rajkumar-upendra-raj-b-shetty-in-the-lead-role-mcr-au66-565815.html/amp) The release, first set for 15 August, was postponed because the computer-graphics work was incomplete; the film reached theaters on 25 December 2025 in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam, with a Hindi release the following week.[15](https://publictv.in/arjun-janyas-45-movie-release-date-announced/) • [16](https://www.vijayavani.net/cinevani/sandalwood/a-new-world-called-45-arjun-janya-as-if-he-worked-as-a-one-man-army) Janya described himself on the production as a one-man army, handling direction, editing, dubbing, and music, and called the CG work the biggest challenge.[16](https://www.vijayavani.net/cinevani/sandalwood/a-new-world-called-45-arjun-janya-as-if-he-worked-as-a-one-man-army)
## Personal life
Janya married in 2009.[3](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/kannada/music-director/arjun-janya) In a 2025 interview he spoke publicly about a period of heavy alcohol use earlier in his life, saying that a visit to the Adi Parashakti temple after his father's death changed his life, after which he abstained from alcohol for ten years.[17](https://tv9kannada.com/entertainment/sandalwood/arjun-janyas-spiritual-journey-from-alcohol-addiction-to-musical-success-1074677.html) • [18](https://kannada.oneindia.com/entertainment/arjun-janya-reveals-how-one-drunken-temple-visit-changed-his-life-425639.html)
## References
1. [Arjun Janya: 45 explores aspects no one has touched in Indian Cinema, The New Indian Express (Cinema Express interview)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/kannada/interviews/2025/Dec/20/arjun-janya-45-explores-aspects-no-one-has-touched-in-indian-cinema)
2. [Arjun Janya on Moviebuff.com](https://www.moviebuff.com/arjun-janya)
3. [Kannada Music Director Arjun Janya Biography, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/kannada/music-director/arjun-janya)
4. [ನೂರು ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳ ಸಂಗೀತ ಸರದಾರ ಅರ್ಜುನ್ ಜನ್ಯಾ, Asianet Suvarna News interview](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/celebrity-interviews/exclusive-interview-with-music-director-composer-arjun-janya-po144n)
5. [Arjun Janya Movies List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/arjun_janya)
6. [Chitralahari review: Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi, KannadaScreens](https://kannadascreens.com/2024/08/15/krishnam-pranaya-sakhi-is-the-story-of-love-after-marriage/)
7. [Arjun Janya, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/arjun-janya/26987/)
8. [#HBD ಅರ್ಜುನ್ ಜನ್ಯ; ಜನ್ಯ ಜೋಳಿಗೆಯ ಟಾಪ್ 15 ಹಾಡುಗಳು, Asianet Suvarna News](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/sandalwood/kannada-music-composer-arjun-janya-best-15-songs-on-his-birth-day-qa9h31)
9. [Arjun Janya on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Kannada, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/reality-shows-are-a-blessing-for-aspiring-singers-they-act-as-a-launchpad-for-raw-talent-and-give-them-a-space-in-the-industry-says-arjun-janya-on-sa-re-ga-ma-pa-kannada/articleshow/121593040.cms)
10. [Arjun Janya gave Balu Belagundi a chance in Brat, Asianet Suvarna News](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/tv-talk/musician-arjun-janya-gave-chance-to-baalu-belagundi-to-sing-in-darling-krishna-brat-movie-sat-stxz0j)
11. [The Pioneer, Hyderabad edition, 23 September 2023 (Ghost coverage)](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2023/epaper/september/hyderabad-english-edition-2023-09-23.pdf)
12. [45 Official Trailer, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6H0F0YeySo)
13. [INTERVIEW: Animation served as a blueprint for '45', The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/Sep/30/interview-animation-served-as-a-blueprint-for-45)
14. [Arjun Janya's first directorial venture 45 starts in Mysore, TV9 Kannada](https://tv9kannada.com/entertainment/sandalwood/arjun-janya-first-directorial-venture-movie-45-starts-in-mysore-shiva-rajkumar-upendra-raj-b-shetty-in-the-lead-role-mcr-au66-565815.html/amp)
15. [Arjun Janya's 45 movie release date announced, Public TV](https://publictv.in/arjun-janyas-45-movie-release-date-announced/)
16. ['45' ಎಂಬ ಹೊಸ ಲೋಕ, Vijayavani](https://www.vijayavani.net/cinevani/sandalwood/a-new-world-called-45-arjun-janya-as-if-he-worked-as-a-one-man-army)
17. [Arjun Janya's Spiritual Journey: From Alcohol Addiction to Musical Success, TV9 Kannada](https://tv9kannada.com/entertainment/sandalwood/arjun-janyas-spiritual-journey-from-alcohol-addiction-to-musical-success-1074677.html)
18. [Arjun Janya reveals how one drunken temple visit changed his life, Oneindia Kannada](https://kannada.oneindia.com/entertainment/arjun-janya-reveals-how-one-drunken-temple-visit-changed-his-life-425639.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Craft crew: cinematographers, editors, composers, critics › Film score composers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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