Achu Rajamani

Biography:

Attending Loyola University Chennai, Achu completed his degree despite hailing from a musical family background. Interestingly, his initial desire was to pursue a career in aviation, but instead of becoming a pilot, he chose to dedicate himself fully to music. Under the tutelage of the renowned music director M. M. Keeravani in Carnatic classical, Achu transitioned into the world of professional music.

Achu, the grandson of the esteemed music director B. A. Chidambaranath, a pioneer in modern Malayalam music, and the son of Rajamani, a prolific figure in the film industry, decided to forge his own path in the realm of music. Despite his familial ties to the industry, he began his musical journey as M. M. Keeravani’s assistant before venturing into independent music composition.

Achu’s repertoire includes programming the piano for over 175 films and contributing to the creation of 410 songs. His prowess as a composer and musician became evident in projects like Chup Chup Ke (2006) and Kurukshetra (2008), where his work received high acclaim. His breakthrough came with the Telugu movie Nenu Meeku Telusa..? (2008), followed by Kurradu (2009), the Telugu version of Polladhavan.

Beyond composing, Achu showcased his versatility as a playback vocalist. Notable successes include “Take It Easy” from the Malayalam film Happy Husbands, composed by M. Jayachandran. In 2012, Achu released his first full-length Tamil soundtrack for the film Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakathilaey, which garnered critical and commercial success.

His Telugu releases, such as Bujji Pilla and Devatha from Potugadu, and Padipoya from DK Bose, enjoyed popularity in 2012. Songs like “Siru Nadai” and “Hey Umayaal” from the 2015 film Urumeen became massive hits. Apart from his musical talents, Achu demonstrated prowess in professional racing from 2009 to 2012.

His involvement in sprinting and other sports during school earned him multiple awards. Despite a hiatus from the film industry after 2009 to focus on racing, Achu made a successful return and gained recognition, making his mark as a rising star in the 2015 Telugu film Gaddam Gang.