Pradeep Kumar (musician)

Pradeep Rangaswamy Kumar (born 12 May 1986) is an Indian playback singer and music director who has worked in Tamil language films. After beginning his career as a Carnatic musician, in the 2010s, he has regularly collaborated with composers Santhosh Narayanan and Sean Roldan.

Pradeep Kumar
Background information
Birth name	Pradeep Rangaswamy Vijayakumar
Born	(1986-05-12) 12 May 1986 (age 38) Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
Genres	Playback singing
Occupation(s)	Singer, Music Director
Years active	2010–present
Spouse	Kalyani Nair

Career

Born to a police inspector father and a music teacher mother, Pradeep Kumar grew up in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. His mother, Lalitha Vijayakumar, taught Carnatic music through private lessons and at a government school in the area, meaning that Pradeep Kumar was constantly exposed to Carnatic music as a youngster and often joined his mother in singing at home. He later was introduced as a playback singer in Tamil cinema through the film Attakathi by Santhosh Narayanan^[1] He later began studying music under J. Venkataraman from the Aalathur School of music, who became his first guru.^[2]

Outside music, Pradeep Kumar studied science, wrote the engineering entrance examination and joined an engineering college in Thanjavur hoping to become a theoretical physicist. However, after a week, he decided to opt out of college. As a backup career plan, he instead pursued a diploma course in audio engineering, which also taught him more about sound composition.^[2] In 2003, Pradeep Kumar visited Chennai to participate in a competition conducted by the music studio, Carnatica. K. Shashikiran of Carnatica heard him sing and requested that he stay back in Chennai and subsequently from 2003 to 2005, Pradeep Kumar stayed in Chennai to collaborate with Carnita, and his parents joined him later.^[2] He continued to perform in katcheris across Chennai and abroad, while also briefly serving as the secretary of the Youth Association of Classical Music, Chennai.^[2] Pradeep Kumar later became nuanced in western classical music after apprenticing with Augustin Paul, and also worked as an audio engineer for four years.^[3] In 2014, he worked on a documentary called Arunagiri Perumale, which was a live concert recording of a three-piece Indian band along with a 16-piece chamber symphony orchestra, which had taken place in 2014, in Boston.^[4] He described the venture as his "pet project", and relied on crowd-funding to get it completed by 2017.^[3][5] During the same period, he married his fellow singer, Kalyani Nair.^[6] He also worked as a composer on his first film album for the Telugu project, Maine Pyar Kiya (2014).^[7]

Through his work as a musician, Pradeep Kumar became acquainted with composer Santhosh Narayanan. The pair had first met in Trichy when Pradeep Kumar was 18 and then continued to jam together, while studying for the same course in audio engineering. After Santhosh Narayanan became a film composer, Pradeep Kumar regularly worked as his acoustic guitarist.^[3] He later featured prominently as a singer, often collaborating with Santhosh Narayanan and another friend Sean Roldan in their albums including Jigarthanda (2014), Irudhi Suttru (2016) and Kabali (2016).^[3][8] He had also worked as a lyricist in Jigarthanda.^[9] In 2016, a music critic from The Hindu labelled the three as "the new-age musical trio of Tamil cinema".^[10]

In 2017, Pradeep Kumar made his debut as a music composer in Tamil cinema after Santhosh Narayanan had convinced the producers of Meyaadha Maan to allow him to work on the film.^[11] Subsequently, Rathna Kumar who directed Meyaadha Maan selected him as a music director for Amala Paul's next film, Aadai.^[12]

Discography

Composer

Year	Film	Language	Notes
2014	Maine Pyar Kiya	Telugu
2017	Meyaadha Maan	Tamil	2 songs only.
2019	Aadai	Tamil
2019	Sillu Karupatti	Tamil
2020	Andhaghaaram	Tamil
2021	Methagu	Tamil
2021	Vaazhl	Tamil
2022	Veyil	Malayalam
2022	Kuthiraivaal	Tamil
2024	Nalla Perai Vaanga Vendum Pillaigale	Tamil	Also producer

Playback singer

Year	Song title	Film	Language	Music director	Notes
2010	Chitti Dance Showcase	Enthiran	Tamil, Telugu, Hindi	A. R. Rahman
	Adi Sarale	Chikku Bukku	Tamil	Colonial Cousins	Colonial Cousins - Hariharan, Lesle Lewis, Pravin Mani
2012	Aasai Oru Pulveli	Attakathi	Tamil	Santhosh Narayanan
	Vazhi Parthirundhen
	Mogathirai	Pizza
	Naanaga Naanindri(Ennavo)	Uyir Mozhi
	Oru Murai
2013	Boomiyil	Pizza II: Villa
2014	Agasatha	Cuckoo
	Kodaiyila
	Jigar	Jigarthanda
	Maatra Paravai	Vaayai Moodi Pesavum		Sean Roldan
	Kadhal Kanave	Mundaasupatti
	Aagayam Theepiditha	Madras		Santhosh Narayanan	Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Tamil South Indian International Movie Award for Best Male Tamil Playback Singer Vijay Award for Best Male Playback Singer
	Yemarum Jename	Sathuranga Vettai		Sean Roldan
	Thanniyila	Aadama Jaichomada
	Poo Avizhum Pozhudhil	Enakkul Oruvan		Santhosh Narayanan
2016	Poda Poda	Irudhi Suttru
	Aval	Manithan
	Maya Nadhi	Kabali			Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Male Playback Singer
	Veera Thurandhara
	Vaanam Paarthen
	Thoondil Meen
	Jadoo Rawan Rawan	Kabali	Hindi
	Taare Saare Chupke
	Kalavani O Nadhi	Kabali	Telugu
	Gunde Ninda Yenno
	Inaivom	Maaveeran Kittu	Tamil	D. Imman
2017	Nee Kavithaigala	Maragatha Naanayam		Dhibu Ninan Thomas
	Pogaadhey Kanmaniye	Veera		Leon James
	Marete Hodenu	Dayavittu Gamanisi	Kannada	Anoop Seelin
	Pogatha Yennavittu	Vikram Vedha	Tamil	Sam C.S
	Idhuvum Kadandu Pogum	Nibunan		Navin
	Ammukkutiye	Gemini Ganeshanum Suruli Raajanum		D. Imman
	Enno Enno Bhaavaley	Yuddham Sharanam	Telugu	Vivek Sagar
	Azhagazhaga	Karuppan	Tamil	D. Imman
	Manavi Alakinacharadate	Mental Madhilo	Telugu	Prashanth R Vihari
	Kaadhalaada	Vivegam	Tamil	Anirudh Ravichander
	Enna Naan Seiven	Meyaadha Maan		Pradeep Kumar	also lyricist
	Megamo Aval			Santhosh Narayanan
	Rail Aaraaro	Nenjil Thunivirundhal		D. Imman
	Azhagile Enai	Kaathiruppor Pattiyal		Sean Roldan
	Mudalaothonda	C/O Surya	Telugu	D. Imman
2018	Kannamma	Kaala	Tamil	Santhosh Narayanan
	Thanga Sela
	Raaye Naa Range Leela		Telugu
	Sone Ki Tu Ek Murat		Hindi
	Sengathire	Kadaikutty Singam	Tamil	D. Imman
	Kalavarame	Thamizh Padam 2		Kannan
	The Life of Ram	96		Govind Vasantha
	Thaabangale
	Iravingu Theevai
	Kaarkuzhal Kadavaaiye	Vada Chennai		Santhosh Narayanan
2019	Kodi Aruvi	Mehandi Circus		Sean Roldan
	Agam Thaanai	Sillu Karuppatti		Pradeep Kumar
	Pranthan Kandal	Thottappan	Malayalam	Leela L. Girish Kuttan
	Kaathellam Poo Manakka	Gypsy	Tamil	Santhosh Narayanan
	Very Very Bad
	Oru Naal	Aadai		Pradeep Kumar
	Mailaanji	Namma Veettu Pillai		D. Imman
2020	Life of Ram	Jaanu	Telugu	Govind Vasantha
	Maragatha Maalai	Takker	Tamil	Nivas K. Prasanna
	Marandhaye	Teddy		D. Imman
	Maatra Thendral	Dharala Prabhu		Bharath Shankar
	Suzhalum Irulil	Andhaghaaram		Pradeep Kumar
2021	Kanavil Kan Malarum	Kabadadaari		Simon K. King
	Kalalo Kanupaape	Kapatadhaari	Telugu
	Aahaa	Vaazhl	Tamil	Pradeep Kumar
	Inba Visai
	Pudhu Vidha Anubavam
	Semmaan Magalai
	Vaazha Vaa
	Naan
	Bandeena Bandeena	Raja Raja Chora	Telugu	Vivek Sagar
	Thala Kodhum Elangathu	Jai Bhim	Tamil	Sean Roldan
	Penne Penne	Sabhaapathy		Sam C. S.
	Raavil	Minnal Murali	Malayalam	Sushin Shyam	Kerala State Film award for best playback singer 2021
	Ye Porapato	Sakala Gunabhirama	Telugu	Anudeep Dev
	Parimitha Neram	Madhuram	Malayalam	Govind Vasantha
	Ullam Urugudhaiya	Etharkkum Thunindhavan	Tamil	D. Imman
	Ennai Aalum Pennilave	Velan		Gopi Sundar
	Kaanal neeraai	Writer		Govind Vasantha
2022	Nizhal Tharum Idham	Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa		Pradeep Kumar
	Mother Song (Version 2)	Valimai		Yuvan Shankar Raja
	Mother Song	Valimai	Telugu
	Thanga Sela	Anbarivu	Tamil	Hiphop Tamizha
	Uyir Thirandhu	Infinity		Balasubramanian G
	Thozhi	Hey Sinamika		Govind Vasantha
	Ice Katti Kuruvi	D Block		Ron Ethan Yohann
	Unaraa Unarvaey	Mr.Murali		Barath Dhanasekar
	Varayaatha Oviyam	Koorman		Tony Britto
	Yaar Varuvaar
	Parandhu Pogindren	Kuthiraivaal		Pradeep Kumar
	Maname	Veyil	Malayalam
	Nenjorama	Madhil Mel Kaadhal	Tamil	Nivas K. Prasanna
	Engirundho Vandhaan	Oh My Dog
	Nedumaram	J.Baby		Tony Britto
	Vaanam Yaavum	O2		Vishal Chandrashekhar
	Dhooram	Vezham		Jhanu Chanthar
	Dhooram (sad)
	Idam
	Thangamey	My Dear Bootham		D. Imman
	Kanneeraey	Poikkal Kudhirai
	Un paarvai	Cadaver		Ranjin Raj
	Kadavul Thantha	Yugi		Ranjin Raj
	Nee Podhum Enakku	Michael		Sam C. S
	Ilakana Kavithai	Banaras		B. Ajaneesh Loknath
2023	Adiyae Adiyae	Nandhivarman		Jerard Felix
	Uchathula Vennilavu	Thalaikoothal		Kannan
	Yaar Arindhadho
	Kaatrodu Pattam Pola	Ayothi		N. R. Raghunanthan
	Ottamuri Vakkumayi	Romancham	Malayalam	Sushin Shyam
	Ponniyamma	Harkara	Tamil	Ramshanker
	Podhum Podhum	Chandramukhi 2	Tamil	M M Kerravani
	Arikil Onnu Vannal	Pulimada	Malayalam	Ishaan Dev
	Neela Vaanile
	Kangal Etho	Chithha	Tamil	Dhibu Ninan Thomas
2024	Nedumaram	J Baby		Tony Britto
	"Nebulakal" (Travel Song)	Manjummel Boys	Malayalam	Sushin Shyam
	"Chillanjirukkiye"	Lubber Pandhu	Tamil	Sean Roldan

Singles

Year	Song	Notes
2017	Kaatru Veliyidai Kannamma	Released (on YouTube): 15 April 2017 (collaboration with BP Collective)
2021	Konjam Pesu	Released (on YouTube): 9 July 2021
	Kaatrile	Released (on YouTube): 13 Aug 2021
2022	Mayakural Ondru Ketkuthey	Released (on YouTube): 13 March 2022
	Maayavi Nee	Released (on YouTube): 27 July 2022
2023	Isai	Released (on YouTube): 14 July 2023

Awards

• Kerala State Film Awards

Year	Category	Song	Film
2021	Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer (male)	"Ravil"	Minnal Murali

• Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards

Year	Category	Song	Film
2015	Best playback singer (Male)	"Aagayam Theepiditha"	Madras
2017	Best playback singer (Male)	"Maya Nadhi , Vaanam Paarthen"	Kabali

• Filmfare Awards South

Year	Category	Song	Film
2015	Best Tamil Male Playback Singer Award	"Aagayam Theepiditha"	Madras

• South Indian International Movie Awards

Year	Category	Song	Film
2015	Best Tamil Male Playback Singer Award	"Aagayam Theepiditha"	Madras

• Vijay Awards

Year	Category	Song	Film
2015	Best Male Playback Singer Award	"Aagayam Theepiditha"	Madras

• Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards

Year	Category	Song	Film
2016	Best Male Playback Singer Award	"Maya Nadhi"	Kabali

• Behindwoods Gold Medal

Year	Category	Song	Film
2018	Best Singer (Male)	"Kadhalaadaa, Enna Naan Seiven, Pogatha enna vittu"	Vivegam

References

1. "Suriya said his kids loved my song: Lalitha". The Times of India. 13 January 2017.
2. "I learnt Carnatic music as just another subject". rediff.com.
3. "Santhosh Narayanan and I have a vada-poda relationship: Pradeep Kumar". The Times of India. 14 January 2017.
4. "Pradeep Kumar Biography". Concerty.com.
5. "On a musical trail to document a saint". The New Indian Express.
6. Rosebowl. "Kalyani Nair talks about her family – The Complete Jam Sessions" – via YouTube.
7. "All you want to know about #VPradeepKumar". FilmiBeat.
8. "I have natural chemistry with Anirudh and Santhosh Narayanan". The Times of India. 14 January 2017.
9. Kumar, S. R. Ashok (15 March 2014). "Audio Beat: Jigarthanda – Fusion, folk, rap and more". The Hindu.
10. "Vaa machaney". The Hindu. 22 January 2016.
11. "Meyaadha Maan director Rathna Kumar: We wanted Address Song to bring an end to female-bashing numbers". 25 October 2017.
12. "Aadai first lookout: A bruised and beaten Amala Paul hangs on to her life in this poster – Entertainment News". timesnownews.com.

External links

• Pradeep Kumar at IMDb