# Arunraja Kamaraj (அருண்ராஜா காமராஜ்)
**Arunraja Kamaraj** (அருண்ராஜா காமராஜ்) is an Indian singer, lyricist, actor, and film director who works in Tamil-language cinema. He first became widely known for writing and singing "Neruppu Da" in Rajinikanth's *Kabali* (2016), and made his directorial debut with the sports drama *Kanaa* (2018), followed by the caste-drama remake *Nenjukku Needhi* (2022).[1](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/kabali-s-fiery-track-written-20-minutes-meet-arunraja-lyricist-neruppu-da-46570)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | June 15[2](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/story/news/cinema/559513-arjunraja-kamaraj-birthday.html) |
| Signature song | "Neruppu Da" from *Kabali* (2016), written in about 20 minutes and also sung by him[1](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/kabali-s-fiery-track-written-20-minutes-meet-arunraja-lyricist-neruppu-da-46570) |
| Output | Lyrics for more than 45 songs; vocals on more than 20 tracks[3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jan/05/arunraja-kamarajs-surprising-early-cricketing-connect) |
| Directing | *Kanaa* (2018), *Nenjukku Needhi* (2022), the series *Label* (2023)[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/kanaa-is-the-labour-of-friendship-arunraja-kamaraj-5509544/) • [5](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/interviews/arunraja-kamaraj-interview-on-directing-nenjuku-needhi-keeping-the-essence-of-article-15-intact-in-the-remake-more/) • [3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jan/05/arunraja-kamarajs-surprising-early-cricketing-connect) |
| Music label | ARK Entertainment, launched in 2020, first single "Kannakuzhi Azhage"[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/arunraja-kamaraj-has-a-new-feather-in-his-cap/articleshow/76088221.cms) |
| Education | JJ College of Engineering, Tiruchirappalli, where his classmates included Sivakarthikeyan and Dhibu Ninan Thomas[3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jan/05/arunraja-kamarajs-surprising-early-cricketing-connect) |
## Early life and college years
Arunraja comes from a modest background, studied in a government school, and attended JJ College of Engineering in [Tiruchirappalli](https://www.edgepedia.org/tiruchirappalli), where [Sivakarthikeyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sivakarthikeyan), later a leading Tamil star, and Dhibu Ninan Thomas, later a composer, were studying at the same time; the friendship formed then carried into their later film work.[2](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/story/news/cinema/559513-arjunraja-kamaraj-birthday.html) • [3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jan/05/arunraja-kamarajs-surprising-early-cricketing-connect) He was a leading college cricketer, representing his college in zonal matches with teams from across [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu); his team won the zonals and finished as runners-up in the inter-zonals, losing the final against SSN.[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/kanaa-is-the-labour-of-friendship-arunraja-kamaraj-5509544/) • [7](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/i-closed-my-eyes-and-thought-womens-freedom-periyar-came-me-arunraja-kanaa-92672) For his antics on the cricket field he was nicknamed Tikolo, after the Kenyan all-rounder Steve Tikolo.[3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jan/05/arunraja-kamarajs-surprising-early-cricketing-connect)
He began performing as a rapper and mimicry artist during his engineering days, with no formal training in music, and describes himself as a home-grown artist.[1](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/kabali-s-fiery-track-written-20-minutes-meet-arunraja-lyricist-neruppu-da-46570) His entry into the film industry came through Sivakarthikeyan, who had won the television show *Kalakkapovathu Yaaru* on Vijay TV.[7](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/i-closed-my-eyes-and-thought-womens-freedom-periyar-came-me-arunraja-kanaa-92672)
## Lyricist and singer
His first recognition as a writer came with the song "Rathiri" in *Pizza* (2012), and he debuted as a singer with "Ding Dong" in *Jigarthanda* (2014), a song he also wrote.[8](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2024/Apr/03/sean-roldan-arunraja-kamaraja-we-have-glorified-ilaiyaraaja-enough) The turning point was "Neruppu Da" for Pa. Ranjith's *Kabali*: composer [Santhosh Narayanan](https://www.edgepedia.org/santhosh-narayanan) called him to a studio at short notice, and Arunraja wrote the lyrics in about 20 minutes, checking four lines at a time with the composer.[1](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/kabali-s-fiery-track-written-20-minutes-meet-arunraja-lyricist-neruppu-da-46570) The song became a sensation and, according to one account, broke the long-standing convention of [S. P. Balasubrahmanyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-p-balasubrahmanyam) singing Rajinikanth's introduction songs.[9](https://tamil.abplive.com/entertainment/songs-written-by-arun-raja-kamaraja-for-rajini-movies-127615/amp)
He followed with lyrics for *Kaala* (2018), including "Sema Weightu" with the group Dopeadelicz, "Katravai Patravai" co-written with Kabilan, and "Thanga Sela" sung by [Shankar Mahadevan](https://www.edgepedia.org/shankar-mahadevan), and later "Kannula Thimiru" for *Darbar* (2020) and "Kutti Story" from *Master* (2021), which became a chartbuster.[9](https://tamil.abplive.com/entertainment/songs-written-by-arun-raja-kamaraja-for-rajini-movies-127615/amp) • [10](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/lyricist-and-director-arunraja-kamarajs-latest-track-is-here.html) "Kaavaalaa" from *Jailer* (2023), composed by [Anirudh Ravichander](https://www.edgepedia.org/anirudh-ravichander) and sung by [Shilpa Rao](https://www.edgepedia.org/shilpa-rao), was his sixth song written for a Rajinikanth film and became a viral hit.[9](https://tamil.abplive.com/entertainment/songs-written-by-arun-raja-kamaraja-for-rajini-movies-127615/amp) Overall, he has written lyrics for over 45 songs and performed as a singer on more than 20 tracks.[3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jan/05/arunraja-kamarajs-surprising-early-cricketing-connect)
In 2020 he launched his own music label, ARK Entertainment, releasing independent albums and singles in association with Believe Artist Services & Development; its first single, the folk melody "Kannakuzhi Azhage", was sung by [Vijay Yesudas](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-yesudas) with music by Ganesan Sekar, and Arunraja also directed its visuals.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/arunraja-kamaraj-has-a-new-feather-in-his-cap/articleshow/76088221.cms) • [10](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/lyricist-and-director-arunraja-kamarajs-latest-track-is-here.html)
## Acting
Arunraja made his screen debut in Atlee's *Raja Rani* (2013), playing the comic character Udumbe, a role that made his real-life laughter well known.[11](https://technosports.co.in/entertainment/person/arunraja-kamaraj/) • [12](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/100516/neruppu-da.html) His later acting credits include *Maan Karate* (2014), *Maragadha Naanayam* (2017), in which he played a drunken dead body named Nesamani, and *Ka Pae Ranasingam* (2020) as [Gunasekhar](https://www.edgepedia.org/gunasekhar).[11](https://technosports.co.in/entertainment/person/arunraja-kamaraj/)
## Directing
**Kanaa.** His directorial debut, *Kanaa* (2018), was produced by Sivakarthikeyan and starred [Aishwarya Rajesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/aishwarya-rajesh) as a village woman aspiring to become an international cricketer, with [Sathyaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/sathyaraj) as her father. Arunraja, a cricketer himself, chose a woman bowler as his subject after noting that existing cricket films centered on batsmen, and he drew on his own experiences, including a scene in which the protagonist's mother beats her with a broomstick for clinging to her bat.[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/kanaa-is-the-labour-of-friendship-arunraja-kamaraj-5509544/) The film was a critical and commercial success, was remade in Telugu, and was later dubbed in Chinese.[13](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/news/what-i-learnt-from-nelson-dilipkumar-arun-raja-kamaraj-shares-the-experience-094382.html)
**Nenjukku Needhi.** His second film, released in 2022, was the Tamil remake of the Hindi film *Article 15* (2019), starring [Udhayanidhi Stalin](https://www.edgepedia.org/udhayanidhi-stalin) as a police officer investigating caste-based crimes, produced by [Boney Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/boney-kapoor). Arunraja said the remake was not frame-by-frame, with significant changes to adapt the story to the Tamil milieu, and that he and Udhayanidhi chose *Article 15* from three offered films for its theme of social justice.[5](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/interviews/arunraja-kamaraj-interview-on-directing-nenjuku-needhi-keeping-the-essence-of-article-15-intact-in-the-remake-more/) • [14](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2022/May/18/arunraja-kamaraj-i-dont-like-to-show-my-characters-belonging-to-any-caste-31571.html) He has said he prefers not to show his characters as belonging to any caste.[14](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2022/May/18/arunraja-kamaraj-i-dont-like-to-show-my-characters-belonging-to-any-caste-31571.html)
**Streaming and later work.** With *Label* (2023), a crime drama starring Jai on JioHotstar, he made his first foray into the series format.[3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jan/05/arunraja-kamarajs-surprising-early-cricketing-connect) He was reported to be collaborating with actor [Vishnu Vishal](https://www.edgepedia.org/vishnu-vishal) on a next directorial project produced by Vels International, in pre-production.[3](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jan/05/arunraja-kamarajs-surprising-early-cricketing-connect)
## Personal life
Arunraja's wife Sindhuja died of Covid-19 complications in May 2021, during the production of *Nenjukku Needhi*; he has said he continued the film to fulfill her wish that he become a big director.[5](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/interviews/arunraja-kamaraj-interview-on-directing-nenjuku-needhi-keeping-the-essence-of-article-15-intact-in-the-remake-more/) He and his wife had both been treated for Covid-19 infection the previous year.[15](https://www.maalaimalar.com/amp/story/cinema/cinemanews/tamil-cinema-arun-raja-kamaraj-getting-second-marriage-532033)
## References
1. [Kabali's fiery track written in 20 minutes: Meet Arunraja, the lyricist of Neruppu Da, The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/kabali-s-fiery-track-written-20-minutes-meet-arunraja-lyricist-neruppu-da-46570)
2. [அருண்ராஜா காமராஜ் பிறந்த நாள் ஸ்பெஷல், Hindu Tamil](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/story/news/cinema/559513-arjunraja-kamaraj-birthday.html)
3. [Arunraja Kamaraj's surprising early cricketing connect, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/news/2026/Jan/05/arunraja-kamarajs-surprising-early-cricketing-connect)
4. [Kanaa is the labour of friendship: Arunraja Kamaraj, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/kanaa-is-the-labour-of-friendship-arunraja-kamaraj-5509544/)
5. [Arunraja Kamaraj Interview: On Directing 'Nenjuku Needhi', Silverscreen India](https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/interviews/arunraja-kamaraj-interview-on-directing-nenjuku-needhi-keeping-the-essence-of-article-15-intact-in-the-remake-more/)
6. [Arunraja Kamaraj has a new feather in his cap, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/arunraja-kamaraj-has-a-new-feather-in-his-cap/articleshow/76088221.cms)
7. [Aishwarya Rajesh wouldn't rest, she'd say bowl one more over: Director Arunraja on 'Kanaa', The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/i-closed-my-eyes-and-thought-womens-freedom-periyar-came-me-arunraja-kanaa-92672)
8. [Sean Roldan, Arunraja Kamaraja: We have glorified Ilaiyaraaja enough, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2024/Apr/03/sean-roldan-arunraja-kamaraja-we-have-glorified-ilaiyaraaja-enough)
9. [நெருப்புடா முதல் 'காவாலா' வரை... ரஜினிக்கு அருண்ராஜா காமராஜா எழுதிய பாடல்கள், ABP Live Tamil](https://tamil.abplive.com/entertainment/songs-written-by-arun-raja-kamaraja-for-rajini-movies-127615/amp)
10. [Lyricist and Director Arunraja Kamaraj's latest track is here, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/lyricist-and-director-arunraja-kamarajs-latest-track-is-here.html)
11. [Arunraja Kamaraj: Movies & Web Series on OTT, TechnoSports](https://technosports.co.in/entertainment/person/arunraja-kamaraj/)
12. [Neruppu, da!, Deccan Chronicle](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/100516/neruppu-da.html)
13. [நெல்சனிடம் நான் கற்றுக்கொண்டது.. அருண்ராஜா காமராஜ், Tamil Filmibeat](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/news/what-i-learnt-from-nelson-dilipkumar-arun-raja-kamaraj-shares-the-experience-094382.html)
14. [Arunraja Kamaraj: I don't like to show my characters belonging to any caste, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2022/May/18/arunraja-kamaraj-i-dont-like-to-show-my-characters-belonging-to-any-caste-31571.html)
15. [இரண்டாவது திருமணம் செய்து கொண்ட இயக்குனர் அருண்ராஜா காமராஜ்?, Maalai Malar](https://www.maalaimalar.com/amp/story/cinema/cinemanews/tamil-cinema-arun-raja-kamaraj-getting-second-marriage-532033)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Discographies and musical catalogues › Production and songwriter credit lists › Songwriter and lyricist credit lists › Indian film-music songwriter and lyricist lists*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license