Penumatsa Venkata Ramaraju, known professionally as PVR Raja, is an Indian music composer, record producer, songwriter and guitarist who works in Telugu cinema. He is nicknamed Short films Maestro and Ilaiyaraaja of Short films. He initially composed music for over 250 Short films and Independent films. He won the Andhra Pradesh state award in the guitar category at the 2011 National Youth Festival (India). PVR Raja entered the India Book of Records for composing the most number of short Telugu films.
PVR Raja completed his elementary education from R.C.M. St. Anthony's High School, intermediate school from M.S.N. Degree College and undergraduate degree from A.G.L. College. He completed Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor's Degree from Andhra University in 2005 and studied music at Maharajah's Government College of Music and Dance. He worked as a music teacher before becoming a music composer.
PVR Raja worked as a music teacher in Hyderabad Hindu Public School, Shraddha Centre For Special Education, Shalom Music School, Symphony Academy of Music and St. Alphonsa’s High School.
PVR Raja made his debut as a music director with the short film Arya 3 produced by Puri Jagannadh own production company Vaishno Academy. He provided the background score for the film 1 Hour produced by actress and politician Roja Selvamani. Raja composed music for the movie Atma Rama Ananda Ramana produced by Annapurna College of Film and Media and streaming on aha. He has predominantly composed music over 250 digital short films and Independent films from 2013 to present in English, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi languages.
PVR Raja worked as music director for the short films under the own production and direction of actor and writer L. B. Sriram. He composed music for ETV Dhee title winner Yashwanth Master's debut video album Dilantha Adhire.
He won the first place in Andhra pradesh state level competitions for guitar category in National Youth Festival 2011 organized by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. His albums released in major record labels in India such as Vitamin She in Times Music, Madhi in Aditya Music, Jai Shri Ram and Kaala Bhairava Ashtakam in Sony Music India. In the year 2020, three films scored by PVR Raja won awards at the SparkOTT film contest organized by Indian film director Ram Gopal Varma himself. MR. Productions Okka Kshanam short film is Raja's 100th film as a composer.
PVR Raja debut film as composer to the Tollywood was Madhi and Bollywood film Mitti-Back To Roots. Raja Completed one decade in Indian Telugu Film (Tollywood) Industry. Best known for Happy Ending, Vitamin She, "Atma Rama Ananda Ramana", and "MR. Productions Okka Kshanam" and so on.
PVR Raja Worked with major record labels like Saregama, Sony Music India, Aditya Music, Times Music, Mango Music, Madhura Audio, Anand Audio. PVR Raja worked in the music departments of silver screen films like "Jandhyala Raasina Premakadha", "Samsayam", "Mitti Back to the Roots", Black.
OTT Platform(s): Aha, MX Player, Amazon India, Amazon UK, Amazon US, A Prime Video, Airtel Xstream, Hungama Play, Vi, Bcineet
Genre: Indian Indie, Pop, Indian Film Pop, Indian Classical Carnatic, Telugu, Soundtracks, World Music, Indian Folk Music, Film Score, Musicial, Jazz, Folk, Filmi, Electronic, Dance, Classical.
Record Labels : Saregama, Aditya Music, Times Music, Sony Music India, Madhura Audio, Mango Music, Anand Audio, Junglee Music South.
Studied: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor's Degree from Andhra University in 2005
Music College: Maharajah's Government College of Music and Dance
Awards: 2011 Andhra Pradesh State Awardee by National Youth Festival in Guitar category, 2020 Siima Best Music Director Nominee.
Skills : Guitarist, Lyricist, Story Writer, Poet, Mixing and Mastering Engineer.
Audio Labels : Saregama, Sony Music, Sony Music India, Sony Music South, Aditya Music, Times Music, Mango Music, Madhura Audio, Junglee Music South, Anand Audio.
Awards&Nominations : 2007, Got top 18th place in 7 Up Ooh La La La Band Hunt conducted by Music Director A. R. Rahman. 2011, Andhra Pradesh State Awardee in Guitar category by National Youth Festival. 2011, Nominee for the National Level Competitions Guitar Category in National Youth Festival behalf of Andhra Pradesh State. 2017, Won Best Music Director Awards for Itlu Mee Laila Short Film in Telugu Association of North America (TANA) International Telugu Short Film Awards. 2020, Nominee for Best Music Director Category in South Indian International Movie (Siima) Short Film Awards for MR. Productions Antharardham Short Film.