Pradeep Rangaswamy Kumar
Background information
Birth namePradeep Rangaswamy Vijayakumar
Born (1986-05-12) 12 May 1986
Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
GenresPlayback singing
Occupation(s)Singer, Music Director
Years active2010–present
Spouse(s)Kalyani Nair

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.

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

YearFilmLanguageNotes
2014Maine Pyar KiyaTelugu
2017Meyaadha MaanTamil2 songs only.
2019AadaiTamil
2019Sillu KarupattiTamil
2020AndhaghaaramTamil
2021MethaguTamil
2021VaazhlTamil
2022VeyilMalayalam
2022KuthiraivaalTamil

Playback singer

YearSong titleFilmLanguageMusic directorNotes
2010Chitti Dance ShowcaseEnthiranTamil, Telugu, HindiA. R. Rahman
Adi SaraleChikku BukkuTamilColonial CousinsColonial Cousins - Hariharan, Lesle Lewis, Pravin Mani
2012Aasai Oru PulveliAttakathiTamilSanthosh Narayanan
Vazhi Parthirundhen
MogathiraiPizza
Naanaga Naanindri(Ennavo)Uyir Mozhi
Oru Murai
2013BoomiyilPizza II: Villa
2014AgasathaCuckoo
Kodaiyila
JigarJigarthanda
Maatra ParavaiVaayai Moodi PesavumSean Roldan
Kadhal KanaveMundaasupatti
Aagayam TheepidithaMadrasSanthosh NarayananFilmfare 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 JenameSathuranga VettaiSean Roldan
ThanniyilaAadama Jaichomada
Poo Avizhum PozhudhilEnakkul OruvanSanthosh Narayanan
2016Poda PodaIrudhi Suttru
AvalManithan
Maya NadhiKabaliNorway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Male Playback Singer
Veera Thurandhara
Vaanam Paarthen
Thoondil Meen
Jadoo Rawan RawanKabaliHindi
Taare Saare Chupke
Kalavani O NadhiKabaliTelugu
Gunde Ninda Yenno
InaivomMaaveeran KittuTamilD. Imman
2017Nee KavithaigalaMaragatha NaanayamDhibu Ninan Thomas
Pogaadhey KanmaniyeVeeraLeon James
Marete HodenuDayavittu GamanisiKannadaAnoop Seelin
Pogatha YennavittuVikram VedhaTamilSam C.S
Idhuvum Kadandu PogumNibunanNavin
AmmukkutiyeGemini Ganeshanum Suruli RaajanumD. Imman
Enno Enno BhaavaleyYuddham SharanamTeluguVivek Sagar
AzhagazhagaKaruppanTamilD. Imman
Manavi AlakinacharadateMental MadhiloTeluguPrashanth R Vihari
KaadhalaadaVivegamTamilAnirudh Ravichander
Enna Naan SeivenMeyaadha MaanPradeep Kumaralso lyricist
Megamo AvalSanthosh Narayanan
Rail AaraaroNenjil ThunivirundhalD. Imman
Azhagile EnaiKaathiruppor PattiyalSean Roldan
MudalaothondaC/O SuryaTeluguD. Imman
2018KannammaKaalaTamilSanthosh Narayanan
Thanga Sela
Raaye Naa Range LeelaTelugu
Sone Ki Tu Ek MuratHindi
SengathireKadaikutty SingamTamilD. Imman
KalavarameThamizh Padam 2Kannan
The Life of Ram96Govind Vasantha
Thaabangale
Iravingu Theevai
Kaarkuzhal KadavaaiyeVada ChennaiSanthosh Narayanan
2019 Kodi AruviMehandi CircusSean Roldan
Agam ThaanaiSillu KaruppattiPradeep Kumar
Pranthan KandalThottappanMalayalamLeela L. Girish Kuttan
Kaathellam Poo ManakkaGypsyTamilSanthosh Narayanan
Very Very Bad
Oru NaalAadaiPradeep Kumar
MailaanjiNamma Veettu PillaiD. Imman
2020Life of RamJaanuTeluguGovind Vasantha
Maragatha MaalaiTakkerTamilNivas K. Prasanna
MarandhayeTeddyD. Imman
Maatra ThendralDharala PrabhuBharath Shankar
Suzhalum IrulilAndhaghaaramPradeep Kumar
2021 Kanavil Kan MalarumKabadadaariSimon K. King
Kalalo KanupaapeKapatadhaariTelugu
AahaaVaazhlTamilPradeep Kumar
Inba Visai
Pudhu Vidha Anubavam
Semmaan Magalai
Vaazha Vaa
Naan
Bandeena BandeenaRaja Raja ChoraTeluguVivek Sagar
Thala Kodhum ElangathuJai BhimTamilSean Roldan
Penne PenneSabhaapathySam C. S.
RaavilMinnal MuraliMalayalamSushin ShyamKerala State Film award for best playback singer 2021
Ye PorapatoSakala GunabhiramaTeluguAnudeep Dev
Parimitha NeramMadhuramMalayalamGovind Vasantha
Ullam UrugudhaiyaEtharkkum ThunindhavanTamilD. Imman
Ennai Aalum PennilaveVelanGopi Sundar
Kaanal neeraaiWriterGovind Vasantha
2022 Nizhal Tharum IdhamPutham Pudhu Kaalai VidiyaadhaaPradeep Kumar
Mother Song (Version 2)ValimaiYuvan Shankar Raja
Mother SongValimaiTelugu
Thanga SelaAnbarivuTamilHiphop Tamizha
Uyir ThirandhuInfinityBalasubramanian G
Thozhi Hey Sinamika Govind Vasantha
Ice Katti KuruviD BlockRon Ethan Yohann
Unaraa UnarvaeyMr.MuraliBarath Dhanasekar
Varayaatha OviyamKoormanTony Britto
Yaar Varuvaar
Parandhu PogindrenKuthiraivaalPradeep Kumar
ManameVeyilMalayalam
NenjoramaMadhil Mel KaadhalTamilNivas K. Prasanna
Engirundho VandhaanOh My Dog
NedumaramJ.BabyTony Britto
Vaanam YaavumO2Vishal Chandrashekhar
DhooramVezhamJhanu Chanthar
Dhooram (sad)
Idam
ThangameyMy Dear BoothamD. Imman
KanneeraeyPoikkal Kudhirai
Un paarvaiCadaverRanjin Raj
Kadavul ThanthaYugiRanjin Raj
Nee Podhum EnakkuMichaelSam C. S
Ilakana KavithaiBanarasB. Ajaneesh Loknath
2023Adiyae AdiyaeNandhivarmanJerard Felix
Uchathula VennilavuThalaikoothalKannan
Yaar Arindhadho
Kaatrodu Pattam PolaAyothiN. R. Raghunanthan
Ottamuri VakkumayiRomanchamMalayalamSushin Shyam
PonniyammaHarkaraTamilRamshanker
Podhum Podhum Chandramukhi 2 Tamil M M Kerravani
Arikil Onnu Vannal Pulimada Malayalam Ishaan Dev
Neela Vaanile
Kangal Etho Chithha Tamil Dhibu Ninan Thomas

Singles

Year Song Notes
2017Kaatru Veliyidai KannammaReleased (on YouTube): 15 April 2017 (collaboration with BP Collective)
2021Konjam PesuReleased (on YouTube): 9 July 2021
KaatrileReleased (on YouTube): 13 Aug 2021
2022Mayakural Ondru KetkutheyReleased (on YouTube): 13 March 2022
Maayavi NeeReleased (on YouTube): 27 July 2022
2023IsaiReleased (on YouTube): 14 July 2023

Awards

YearCategory SongFilm
2021Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer (male)"Ravil"Minnal Murali
YearCategory SongFilm
2015Best playback singer (Male)"Aagayam Theepiditha"Madras
2017Best playback singer (Male)"Maya Nadhi , Vaanam Paarthen"Kabali
YearCategory SongFilm
2015Best Tamil Male Playback Singer Award"Aagayam Theepiditha"Madras
YearCategory SongFilm
2015Best Tamil Male Playback Singer Award"Aagayam Theepiditha"Madras
YearCategory SongFilm
2015Best Male Playback Singer Award"Aagayam Theepiditha"Madras
YearCategory SongFilm
2016Best Male Playback Singer Award"Maya Nadhi"Kabali
  • Behindwoods Gold Medal
YearCategory SongFilm
2018Best 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. 1 2 3 4 "I learnt Carnatic music as just another subject". rediff.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "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.
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