Aalap Raju

Aalaap Raju
Birth name Aalaap Raju
Born (1979-06-06) 6 June 1979
Occupation(s) Playback singer, musician
Years active 2010–present

Aalaap Raju (born 6 June 1979) is a playback singer and a bass player[1] from Chennai, India. His rendition of Enamo Aedho from the movie Ko composed by Harris Jayaraj topped the music charts for several months in 2011 and won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – 2011. He has sung for music directors like Harris Jayaraj, Thaman, G.V Prakash, Deepak Dev, D.Imman, and Sreekanth Deva. His other noticeable songs include Vaaya moodi summa iru da from Mugamoodi, Engeyum Kadhal from Engeyum Kadhal, Endhan Kann Munnae from Nanban, Kadhal Oru Butterfly and Akila Akila from Oru Kal Oru Kannadi, Anjana Anjana from Vandhan Vendran, Kuthu Kuthu from Ayyanar, Endhuko Yemo from Rangam, Nenjodu Cherthu from Yuvvh, Theeyae Theeyae from Maattrraan, Jal Jal Osai from Manam Kothi Paravai, and Maya Bazaar from Ennai Arindhaal.

Early life

Music was something that was natural to him since he hails from a musical family. His parents, J. M. Raju and Latha Raju, are playback singers in Malayalam while his grandmother, late Smt. Santha P. Nair and grandfather, late K. Padmanabhan Nair were well known names in the Malayalam music industry in 60s and 70s. Though in his school days he wanted to become a professional cricketer and represent India in the International level, his under graduation days at Loyola College (Chennai) had other plans for him. His college mates inspired him to take up singing and bass guitar in parallel in his 1ast year. Months of practice made Aalaap a self-taught musician in playing bass guitar and singing, Aalaap's name spread through the most prestigious cultural events in India especially 'Saarang' (hosted by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai) where he was awarded 'Best Instrumentalist' for his bass playing. And that was the starting point of numerous recording sessions and live performances in India and abroad. His singing took more prominence once Ennamo Yedho and "Engeyum Kadhal' released in 2011, composed by Harris Jayaraj. Aalaap now concentrates on singing and bass playing equally in Studios and Live.[2]

Career

As a singer and bass player, Aalaap has performed with several prominent artists such as Dr. T.V. Gopalakrishnan, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Frank Dubier, etc., and has recorded with noticeable composers such as Ilayaraja, Harris Jayaraj, Mani Sarma, G.V Prakash, Thaman, Deepak Dev etc. He has more than 300 concerts to his credit.

He has been part of the prestigious Europalia Festival '13 (hosted by ICCR India: Indian Council for Cultural Relations), as a bass player for Dr. L. Subramaniam covering countries like Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Russia, Sweden, Latvia and Iceland.

Aalaap is part of a Neo-Carnatic-Funk band called Project YUJ, a four piece line up composed of Electric Mandolin, Electric Bass, Keyboards and Acoustic Drums. Yuj, a Sanskrit word that means to join or to concentrate, is indicative of the group’s manifesto — to bring out and fuse its multitude of influences into a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. The group members’ diverse musical backgrounds and formidable chops allow for flights of improvisational freedom and virtuosity while still maintaining accessibility and musicality. At present, there are not many groups in India that are really trying to improvise and authentically fuse all of these disparate styles while staying true to the vital aspects of each. Project YUJ fills that space!

He has formed a duo multi-genre band called Rahlaap (www.rahlaap.com) along with playback singer Rahul Nambiar. Rahlaap is out with their maiden self-titled multi-genre album. Available in his website www.rahlaap.com and other music portals like iTunes, Amazon, Hummaa, etc.

His Malayalam song 'Nenjodu Cherthu' for Yuvvh has become an instant hit on YouTube, crossing 1.4 million views in just 4 months of release.[3]

Awards

Discography

YearFilmSongLanguageMusic Director
2010 Bale Pandiya Happy Tamil Devan Ekambaram
Engeyum Kadhal Engeyum Kadhal Tamil Harris Jayaraj
Ayyanar Kuthu Kuthu Tamil S. Thaman
Thambi Kottai Unakkanka Uireyvaithen Tamil D. Imman
2011 Ko Enamo Aedho Tamil Harris Jayaraj
Rangam Endhuko Emo Telugu
Vanthaan Vendraan Anjana Anjana Tamil S. Thaman
Thirandhen Thirandhen Tamil
Vachadu Gelichadu Anjana Anjana Telugu
Ichale Ichale Telugu
Soolam Simhanthania Telugu Bharadwaj
Nanban Endhan Kan Munney Tamil Harris Jayaraj
Kandhireega Naakodithey Telugu S. Thaman
Mudhal Idam Pappara Pappara Tamil D. Imman
Kaantham Tamizhanban Tamil Prathap
Kattupuli Thaamarai Pookkaley Tamil Vijay Verma
Businessman Katakulla Mumbai Tamil S. Thaman
Aamchi Mumbai Telugu
Aaj Mumbai Malayalam
Sir Unnu
Music Beyond Genres Aankh Mein Aab Hai Hindi Rahlaap
Mil Baitaein Hain Yaar Hindi
2012 Yuvvh Nenjodu Cherthu Malayalam Sreejith S & Sachin
Snehithudu Toli Adugaina Padalede Telugu Harris Jayaraj
Oru Kal Oru Kannadi Kaadhal Oru Tamil Harris Jayaraj
Akila Akila Tamil
Ninnu Choosthe Love Vasthundi Ennallugano Telugu Harris Jayaraj
Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal Mazhai Pozhiyum Tamil G. V. Prakash Kumar
Manam Kothi Paravai Jal Jal Jal Oosai Tamil D. Imman
Thadaiyara Thaakka Kelamalae Tamil S. Thaman
Sridhar Siruvan Sirumiyai Tamil Rahulraj
Oh! Oh! My Friend Tamil
OKOK Just Like Telugu Harris Jayaraj
Akhilaa Akhilaa Telugu
Kalalaa Oka Devate Telugu
Mugamoodi Vaayamoodi Summa Iru Da Tamil Krishna Kumar
Maattrraan Theeyae Theeyae Tamil Harris Jayaraj
Brothers Neeve Neeve Telugu Harris Jayaraj
101 Weddings Muthodu Mutham Malayalam Deepak Dev
Sundattam Naru naru narumugaye Tamil Britto
"Thadaiyara Thaakka" Kelamale Kelamale Tamil S. Thaman
2013 Sillunu Oru Sandhippu Adi Aathi Tamil Faizal
Pani Vizhum Nilavu Enna Pannuvaen Tamil L V Ganesan
Chandamama Yaarodi Tamil Srikanth Deva
Nagarpuram Mazhaiyae Mazhaiyae Tamil Arhul Dhev
Machan Yenachu Yethachu Tamil Srikanth Deva
Aadalam Boys Chinnatha Dance Poradalaam Poradalaam Tamil Sachin-Jigar
Buddy Ukulele Malayalam Navneeth Sundar
Endrendrum Punnagai Vaan Engum Nee Minna Tamil Harris Jayaraj
2014 Vaayai Moodi Pesavum Udaigiraen Tamil Sean Roldan
Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram Kaana Kanneerilae Malayalam Sean Roldan
Ennathan Pesuvatho Adada Adada Tamil D. Imman
2015 Yennai Arindhaal... Maya Bazaar Tamil Harris Jayaraj

References

  1. "Smooth jazz show". The Hindu. 4 December 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  2. "Aalaap Raju". Last.fm.
  3. "Nenjodu Cherthu from Yuvvh – Another Viral Hit in Youtube". Theater Balcony. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  4. "Enamo Aedho". entertainment.oneindia. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  5. "Vijay and Richa win big at Edison awards". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 February 2012.

External links

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