Aalap Raju

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Aalap Raju
Born (1979-06-06) 6 June 1979 (age 44)
Genres
  • Pop
  • indie
  • rock
  • jazz
  • fusion
Occupation(s)
Instrument(s)
  • Bass guitar
  • acoustic guitar
Years active2010–present

Aalap Raju (born 6 June 1979) is a playback singer and a bass guitar 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, Sreekanth Deva and many more. 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, Nenjodu Cherthu from Yuvvh, Theeyae Theeyae from Maattrraan, Jal Jal Osai from Manam Kothi Paravai, and Maya Bazaar from Ennai Arindhaal.

He is also a well-known bass guitar player, have collaborated for all top composers in Kollywood, Mollywood and all the way to Bollywood. His noticeable Bollywood collaboration was with Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy for the movie Raazi He had played bass guitar for the only track in the album called ‘Dilbaro’ . He has played more than 1000 Live gigs including commercial film, fusion and TV shows.

Early life[edit]

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 SVCE (Chennai) had other plans for him. His college mates inspired him to take up singing and bass guitar in parallel in his last 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 guitar 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 guitar playing equally in studios and live.[2]

Career[edit]

As a singer and bass guitar 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, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Mani Sarma, G.V Prakash, Thaman, Deepak Dev etc.

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

Aalaap was part of a Neo-Carnatic-Funk band called Project YUJ, a four piece line up composed of electric mandolin, electric bass guitar, 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 was also part of a duo multi-genre band called Rahlaap along with playback singer Rahul Nambiar. Rahlaap has released their self-titled multi-genre album. Available in music portals like iTunes, Amazon, Hummaa, etc.

Aalaap is now an active member of bands like MAKKA (feat. Playback singers Ranjith Govind and Rahul Nambiar), his own line up called Aalaap Raju & Band (ArB) and Sean Roldan & Friends.

Awards[edit]

Discography[edit]

Year Film Song Language Music Director
2010 Bale Pandiya Happy Tamil Devan Ekambaram
Engeyum Kadhal Engeyum Kadhal Tamil Harris Jayaraj
Ayyanar Kuthu Kuthu Tamil S. Thaman
2011 Thambikottai Unakkanka Uireyvaithen Tamil D. Imman
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
Kandireega 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
2015 Inimey Ippadithan Thaedi Odunaen Tamil Santhosh Dhayanidhi
2016 Vetrivel Adhuva Idhuva Tamil D. Imman

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Smooth jazz show". The Hindu. 4 December 2006. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Aalaap Raju". Last.fm.
  3. ^ "Enamo Aedho". entertainment.oneindia. Retrieved 9 July 2012.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Vijay and Richa win big at Edison awards". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 February 2012.

External links[edit]