Shaji Chen

Biography:

Actor and writer Shaji Chen, commonly known as Shaji and Shaji Chennai , is from India. Shaji primarily writes on movies and music. Shaji performs in films in Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, and English and writes in these languages as well.

As a writer, he is well-known for his personal pieces and pieces about music and movies. AV Max, Ananda Vikatan, The Hindu Tamil, Uyirmmai, Kalachuvadu, Theeranadhi, Vikatan Thadam, Kaalam, Kumkumam, Puthiya Thalaimurai, Sunday Indian, Andhimazhai, Padachurul, Bhashaposhini, Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu, Madhyamam Weekly, Chandrika Weekly, Kalakaumudi, Malayalam Vaarika, Mangalam Daily, Mangalam Annual, Deepika Daily, and other publications have published his numerous articles.

As Sollil Adangaatha Isai, Tamil author Jeyamohan translated his writings from the Music Beyond Words series into Tamil. This popular column in Tamil serious writing was published in the literary magazine Uyirmmai. Many of Shaji’s essays have also been translated into Tamil by S. Ramakrishnan, another writer from Tamil.

Following the initial years of these translations, Shaji began penning works in Tamil directly. Vikatan Publications released a comprehensive compilation of his music-related essays in 2016. An enhanced and revised selection of his music-related writings from Discovery Books will be available at the 2023 Chennai Book Fair. The book was introduced and supported by actor composer G. V. Prakash Kumar, director Mani Ratnam, director Mysskin, director Vasanth, director Seenu Ramasamy, and director Vasanthabalan.

The Malayalam monthly Chandrika featured his column, Paattinappuram (Beyond the Song). Green Books, a Malayalam publisher, published his first book in Malayalam, “Paattalla Sangeetham”.  A number of his Malayalam works can be seen in Bhashaposhini, a renowned literary magazine in Malayalam .

He also wrote an article series there for a year in 2017–18 titled Cinema Bhraanthinte Naalpathu Varshangal (40 Years of Cinema Craze). Shorter chapters including some of the content from this series were also published on Malayala Manorama Online. This series was published as a book by Matrubhumi Books in October 2019, and during the first week of release, it became a best seller.

Shaji wrote music criticism for several national newspapers, including The Hindu, Deccan Chronicle, Times of India, New Indian Express, and others. His Vikatan Thadam Magazine monthly piece, “Cinema Veriyin 40 Aandukal,” was published in Tamil. The final two chapters were released in the Andhimazhai Magazine. He is widely recognized for his Tamil columns Mullarumbu Marangal in Andhimazhai monthly and Isaiyezhuthu in Uyirmai monthly. The majority of his writings from 2020 are published in Malayalam by the digital journal Truecopythink.

Shaji has extensive experience in the advertising sector, having contributed translations, plots, scripts, jingle lyrics, and acting in a few commercials. He is the author of numerous commercial films and campaigns. He was employed by companies including Nippo, South Indian Bank, and Muthoot Fincorp.