P.V.R. Raja

Penumatsa Venkata Ramaraju (born 1 June 1985), 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.

Raja has composed music for the films Vitamin She (2020), Black (2022) and Madhi (2022). He won the Andhra Pradesh state award in the guitar category at the 2011 National Youth Festival (India). Raja entered the India Book of Records for composing the most number of short Telugu films.

Early life
PVR Raja was born as Penumatsa Venkata Ramaraju on 1 June 1985 to Penumatsa Chandra Sekhar Raju and Penumatsa Satyavathi in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh. His father Chandra Sekhar Raju worked as the Police Head Constable and Raja's elder sister is Dhanalakshmi, younger sister is Sridevi and younger brother is Manikanta Raju.

He 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.

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.

Career
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.

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 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.

Awards and nominations

 * 1) 2005, 3rd position at Vizianagaram district level guitar category in National Youth Festival Competition.
 * 2) 2007, Top 18th place in 7 Up Ooh La La La band hunt conducted by music director A. R. Rahman.
 * 3) 2011, 1st position at Prakasam district level guitar category in National Youth Festival Competition.
 * 4) 2011, Andhra Pradesh state awardee in light music category at National Youth Festival, held in Hyderabad.
 * 5) 2011, 1st place at Andhra Pradesh state guitar category in National Youth Festival competitions.
 * 6) 2013, Semi finalist in Hyderabad Times Fresh face 2013 competitions.
 * 7) 2016, Lotus Film Awards best music director for Itlu Mee Laila short film.
 * 8) 2016, Felicitated with the Short film Diamond Award for his contribution to music in Telugu short films.
 * 9) 2017, Uday Kiran Cine Awards best music director for Oopirilo Oopiriga short film.
 * 10) 2017, Star Hunt best music director for Itlu Mee Laila short film.
 * 11) 2017, Lotus Film Awards best music director for Akasamantha Prema short film.
 * 12) 2017, Gayathri Cine Awards best music director for Happy Ending short film.
 * 13) 2017, Drishya short Stories BIG Ideas best music director for Last Call short film.
 * 14) 2017, Sakhi Eventz Varun Bajaj Awards best music director for Oopirilo Oopiriga short film.
 * 15) 2017, TANA International Telugu Short Film Awards best music director for Itlu Mee Laila short film.
 * 16) 2018, Lotus Film Awards best music director for Okka Kshanam short film.
 * 17) 2018, Nominated in Studio One Short film awards for Okka Kshanam for best music director category.
 * 18) 2020, Nominated in SIIMA short film awards for Antharardham for best music director category.
 * 19) 2023, Felicitated by Vizianagaram Vishwakala Parishath for his contribution to music in Telugu short films.
 * 20) 2023, Awarded by India Book of Records for Music composed by an individual for maximum short Telugu films.