“Music has always been my escape and my source of happiness, especially in tough times. Back in school, I didn’t fully understand music, but I loved mimicking my favorite songs and writing poems. When I told my family I wanted to learn music, they weren’t supportive. But that didn’t stop me. After my 10th-grade exams, I decided to take matters into my own hands during a summer break. With no formal training in sheet music, I turned to an English dictionary. Words like ‘vocal,’ ‘sound,’ and ‘instrument’ caught my eye, and that’s how my journey began.
My hometown, Vizianagaram, with its rich cultural heritage, has had a big influence on my music. As I continued my education and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, I realized I could balance my studies with my passion. I moved from being a student to teaching, starting at Hindu Public School and later at Shraddha Centre For Special Education and St. Alphonsa’s High School. My education gave me a strong foundation to move forward.
In 2005, I made the bold decision to move to Hyderabad, despite my family’s objections. Adjusting to the new city and managing financial struggles wasn’t easy, but music kept me going. Without financial support from my family, I leaned on my musical talents to make ends meet, working as a music teacher to cover my expenses. This teaching phase was crucial to becoming a music director.
When I create music for a project, I blend the director’s vision with my personal connection to the emotion, creating something unique. The influence of legendary composers like Saluri Rajeswara Rao and vocalists like P. Susheela and Ghantasala can be heard in my compositions.
I’ve composed music for over 200 short films, and my 100th composition for ‘Okka Kshanam’ was a special moment. Being nominated for the SIIMA short film awards in 2020 for ‘Antharardham’ was incredibly motivating. Collaborating with actor and writer LB Sriram on over 10 short films has been an honor.
In 2023, my contributions to Telugu short films earned me a place in the ‘India Book of Records.’ I believe that even small tasks, done with honesty and dedication, bring the best results.”
– PVR RAJA, Music Composer
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