Award-winning music director Harris Jayaraj celebrates his 38th birthday today. This will also mark the begining of his 12th year in the Tamil cinema industry, fondly known as Kollywood. Popular across the Southern states of India, 2012 was a successful year with hits from ‘Nanban’, ‘Oru Kal Oru Kannadi’, ‘Maattraan’ & ‘Thuppakki’ which have been on rotation on many of the Tamil radio stations and music channels across the globe. 2013 looks promising for the music director, with ‘Irandam Ulagam’, ‘Endrendrum Punnagi’, ‘Yaan’ and ‘Kathirvelin Kadhali’ already confirmed.

Harris shot to fame with the 2001 film ‘Minnale’, and his music career has been on a steady climb ever since. One of our favourites by the talented music producer has to be Nenjukkul Peidhidum from ‘Vaaranam Aayiram’ starring Suriya. Originally sung by Hariharan, we share with you a cover version of the song by Australians Nave & Thiri who fuse the track surprisingly well with Justin Bieber’s ‘Baby’!

Deeply religious music director, Harris Jeyaraj has turned 35 today. His accomplishments in the Tamil music industry started with his work in Gautham Menon’s Minnale, where his song Vaseegara, penned by lyricist Thamarai, became a humongous hit.
His work in subsequent soundtracks like 12B, Leysa Leysa, Saamy, Kaakha Kaakha, Thotti Jaya, Ullam Ketkumae, Anniyan, Ghajini (the original Tamil score), Unnale Unnale, Bheema, Dhaam Dhoom and Vaaranam Aayiram have kept listeners rapt since 2001.
2009 saw Harris’s music top the charts, his Ayan and Adhavan showcasing his vast repertoire. A former keyboardist and the son of a musical father (on the Christian Gospel side), Harris has worked with the likes of AR Rahman and Vidhyasagar as an arranger and keyboardist. He has accumulated many an award, most recently, the prestigious South Indian Kalaimaamani prize, which he received with his usual grace.
A spiritual, family man, his beautiful wife and kids, Joyce (formerly Suma), Samuel Nicholas and Karen Nikita are his backbone. Known for working abroad, in exotic locales, on his compositions, his most recent sojourn was to Sydney, Australia, on a project with Prabhu Deva. He spent Christmas with his family there, while working, re-iterating his committed work ethic.
In 2010, his movies 24, Ko and Ich are eagerly anticipated and his steady rise in the Tamil music world continues.
The Thamarai team wish Harris a blessed and fruitful decade ahead. Many happy returns!

Words: Ashanti OMkar