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Harris Jayaraj | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1975-01-08)8 January 1975 (age 51) Madras, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupations | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Madras, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Genres | Film score,World Music,Soundtrack |
| Instruments | Guitar,Synthesizer,Piano,Percussion,Keyboard |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | |
Musical artist | |
J. Harris Jayaraj (born 8 January 1975) is an Indian composer fromTamil Nadu. He composes soundtracks predominantly forTamil films, and has also composed for a few films inTelugu. He has also worked on a fewHindi films that were remakes of his Tamil films.
He has been honoured withKalaimamani Award from theGovernment of Tamil Nadu[1] and theLife Time Achievement Award fromKonijeti Rosaiah, theGovernor of Tamil Nadu.[2] Since 2001, he has won 6Filmfare Awards South and received 20Filmfare Awards South nominations. He has also won 6Mirchi Music Awards, 5Vijay Awards, 4Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, 3International Tamil Film Awards andBig FM Awards. In 2019, he was bestowed with the Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research InstituteHonorary Doctorate of Letters for his significant contributions toTamil cinema music.[3]
Harris Jayaraj was born and brought up inChennai toTamil parents. His father hails from a Christian family and his mother from aHindu family.[4] He studied at Krishnaswamy Matric School. At age six, Harris began his formal training incarnatic music.[5] His father, S. M. Jayakumar, was a noted film guitarist and had frequently collaborated withT. M. Soundararajan,A. L. Raghavan,M.S.Viswanathan,Soolamangalam Sisters,K. J. Yesudas,S. Janaki,Shankar Ganesh,S.P.Balasubramaniam,K. V. Mahadevan,Malaysia Vasudevan,L. R. Eswari,Jikki,K. Jamuna Rani,P.Susheela andMalayalam music directorShyam.[4][6][7] Following two distressing bomb blast incidents he became more religiously inclined and young Harris had to take over the family responsibility.[6] His father wanted him to become a guitarist and made him learnclassical guitar from Mr. A. Abdul Sattar.[8]
Harris scored the highest mark in Asia on his 4th grade exam ofTrinity College of Music,London.[9] He started his music career as a guitarist under M. S. Viswanathan's assistant Joseph Krishna for a Malayalam film and he was paid ₹200.[10][11] Harris could pursue his academics only up to High School, by then he always had problem with his attendance due to his recording sessions.[6] Having been trained inclassical guitar, Harris completed Grade VIII exams conducted by the Trinity College, London.[6] Later he started playingkeyboard and developed interest oversynthesizers.[12] For this there was no tutor.[5] He then started programming with hisRoland MC-500 and went on to work as aprogrammer under more than twenty five music directors in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi,Kannada,Malayalam,Bengali,Bhojpuri,Marathi,Punjabi andOriya working in more than 600 projects till the year 2000.[10][13][12] Until 2000, he worked under noted composers includingRaj–Koti,A. R. Rahman,Sadhu Kokila,Mani Sharma,Karthik Raja,Yuvan Shankar Raja,Sirpy,Suresh Peters,Chandrabose,Shyam,Ouseppachan,Adithyan,Vidyasagar and Bala Bharathi.[10][14][15][13] In his early years as a musician, Harris has worked in moviesoundtracks andfilm scores of various popular movies includingMuthu,Seevalaperi Pandi,Asuran,Indian,Aravindhan,Ullaasam,Ratchagan,Jeans,Padayappa,Poovellam Kettuppar,Mudhalvan,Taj Mahal,Taal andKandukondain Kandukondain.[16][17][13] While working as an additional programmer under A. R. Rahman, he composed music for various television commercials including aCoca-Cola commercial featuring actorVijay.[6] In his early years, he admired music composers M. S. Viswanathan,Ennio Morricone, A. R. Rahman,Salil Chowdhury, andHans Zimmer.[10][18][5]
Harris debuted as a composer withGautham Vasudev Menon'sMinnale. The album was well received, particularly the songVaseegara sung byBombay Jayashri was exceptionally popular.[19][20] He received theFilmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil for his work inMinnale, breaking the 9 years continuous record of A. R. Rahman. The following soundtrack albums12B andMajunu met with high acclaim and praise.[21] He also composed for theHindi remake ofMinnale titledRehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, also directed by Gautham Menon.[22][23] Most of the tunes from the Tamil version were retained in the Hindi version too, and only two fresh tunes were composed. He then worked inLesa Lesa directed byPriyadarshan.[24] The title track ofLesa Lesa was the first song in India to be released as a single prior to a film soundtrack album release.[25] Harris made his debut inTelugu cinema withVasu. He received the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil,Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director andITFA Best Music Director Award forKaakha Kaakha, starringSuriya andJyothika.[26] This film directed byGautham Vasudev Menon was a huge commercial success and the songs met with great critical acclaim.[27] In its Telugu remakeGharshana two new songs apart from the Tamil version were added to suit the taste of Telugu audience.[28] The song "Uyirin Uyire" reused as "Cheliya Cheliya" in Telugu and "Khwabon Khwabon" in Hindi had effective use of gibberish words which later became a signature element in Harris songs.[29][30]
Harris once again paired up with directorJeeva onUllam Ketkumae after12B.[31][32] The music was appreciated for its excellency and synergy with the atmosphere in and out of the movie.[33] DirectorS. Shankar, noted leading director of Tamil cinema, paired up with Harris in his magnum opusAnniyan. It was the first time Shankar did not team up with A. R. Rahman. Shankar later mentioned that working with Harris was an experience.[34][35] Thesoundtrack album received several awards includingTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director and Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil.[36][37][38] The next film he scored wasGhajini directed byAR Murugadoss, for which he receivedTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director. Critics noted that the album had "scintillating, party-hopping numbers", which resulted in a huge commercial success in audio sales; the track "Sutum Vizhi" crossed 20 million downloads and turned out to be phenomenally successful.[39][40] Harris crafted a necessary classiness into Gautham Menon's blockbuster crime thrillerVettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu starringKamal Haasan.[41] Gautham revealed that he shares the entire script with Harris and provides input's from his side.
"Harris and I, when we work together, we put in a lot of effort. I give him the entire script. I give him inputs. When we sat down forVettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, I told him to do away with the traditionalpallavi-charanam format in the "Manjal veyyil" song."[42]
Harris once again ventured into Telugu films with a successful albumSainikudu.[43] The music album of the film was released simultaneously in 10 chosen venues from five different countries.[44] Gautham Menon who considers the music and background score of Harris as a major asset of his films,[45] once again teamed up with Harris on a romantic-thrillerPachaikili Muthucharam. The soundtracks of Pachaikili Muthucharam are appraised as melancholic, lilting, mysterious, and alternatively catchy.[46] Harris' collaboration withJeeva continued withUnnale Unnale.[47][48] The music album oozing with energy all through proved to be a cut above the rest.[49] His next Telugu ventureMunna had a good commercial reception, and the song "Manasa" fetched a Filmfare Best Singer Female award toSadhana Sargam. With the following albumBheema, Harris continued his mettle with all the six songs. The track "Siru Parvaiyalae" usedPashto words in interludes. The album was praised for bringing up visual recapitulation from audio.[50] Harris used a live orchestra of 84 members for the action cop filmSathyam.[51][52] In 2009, Harris Jayaraj was signed in forVikram Kumar's24, which was to star Vikram.[53] He was also signed in for theMalayalam filmYoddha 2, starringMohanlal.[54] But both films were subsequently shelved.
InAnegan, Harris's "Danga Maari Oodhari", featuring lyrics inNorth Madras slang become an instant chart-buster.[55] After a hiatus of 6 years, Harris collaborated withGautham Vasudev Menon for the action cop filmYennai Arindhaal.[56] The soundtrack received positive reviews from critics and according to Behindwoods, it was the most played album of 2015 in Chennai radio stations.[57]
In 2011, Harris announced his first musical world tour titled "Harris on the Edge". The tour featured live performance of Harris all over the world accompanied by a troupe of Tamil playback singers, includingKarthik,Haricharan,Chinmayi,Tippu,Harini,Naresh Iyer,Harish Raghavendra,Krish,Aalap Raju,KK,Benny Dayal,Andrea,Suvi Suresh,Sunitha Sarathy,Srilekha Parthasarathy andShweta Mohan and international musicians and dancers.[58] The event was coordinated byTechfront and was directed byA. L. Vijay.[59] The tour kick started in Chennai on 8 October 2011, and later continued in Coimbatore on 23 December 2011 and in Dubai on 4 February 2012.[60] The whole tour was covered by Jaya TV.[61][62]
Harris opened a new studio on 8 January 2017, calledStudio H. The studio consists of the latest audio recording systems and technology. The first song to be composed in the studio was Halena fromIru Mugan. TheS3 soundtrack was the first project entirely composed here.[63][64]
| Year | Tamil | Other Languages | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Minnale • | Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein ♦ (Hindi) Cheli (Telugu) | Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil |
| Majunu • | Majnu (Telugu) | ||
| 12B • | 12B (Telugu) | ||
| 2002 | Vetri | Vasu • (Telugu) | |
| Samurai • | Samurai (Telugu) Samurai: Ek Yodha (Hindi) | ||
| 2003 | Lesa Lesa • | Koddiga Koddiga (Telugu) | |
| Saamy • | Swamy IPS (Telugu) Policewala Gunda 3 (Hindi) | ||
| Kaakha Kaakha• | Gharshana (2004)♦ (Telugu) Force (2011)♦# (Hindi) | Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil Tamil Nadu Award for Best Music Director ITFA Award for Best Music Director Reused one song fromRehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein | |
| 2004 | Kovil • | Rudhrudu (Telugu) | |
| Chellamae • | Prema Chadarangam (Telugu) | ||
| Arasatchi • | Judgement (Telugu) | ||
| Arul • | Akhandudu (Telugu) | ||
| 2005 | Thotti Jaya •# | Jalakanta (Telugu) | Reused one song fromGharshana |
| Ullam Ketkumae • | Preminchi Choodu (Telugu) | ||
| Anniyan • | Aparichithudu (Telugu) Aparichit (2006) (Hindi) | Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil Tamil Nadu Award for Best Music Director | |
| Ghajini • | Ghajini (Telugu) | Filmfare Special Award - South Tamil Nadu Award for Best Music Director ITFA Award for Best Music Director | |
| 2006 | Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu • | Raghavan (Telugu) | |
| Kumaran | Sainikudu • (Telugu) | ||
| 2007 | Pachaikili Muthucharam • | Dhrohi (Telugu) | |
| Unnale Unnale • | Neevalle Neevalle (Telugu) | ||
| Vetri Thirumagan (2008) | Munna • (Telugu) Munna (Malayalam) | Reused one song fromPachakili Muthucharam | |
| 2008 | Bheemaa • | Bheema (Telugu) | |
| Satyam • | Salute (Telugu) | 25th Film | |
| Dhaam Dhoom • | Rakshakudu (Telugu) | ||
| Vaaranam Aayiram • | Surya S/O Krishnan (Telugu) | Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil Vijay Award for Best Music Director ITFA Award for Best Music Director | |
| 2009 | Ayan • | Veedokkade (Telugu) | Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil Mirchi Music Award for Best Album – Tamil Edison Award for Best Music Director |
| Aadhavan • | Ghatikudu (Telugu) | Vijay Award for Best Music Director | |
| 2010 | Ramcharan | Orange • (Telugu) Hai Ramcharan (Malayalam) | Mirchi Music Award for Best Album – Telugu Reused one song from the delayed filmEngeyum Kadhal[65] |
| Engeyum Kadhal • | Ninnu Chooste Love Vastundi (Telugu) | Vijay Music Award for Best Music Director | |
| 2011 | Ko • | Rangam (Telugu) | Tamil Nadu Award for Best Music Director Edison Award for Best Music Director |
| 7 Aum Arivu • | Seventh Sense (Telugu) 7 Aum Arivu (Malayalam) Chennai v/s China (Hindi) | ||
| Nanban • | Snehithudu (Telugu) | ||
| 2012 | Oru Kal Oru Kannadi • | Ok Ok (Telugu) | |
| Maattrraan • | Brothers (Telugu) Maattrraan (Malayalam) No 1 Judwaa (2014) (Hindi) | ||
| Thuppakki • | Thuppakki (Telugu) | SIIMA Award for Best Music Director – Tamil The background score went on to be reused in the Bengali remake,Game (2014). | |
| 2013 | Irandaam Ulagam # | Varna (Telugu) | |
| Endrendrum Punnagai • | Chirunavvula Chirujallu (Telugu) | ||
| 2014 | Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal • | Seenu Gaadi Love Story (Telugu) | |
| Yaan • | Nene (Telugu) | ||
| Anegan • | Anekudu (Telugu) | ||
| Nannbenda • | Good Evening (Telugu) | ||
| 2015 | Yennai Arindhaal • | Yentha Vaadu Gaanie (Telugu),Satyadev IPS (Kannada) | |
| Gethu • | |||
| 2016 | Iru Mugan • | Inkokkadu (Telugu) | |
| S3 • | Yamudu 3 (Telugu) | The background score went on to be reused in the Hindi remake,Romeo S3 (2025). | |
| 2017 | Vanamagan • | 50th Film | |
| Spyder • | Spyder • (Telugu) Spyder (Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada) | ||
| 2019 | Dev • | Dev (Telugu) | |
| Kaappaan • | Bandobast (Telugu) Kaappaan (Malayalam) Rowdy Rakshak (Hindi) | ||
| 2022 | The Legend • | The Legend (Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu) | |
| 2023 | Dhruva Natchathiram • | Dhruva Nakshathram (Telugu) | Soundtrack was released, but the movie remains unreleased |
| Extra Ordinary Man | Extra Ordinary Man # (Telugu) | ||
| 2024 | Brother • |
Notes:
| Year | Title | Language | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | Bad Boy Karthik | Telugu | Filming |
| TBA | Kadhal Reset Repeat[66] | Tamil | Filming |
| Year | Title | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Engeyum Kadhal | 'Kulu Kulu Venpani' |
| 2017 | Singam 3 | 'Hey Wi Wi Wifi' |
| Year | Title | Singer(s) | Lyricist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Vaadi Vaadi | Ravi G, Nicholas Samuel,Sunitha Sarathy | Viveka |
| 2023 | Makka Makka | Sathyaprakash,Bamba Bakya | Pa. Vijay |
He composed music for various television commercials including aCoca-Cola commercial featuringVijay. In 2008, he composed forHerova? Zerova? ad campaign which Suriya initiated under the Agaram Foundation, working to help children who drop out of school early inTamil Nadu. With the Ministry of Education in Tamil Nadu, he created a short commercial video outlining child poverty, labour and lack of education written and produced bySivakumar and also starredSuriya,Vijay,R. Madhavan andJyothika.
Harris is married to Suma Jayaraj, the couple have a son named Samuel Nicholas Harris and a daughter named Karen Nikitha Harris, born in 2006.[67] Nikitha is aplayback singer who made her debut through the song "Vinnil Vinmeen" for the movieKaappaan,[68][69] and won a V4U Media award in 2020.[70]
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu[1] |
| 2015 | Life Time Achievement Award fromKonijeti Rosaiah, theGovernor of Tamil Nadu[2] |
| 2015 | Maestro Award from the Ritz Style Awards 2015[71] |
| 2019 | Behindwoods Gold MIC Award for Icon of Inspiration - Setting New Precedents in Film Music[72] |
| 2019 | Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research InstituteHonorary Doctorate of Letters[3] |
| Year | Language | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Tamil | Minnale | Best Music Director | Won |
| 2002 | Telugu | Vasu | Nominated | |
| 2003 | Tamil | Kaakha Kaakha | Won | |
| Saamy | Nominated | |||
| 2004 | Telugu | Gharshana | ||
| 2005 | Tamil | Anniyan | Won | |
| Ghajini | Filmfare Special Award forBest Outstanding Score | |||
| 2006 | Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu | Best Music Director | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Unnale Unnale | |||
| Telugu | Munna | |||
| 2008 | Tamil | Vaaranam Aayiram | Won | |
| 2009 | Ayan | |||
| Aadhavan | Nominated | |||
| 2010 | Telugu | Orange | ||
| 2011 | Tamil | 7 Aum Arivu | ||
| Ko | ||||
| 2012 | Thuppakki | |||
| 2015 | Yennai Arindhaal | |||
| 2016 | Iru Mugan |
| Year | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Kaakha Kaakha | Best Music Director | Won |
| 2005 | Anniyan /Ghajini | ||
| 2011 | Ko | Best Music Director |
| Year | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Thuppakki | Best Music Director | Won |
| 2015 | Yennai Arindhaal | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Iru Mugan |
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