Aalap Raju


Aalap Raju is a playback singer and a bass guitar player 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 "Vaayamoodi 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 Yennai Arindhaal.
He is also a bass guitar player and has collaborated with leading composers in Kollywood, Mollywood and Bollywood. One of his notable Bollywood collaborations was with Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy for the movie Raazi, where he played bass guitar on the track "Dilbaro." He has performed in over 1000 live shows, including film, fusion, and television shows.
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Early life

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 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' 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.

Career

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, 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, his own line up called Aalaap Raju & Band and Sean Roldan & Friends.

Awards

Discography

YearFilmSongLanguageMusic directorCo-singers
2010Bale Pandiya"Happy"TamilDevan EkambaramVarious
2010Engeyum Kadhal"Engeyum Kadhal"TamilHarris JayarajDevan Ekambaram, Ranina Reddy
2010Ayyanar"Kuthu Kuthu"TamilS. ThamanBruce Lee, Velmurugan
2011Thambikottai"Unakkanka Uireyvaithen"TamilD. ImmanSriram Parthasarathy, Shweta Mohan
2011Ko"Enamo Aedho"TamilHarris JayarajPrashanthini, Sricharan, Emcee Jesz
2011Rangam '"Endhuko Emo"TeluguHarris JayarajPrashanthini, NC Karunya, Sri Krishna, Malavika, Sreeram Chandra, Sunitha Upadrashta, Sricharan, Emcee Jesz
2011Vanthaan Vendraan"Anjana Anjana"TamilS. Thaman
2011Vanthaan Vendraan"Thirandhen Thirandhen"TamilS. ThamanShreya Ghoshal
2011Vachadu Gelichadu"Anjana Anjana"TeluguS. Thaman
2011Vachadu Gelichadu"Ichale Ichale"TeluguS. Thaman
2011Soolam"Simhanthania"TeluguBharadwaj
2011Nanban"Endhan Kan Munney"TamilHarris Jayaraj
2011Kandireega"Naakodithey"TeluguS. ThamanNaveen, M. L. R. Karthikeyan, Ranjith, Ranina Reddy, Dharshana
2011Mudhal Idam"Pappara Pappara"TamilD. ImmanPriya Subramaniam, Ananthu
2011Kaantham"Tamizhanban"TamilPrathap
2011Kattupuli"Thaamarai Pookkaley"TamilVijay Verma
2011Businessman"Katakulla Mumbai"TamilS. ThamanRanjith, Rahul Nambiar, Naveen
2011Businessman"Aamchi Mumbai"TeluguS. ThamanRanjith, Rahul Nambiar, Naveen
2011Businessman"Aaj Mumbai"MalayalamS. ThamanRanjith, Rahul Nambiar, Naveen
2011Businessman"Sir Unnu"MalayalamS. Thaman
2011Music Beyond Genres"Aankh Mein Aab Hai"HindiRahlaap
2011Music Beyond Genres"Mil Baitaein Hain Yaar"HindiRahlaap
2012Yuvvh"Nenjodu Cherthu"MalayalamSreejith S & Sachin
2012Snehithudu '"Toli Adugaina Padalede"TeluguHarris Jayaraj
2012Oru Kal Oru Kannadi"Kaadhal Oru"TamilHarris JayarajHemachandra, Sunitha Sarathy
2012Oru Kal Oru Kannadi"Akila Akila"TamilHarris JayarajChinmayi, Sharmila
2012Ninnu Choosthe Love Vasthundi"Ennallugano"TeluguHarris Jayaraj
2012Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal"Mazhai Pozhiyum"TamilG. V. Prakash KumarG. V. Prakash Kumar, Megha
2012Manam Kothi Paravai"Jal Jal Jal Oosai"TamilD. ImmanSurmukhi Raman
2012Thadaiyara Thaakka"Kelamalae"TamilS. ThamanRita
2012Sridhar"Siruvan Sirumiyai"TamilRahulrajRita
2012Sridhar"Oh! Oh! My Friend"TamilRahulraj
2012OKOK '"Just Like"TeluguHarris JayarajHemachandra, Sunitha Sarathy
2012OKOK '"Akhilaa Akhilaa"TeluguHarris JayarajChinmayi, Sharmila
2012Mugamoodi"Vaayamoodi Summa Iru Da"TamilKrishna Kumar
2012Mask "Gadiyaram"TeluguKrishna Kumar
2012Maattrraan"Theeyae Theeyae"TamilHarris JayarajFranco Simon, Charulatha Mani, Sathyan, Suchitra
2012Brothers"Neeve Neeve"TeluguHarris JayarajFranco Simon, Charulatha Mani
2012101 Weddings"Muthodu Mutham"MalayalamDeepak Dev
2012Sundattam"Naru Naru Narumugaye"TamilBrittoMadhumitha
2013Sillunu Oru Sandhippu"Adi Aathi"TamilFaizalAnitha
2013Pani Vizhum Nilavu"Enna Pannuvaen"TamilL V Ganesan
2013Chandamama"Yaarodi"TamilSrikanth DevaSrimathumitha
2013Nagarpuram"Mazhaiyae Mazhaiyae"TamilArhul Dhev
2013Machan"Yenachu Yethachu"TamilSrikanth Deva
2013Aadalam Boys Chinnatha Dance"Poradalaam Poradalaam"TamilSachin Jigar
2013Buddy"Ukulele"MalayalamNavneeth SundarB.Shrinivas
2013Endrendrum Punnagai"Vaan Engum Nee Minna"TamilHarris JayarajHarini, Devan Ekambaram, Praveen
2014Vaayai Moodi Pesavum"Udaigiraen"TamilSean Roldan
2014Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram"Kaana Kanneerilae"MalayalamSean Roldan
2014Ennathan Pesuvatho"Adada Adada"TamilD. Imman
2015Yennai Arindhaal..."Maya Bazaar"TamilHarris JayarajKrishna Iyer, Priya Subramanian, Velmurugan
2015Indru Netru Naalai"Indru Netru Naalai"TamilHiphop TamizhaShankar Mahadevan
2015Inimey Ippadithan"Thaedi Odunaen"TamilSanthosh DhayanidhiSanthosh Dhayanidhi
2016Vetrivel"Adhuva Idhuva"TamilD. Imman
2018Sketch"Dhiname Dhinanme"TamilS. ThamanVineeth Sreenivasan, Mukesh, Shabareesh Varma