# Yuvan Shankar Raja (யுவன் சங்கர் ராஜா)
**Yuvan Shankar Raja** (யுவன் சங்கர் ராஜா; born 1979) is an Indian film score and soundtrack composer, playback singer, occasional lyricist, and producer from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, who works predominantly in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema). He is the youngest son of the composer [Ilaiyaraaja](https://www.edgepedia.org/ilaiyaraaja), made his debut at 16 with *Aravindhan* (1997), and is credited with introducing hip hop to Tamil film music.[1](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/tamil/articles/cnvy87ygm3ro) • [2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qdwgvfu5I0)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/yuvan-shankar-raja.html) |
| Debut | *Aravindhan* (1997), at age 16[1](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/tamil/articles/cnvy87ygm3ro) |
| Breakthrough | *Thulluvadho Ilamai* (2001); among Tamil cinema's most sought-after composers by the mid-2000s[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qdwgvfu5I0) |
| Output | Over 100 films within his first 15 years; *Biriyani* (2013) was his 100th film[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qdwgvfu5I0) • [3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/yuvan-shankar-raja.html) |
| Signature | Western music elements; credited with bringing hip hop to Tamil film music and starting the "era of remixes" in Tamil Nadu; nicknamed "BGM King" for his background scores[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qdwgvfu5I0) • [4](https://billboardind.com/yuvan-shankar-raja-interview/) |
| Awards | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director (2006); Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for *7G Rainbow Colony* (2004); Ananda Vikatan Best Music Director for *Paruthiveeran* (2007), as listed by TamilMDb[5](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE) • [6](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/5866/yuvan-shankar-raja) |
| Other roles | Producer (*Pyaar Prema Kaadhal*, *Maamanithan*, *Sweetheart*); founder of the label U1 Records[6](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/5866/yuvan-shankar-raja) • [5](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE) |
## Early life and family
Yuvan was born in 1979 to the composer Ilaiyaraaja and his wife Jeeva, as their third and youngest child.[1](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/tamil/articles/cnvy87ygm3ro) • [7](https://discovertamil.com/resources/cinema-stars/yuvan-shankar-raja) His elder brother [Karthik Raja](https://www.edgepedia.org/karthik-raja) is also a music director, and his elder sister [Bhavatharini](https://www.edgepedia.org/bhavatharini) was a playback singer and music director.[1](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/tamil/articles/cnvy87ygm3ro) His uncle is the composer [Gangai Amaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/gangai-amaran), and his cousins include the director Venkat Prabhu and the composer Premji Amaran.[5](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE)
He studied at St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Chennai and later learned music from Jacob Master; he has said he never attended formal music classes.[5](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE) • [1](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/tamil/articles/cnvy87ygm3ro) His composing began well before his film debut: Ilaiyaraaja has said on stage that he used a tune Yuvan composed as a child for the song "Poovukku Poovale" in *Anand* (1987), though his accounts of Yuvan's age at the time differ, at eight in one telling and six in another.[8](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/musician-ilayaraja-use-yuvan-shankar-raja-tune-for-anand-movie-7242502) • [9](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema-ilayaraja-use-yuvan-shankar-raja-tune-in-his-movie-update-in-tamil-11718600)
## Career
**Debut and struggle.** Yuvan composed the score for *Aravindhan* (1997), starring Sarathkumar, Parthiban, and [Prakash Raj](https://www.edgepedia.org/prakash-raj), becoming one of the youngest composers in Tamil cinema at 16.[1](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/tamil/articles/cnvy87ygm3ro) • [10](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/gallery/cinema/ilayaraja-used-yuvan-shankar-raja-tune-in-classic-tamil-hero-movie-ans-sleto5) The film flopped, and he spent his first years working to escape the label of "Ilaiyaraaja's son".[1](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/tamil/articles/cnvy87ygm3ro) In a 2021 interview he recalled that people initially assumed his father was helping him, and that it took a couple of years for them to accept he was working on his own.[11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/i-take-some-special-effort-when-ajith-and-i-come-together-yuvan/articleshow/81599962.cms)
**Breakthrough.** The *Thulluvadho Ilamai* soundtrack (2001) made him famous, and by the mid-2000s he had become one of Tamil cinema's most sought-after composers.[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qdwgvfu5I0) A productive partnership with the director [Selvaraghavan](https://www.edgepedia.org/selvaraghavan) produced albums including *Kadhal Kondein*, *7G Rainbow Colony*, *Pudhupettai*, and *[Yaaradi Nee Mohini](https://www.edgepedia.org/yaaradi-nee-mohini)* that found large audiences.[1](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/tamil/articles/cnvy87ygm3ro) Within 15 years he had worked on more than 100 films; *Biriyani* (2013) was his 100th.[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qdwgvfu5I0) • [3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/yuvan-shankar-raja.html)
**Style and influence.** He is known for using Western music elements and is often credited with introducing hip hop to the Tamil film and music industry and with starting the "era of remixes" in [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu).[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qdwgvfu5I0) His range runs from the raw rural soundscape of *Paruthiveeran* (2007) to the intense score of *Mankatha* (2011) and deliberately minimal work, and he has said he does not want to define a "Yuvan genre".[4](https://billboardind.com/yuvan-shankar-raja-interview/) His background scores in particular have a following large enough that he is often called "BGM King" (BGM stands for background music).[4](https://billboardind.com/yuvan-shankar-raja-interview/) His songs have also traveled far beyond their films: the chartbuster "Rowdy Baby" from *Maari 2* crossed over 1 billion views on YouTube.[11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/i-take-some-special-effort-when-ajith-and-i-come-together-yuvan/articleshow/81599962.cms)
**Beyond Tamil cinema.** After scoring about 100 Tamil films, he made his Bollywood debut with *[Raja Natwarlal](https://www.edgepedia.org/raja-natwarlal)* (2014).[12](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Why-Yuvan-converted-to-Islam/articleshow/40250333.cms) His credits span Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi productions, and he has composed for web series such as *Modern Love Chennai* (2023) on Amazon Prime Video.[13](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81%3A%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%B7%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE_%E0%AE%87%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%81)
## Production, label, and personal life
Yuvan founded his own music label, U1 Records, in 2015, and in 2017 started his own film production company.[5](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE) As a producer he backed *[Pyaar Prema Kaadhal](https://www.edgepedia.org/pyaar-prema-kaadhal)* (2018), which he also scored, and later *Maamanithan* (2022) and *Sweetheart* (2025).[6](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/5866/yuvan-shankar-raja) • [14](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/yuvan-shankar-raja/2551/filmography) In 2014 he converted to Islam, a change he discussed publicly in interviews.[12](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Why-Yuvan-converted-to-Islam/articleshow/40250333.cms)
## Recent work and live concerts
His recent scores include *The Greatest of All Time* (2024), *Garudan* (2024), *[Star](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-2024-film)* (2024), *Maareesan* (2025), and *[Aghathiyaa](https://www.edgepedia.org/aghathiyaa)* (2025), with a slate of 2026 releases following.[6](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/5866/yuvan-shankar-raja) • [14](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/yuvan-shankar-raja/2551/filmography) In his 30th year in the business he staged **Walking Through The Rainbow**, a sold-out Chennai concert made up entirely of his background scores, with no songs, scenes, or lyrics; he described it as the first attempt of its kind in India and said he wants to take the format further.[4](https://billboardind.com/yuvan-shankar-raja-interview/) A press release for the concert series describes it as a live music IP that transforms his cinematic scores into a symphonic experience.[15](https://pentaganpr.com/2026/09/a-new-chapter-for-live-music/)
He is also attached to *Raja's Playlist*, a film announced at Ilaiyaraaja's 50th anniversary concert, with a story by [Venkat Prabhu](https://www.edgepedia.org/venkat-prabhu), direction by debutant Sujith N Subramaniam, music by Yuvan, and a lead role for Jaiyan, Yuvan's and Venkat Prabhu's cousin; filming wrapped in July 2026.[16](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/Jul/29/tamilnews2026jul27rajas-playlist-wraps-filming)
## Awards
Yuvan won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director in 2006 and the [Filmfare Award for Best Music Director](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-award-for-best-music-director) for *7G Rainbow Colony* (2004).[5](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE) TamilMDb lists an Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Music Director for *Paruthiveeran* (2007) and Best Playback Singer (Male) for "Neethane" from *Sarvam* (2009).[6](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/5866/yuvan-shankar-raja)
## References
1. [யுவன் சங்கர் ராஜா: 'ராசியில்லாத இசையமைப்பாளர்' என்ற பெயரை உடைத்து சாதித்தது எப்படி? BBC News தமிழ்](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/tamil/articles/cnvy87ygm3ro)
2. [An Incomplete Conversation with Yuvan Shankar Raja | MY150, Behindwoods TV (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qdwgvfu5I0)
3. [யுவன் ஷங்கர் ராஜா (Yuvan): திரைப்படங்கள், வயது, பயோடேட்டா, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/yuvan-shankar-raja.html)
4. [Yuvan Shankar Raja Isn't Defined By His Tamil Cinema Hits, Billboard India](https://billboardind.com/yuvan-shankar-raja-interview/)
5. [யுவன் சங்கர் ராஜா, தமிழர்விக்கி](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE)
6. [Yuvan Shankar Raja, TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/5866/yuvan-shankar-raja)
7. [Yuvan Shankar Raja (யுவன் சங்கர் ராஜா) — Tamil Cinema Biography, Discover Tamil](https://discovertamil.com/resources/cinema-stars/yuvan-shankar-raja)
8. [8 வயதில் யுவன் போட்ட ட்யூன்; அப்பவே பிரபு படத்தில் யூஸ் பண்ணிய இளையராஜா, Indian Express Tamil](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/musician-ilayaraja-use-yuvan-shankar-raja-tune-for-anand-movie-7242502)
9. [யுவன் 6 வயதில் போட்ட டியூன், Indian Express Tamil](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema-ilayaraja-use-yuvan-shankar-raja-tune-in-his-movie-update-in-tamil-11718600)
10. [இளையராஜா Used Yuvan Shankar Raja Tune In Classic Tamil Hero Movie, Asianet News Tamil](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/gallery/cinema/ilayaraja-used-yuvan-shankar-raja-tune-in-classic-tamil-hero-movie-ans-sleto5)
11. [I take some special effort when Ajith and I come together: Yuvan, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/i-take-some-special-effort-when-ajith-and-i-come-together-yuvan/articleshow/81599962.cms)
12. [Why Yuvan converted to Islam?, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Why-Yuvan-converted-to-Islam/articleshow/40250333.cms)
13. [வரைவு:யுவன் ஷங்கர் ராஜா இசைத்தொகுப்பு, தமிழர்விக்கி](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81%3A%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%B7%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE_%E0%AE%87%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%81)
14. [Yuvan Shankar Raja Filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/yuvan-shankar-raja/2551/filmography)
15. [A NEW CHAPTER FOR LIVE MUSIC!, Pentagan Media](https://pentaganpr.com/2026/09/a-new-chapter-for-live-music/)
16. [Raja's Playlist wraps filming, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/Jul/29/tamilnews2026jul27rajas-playlist-wraps-filming)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › World, regional traditional, and non-Western popular musicians › South Asian classical, folk, and playback musicians*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 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