Harris Jayaraj

Infobox_Celebrity


birth_date = birth date and age|1975|01|08
birth_place = Chennai, India
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = Film composer, Musician
salary =
networth =
website = [http://www.paadal.com/composer/harris_jeyaraj Harris Jayaraj at Paadal.com (Unofficial)]

Harris Jayaraj (Tamil:ஹாரிஸ் ஜெயராஜ்)(born January 8, 1975) is a music composer from Tamil cinema. He has written scores and soundtracks and played music for many Tamil films, as well as Telugu and Hindi films. He lives in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Over a period of seven years, Jayaraj has established himself as one of the leading composers in South India.

Early life

Harris Jayaraj was born into a pious Christian family in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He studied at the Krishnasamy Metric School, Chennai and later obtained a music degree in Trinity College of Music, London, England. His father, S.M. Jayakumar, is a film guitarist who later became a noted Indian musician and composer.

Career

Harris Jayaraj entered the world of film music as a musician, programming scores and drum–percussion for many films under the famous Indian Music Director A R Rahman. He started his career by composing beats for TV advertisements. His first music score for a commercial movie was for the Tamil film "Minnale" (2001). The music was well received, especially the song "Vaseegara", made the film becoming a big box office hit, running the charts for weeks. After Minnale, Harris composed music for the Tamil movies "12B" and "Kovil" which were once again a huge musical super hit. His first music score in Bollywood was for "Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein", a remake of "Minnale', which was again a hit.Fact|date=September 2008

In 2005, he composed for movies like "Anniyan" and "Ghajini". The song "andangkaaka" in anniyan reached all classes of people and was the major hit song of that year and of course in his career.

Harris has always been the favourite composer of movie director Gautham Menon as both of them are very successful in Tamil film industry, however they have worked together in a series of hit movies like "Minnale" ,"Kaaka Kaaka" (2003), "Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu" (2006), "Pachaikili Muthucharam" (2007) and "Varanam Aayiram", waiting for release.

Trivia

* Jayaraj has said that his favorite musicians are Aruljothi Balagopal (who played the tabla for "Neem Musicals" ) and M.S.Viswanathan.
* In a local award programme conducted by Isaiaruvi - a tamil music channel, Harris Jayaraj was provided couple of awards, where he expressed that it was an unforgettable programme for him because it offered him to see Ar Rahman after 8 years. He also said that AR Rahman was one of his favourite music directors.
* Harris Jayaraj has been a keyboardist and percussionist for various music directors based in South India. He has predominantly worked with world famous Indian music composer A R Rahman , Karthik Raja, Vidhyasagar. He has assisted Adithyan in various projects like Seevalaperi Pandi, Asuran etc.,
*The only music director other than A.R.Rahman to have scored music for a movie of Director Shankar is Harris Jayaraj for the film Anniyan.
*Harris Jayaraj is also the favourite composer of Vishal. Vishal in an interview said Harris Jayaraj was one of the most important persons in his life because of the musical hit of the first movie of Vishal, "chellamae".
*Harris Jayaraj's maiden composition actually was the songs of the film Majnu. But Minnale got released first.
*It is said that Harris Jayaraj composed the song "Oyila paadum paatula" for the film Seevalaperi Pandi in which he worked as assistant for the composer Adithyan.
*Music Director Dharan who had worked for movies like Parijatham, Sivi etc., has been working under Harris Jayaraj.
*Some of the singers introduced by Harris Jayaraj include krish,Nakul, Saindhavi, Srilekha Parthasarathy, Madhumitha, Nikhil Matthew, Mahathi and Suchithra Ramanathan.
*Harris Jayaraj has recently revealed that his choice for singing 'Ragasiya Kanavugal' in Bheema was P.Susheela. However, due to later not in active singing career, he had to opt for Madhushree.
*As per news from a recent interview, Harris revealed that he is the composer who had got the prestigious opportunity to score for the Prestigious Malayalam film YODHA-II, (Sequel of Yodha, 1993), directed by Sangeeth Sivan. The first part(YODHA) had music by A.R. RAHMAN.(Source: http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/08/25/stories/2008082550310100.htm)

Filmography

Personal life

Jayaraj is married to Joyce [formerly Suma] . His wife converted from Hindu to Christian. The couple have a son called Samuel Nicholas and a daughter called Karen Nikita. His father Jayakumar is a noted evangelistic musician.

Awards

Harris Jayaraj is the winner of two Filmfare Awards and two Tamil Nadu State Awards. Here's The List.

Won- Filmfare Best Music Director Award: Kaaka Kaaka (2003 Filmfare Awards)

Won- Filmfare Best Music Director Award: Anniyan (2005 Filmfare Awards)

Won- Tamil Nadu State Best Music Director Award: Kaaka Kaaka (2003 State Awards)

Won- Tamil Nadu State Best Music Director Award: Anniyan, Ghajini (2005 State Awards)

External links

*
*http://themusicalharris.com/ - A site by his beloved Hardcore Fans.
* http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awesomeharris/ - Fan Group