P.V.R. Raja

PVR Raja
PVR Raja in 2025
PVR Raja in 2025
Background information
Born
Penumatsa Venkata Ramaraju

Genres
Occupations
Instruments
Works
Years active2005 – present
Labels
Spouse
Ramya Miryala
​
(m. 2025)​
Websitepvrraja.com

Penumatsa Venkata Ramaraju known professionally as PVR Raja,[1] is an Indian music composer, record producer, songwriter and guitarist who works in Telugu cinema. He is nicknamed "Short films Maestro" and "Ilaiyaraaja of Short films".[2][3][4] He initially composed music for over 250 Short films and Independent films.

Raja has composed music for the films Vitamin She (2020),[5] Black (2022) and Madhi (2022).[6] He won the Andhra Pradesh state award in the guitar category at the 2011 National Youth Festival (India). Raja entered the India Book of Records for composing the most number of short Telugu films.[7][8][9][10][11][12]

Early life

He completed his elementary education from R.C.M. St. Anthony's High School, intermediate school from M.S.N. Degree College and undergraduate degree from A.G.L. College.[13] He completed Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor's Degree from Andhra University in 2005 and studied music at Maharajah's Government College of Music and Dance. He worked as a music teacher before becoming a music composer.[12][9][14][15]

Raja worked as a music teacher in Hyderabad Hindu Public School, Shraddha Centre For Special Education, Shalom Music School, Symphony Academy of Music and St. Alphonsa's High School.[16][8][13]

Career

Raja made his debut as a music director with the short film Arya 3 produced by Puri Jagannadh own production company Vaishno Academy. He provided the background score for the film 1 Hour produced by actress and politician Roja Selvamani.[17] Raja composed music for the movie Atma Rama Ananda Ramana produced by Annapurna College of Film and Media and streaming on aha.[18][19] He has predominantly composed music over 250 digital short films and Independent films from 2013 to present in English, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi languages.[8][20]

Raja worked as music director for the short films under the own production and direction of actor and writer L. B. Sriram.[8] He composed music for ETV Dhee title winner Yashwanth Master's debut video album Dilantha Adhire.[13][12][8]

He won the first place in Andhra pradesh state level competitions for guitar category in National Youth Festival 2011 organized by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.[20] His albums released in major record labels in India such as Vitamin She in Times Music, Madhi in Aditya Music[1] and Kaala Bhairava Ashtakam in Sony Music India.[3] In the year 2020, three films scored by PVR Raja won awards at the SparkOTT film contest organized by Indian film director Ram Gopal Varma himself.[8][2] MR. Productions Okka Kshanam short film is Raja's 100th film as a composer.[16]

Awards and nominations

  1. 2005, 3rd position at Vizianagaram district level guitar category in National Youth Festival Competition.[20][18][13]
  2. 2007, Top 18th place in 7 Up Ooh La La La band hunt conducted by music director A. R. Rahman.[17][13][8]
  3. 2011, 1st position at Prakasam district level guitar category in National Youth Festival Competition.[20]
  4. 2011, Andhra Pradesh state awardee in light music category at National Youth Festival, held in Hyderabad.[9][20][13]
  5. 2011, 1st place at Andhra Pradesh state guitar category in National Youth Festival competitions.[20]
  6. 2011, Nominated for the national level competitions guitar category in National Youth Festival on behalf of Andhra Pradesh State.[9][20][18][13]
  7. 2013, Semi finalist in Hyderabad Times Fresh face 2013 competitions.[2][18]
  8. 2017, TANA International Telugu Short Film Awards best music director for Itlu Mee Laila short film.[17][20][18][8]
  9. 2020, Nominated in SIIMA short film awards for Antharardham for best music director category.[20][17][21][22][2][4][8][14][18]
  10. 2023, Awarded by India Book of Records for Music composed by an individual for maximum short Telugu films.[23]

Discography

Feature films

Year Film Language Ref(s)
2017 Jandhyala Rasina Prema Katha Telugu
2018 Mitti: Back to Roots Hindi
2020 Samshayam Telugu
Vitamin She Telugu
2022 Madhi Telugu
Black Telugu Background score only
2023 Maro Prapancham Telugu [3]
2025 1000 Words Telugu [24]

Singles and album songs

Year Album/Song Title Record label Language Notes
2018 I Said I Love You Lahari Music English [25][26]
2019 Maaya Carpediem Technology Systems Private Limited Telugu
2020 Dearuu Darlinguuu Media6(India)Pvt.Ltd. Telugu
2021 Vennela Vacche Padhamani ZEDXSTUDIO Telugu [27]
2022 Neetho Nadichina Mango Music Telugu
2022 Capture Times Music Telugu
2023 Kaala Bhairava Ashtakam Sony Music India Sanskrit
2023 Dosthi Aditya Music Telugu
2023 Jai Shri Ram Sony Music India Sanskrit

Short films

YearTitlePlatformLanguageRef(s)
2014Arya 3Filmy TimeTelugu[2]
2016Itlu Mee LailaRunwayReelTelugu
2016One HourTeluguOneTelugu
2017Okka KshanamSubash ChandraTelugu[2]
2017Oopirilo OopirigaiQlikchannelTelugu[9]
2019AnthararthamSubash ChandraTelugu[4]
2019Maa Bujjakka GreatL B SriramTelugu[9]
2019Swacha BhaaratheeyuduL B SriramTelugu[9]
2020Atma Rama Ananda RamanaAhaTelugu[2]
2020Nuvvu Nenu Ee KshanamiQlikchannelTelugu[9]
2020RootsL B SriramTelugu[9]

Independent films

YearTitlePlatformLanguageRef(s)
2015Happy EndingRunwayReelTelugu[9]
2015AdvikaTeluguOneTelugu[9]
2016Akasamantha PremaRunwayReelTelugu[9]
2017Naa Seetha MahaLaxmiTeluguOneTelugu[9]
2018Pushpa VilaapamiQlikchannelTelugu[21]
2019MaayaMX PlayerTelugu[2]
2021Happy Married LIfe50mm ProductionsKannada[9]
2021Chai KahaniMX PlayerTelugu[2]
2022CaptureMX PlayerTelugu

Web series

YearTitlePlatformLanguageRef(s)
2017Geetha SubramanyamWirallyTelugu[13]
2017Michael Madan KamarajuWirallyTelugu[13]

References

  1. 1 2 "Happy birthday PVR Raja: From Vizianagaram to musical stardom, journey of the musician". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "PVR Raja: Meet the popular short film composer who's making a mark in Telugu cinema". www.ottplay.com. OTT play. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Hitting a high note: Telugu music composer PVR Raja to compose 100 songs in 15 Indian languages". The New Indian Express. Express Publications (Madurai) Limited. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Adding life to director's vision through music". the pioneer. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "Vitamin She Movie Review". telugu.news18. CNN-News18. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "Madhi Movie Review : An emotionally stirring romantic drama". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  7. ↑ "Trailblazing talent". newindianexpress. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "PVR Raja: షార్ట్‌ ఫిలిమ్స్‌లో ఆస్కార్‌ అవార్డే లక్ష్యం". Sakshi. Jagati Publications Ltd. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Music Director PVR Raja : లఘుచిత్రాల ఇళయరాజా.. ఈ పీవీఆర్ రాజా". Etv Bharat. ETV Networks. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  10. ↑ "మ్యూజిక్ కోసం మేకప్". V6 Velugu. VIL Media Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "'షార్ట్‌ ఫిల్మ్‌ మాస్ట్రో' పీవీఆర్‌ రాజా". Nava Telangana. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 "'మరో ప్రపంచం'తో వస్తోన్న ఉత్తరాంధ్ర సంగీత దర్శకుడు పీవీఆర్ రాజా". telugu.samayam.com. The Times Of India. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Introducing Music Director PVR Raja". zindhagi.com. Zindhagi. 25 December 2021. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  14. 1 2 "From introvert to International Book of Records". The Hans India. Hyderabad Media House Ltd. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  15. ↑ "#BehindTheCamera: Music director PVR Raja: RP Patnaik provided me with shelter and food during my struggling days". The Times of India. 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  16. 1 2 "STRIKING THE RIGHT CHORDS". humansofhyderabad.co.in. Humans Of Hyderabad. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "ఒకే ఏడాదిలో ఏడుసార్లు బెస్ట్‌ మ్యూజిక్‌ డైరెక్టర్‌గా అవార్డులు అతని సొంతం". Sakshi. Jagati Publications Ltd. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "షార్ట్ ఫిల్మ్ మాస్ట్రో పీవీఆర్ రాజా". Nava Telangana. Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  19. ↑ "Raja makes his mark as a music director". Telangana Today. Telangana Publications Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Music director PVR Raja completes a decade in the industry". The Times of India. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  21. 1 2 "Music is way of life for this Hyderabad-based multi-talented musician". Telangana Today. Hyderabad Media House Ltd. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  22. ↑ "SIIMA Short Film Awards 2020". siima. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  23. ↑ "Music composed by an individual for maximum short Telugu films". indiabookofrecords.in. India Book Of Records. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  24. ↑ "1000 Words teaser: The Arvind Krishna starrer is a soothing drama with great visuals". www.ottplay.com. OTTplay. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  25. ↑ "I Said I Love You". Spotify. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  26. ↑ "I Said I Love You". Apple Music. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  27. ↑ "Vennela Vacche Padhamani". Spotify. Retrieved 1 June 2021.