PVR Raja: Meet the popular short film composer who’s making a mark in Telugu cinema

While there have been many noted actors and directors who’ve taken the short film route to make a mark in mainstream cinema, it’s rare that a musician has tread that path effectively. Composer Penumatsa Venkata Ramaraju, popularly known as PVR Raja in film circles, who worked in over 250 short films, is certainly one among them who’s found his niche in feature films.

Born in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, PVR Raja, before making his big screen debut as a composer with Madhi in 2022, scored music for Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English shorts for over a decade across diverse genres. The composer debuted with Arya 3, a short produced by Vaishno Media, the production house of eminent director Puri Jagannadh in 2013 and never had to look back later.

Some of the more popular short films of the composer include One Hour, produced by actress, politician Roja Selvamani, MR Productions’ Okka Kshanam and the web film Vitamin She (streaming on MX Player), directed by Paper Boy-fame V Jayashankarr. He’s worked in over 10 short films backed by writer, actor LB Sriram for his Youtube channel (under LB Sriram Heart Films) as well.

Noted choreographer Yashwanth too roped in PVR Raja to compose the music for his first video album Dil Antha Adhire. One of his well-known short films, Atma Rama Ananda Rama, screened as part of Annapurna Film School’s annual film fest, can be streamed on aha. Through his journey, he has associated with noted music labels like Aditya Music, Mango Music, Times Music and Madhura Audio as well.

Beyond Madhi, many of his feature/indie films are available to watch on major OTT platforms including Capture (MX Player), Maaya (MX Player), Mitti Back to the Roots,(Hungama, MX Player), Chai Kahani (MX Player), Samsayam and Black (Amazon Prime Video). Before carving his niche in short films, PVR Raja won top honours at district, state and national levels, starting from 2011.

He made it to the semi-finals of the Times Fresh Face event in 2013 as well and his short film Itlu Mee Laila made a splash at TANA’s international Telugu short film festival in 2017. Another short AntHarardham ensured him a nomination (as the best music director) at SIIMA’s event celebrating quality short films. Three of his films made it to the top 18 list in a contest organised by Spark OTT.

Nicknamed as the Ilaiyaraaja of short films by his peers, PVR Raja, while talking of his love for music, shares, “Many thought I wasn’t fit to make a career music owing to my stammering. However, I never let my limitations and their apprehensions overpower my dreams. I associated with credible teams, production houses that believed in my abilities.”

“Now that I’ve completed a decade in short films, I want to be a part of good films with unique plots that challenge me as a musician. I’ve worked hard to come to this stage and I want to make my opportunities count. I hope my music reaches wider quarters in the coming years,” the youngster adds.