Introduction
Arjun Janya (previously Lokesh Kumar) is an Indian film score and soundtrack composer and singer. Arjun made his film debut in the 2006 Kannada film Autograph Please. Since then he has composed and scored music for such successful as Birugaali (2009), Sanchari (2010), Kempegowda (2011), Varadanayaka (2012) and Victory (2013). His songs have been well received by the audiences across South India.
Arjun Janya won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director for the film Alemaari (2012), the SIIMA Award for Best Music Director for the film Romeo (2012) and the Filmfare Best Music Director award for the film Bhajarangi (2013).
Career
Arjun started his career by assisting composers such as V. Manohar and K. Kalyan. He worked as a keyboard player for around 30 films.
His first release as a music director was Autograph Please (2006) starring Sanjjanaa and Dilip Raj. Since then, he composed for various films but with little success until he scored the music for the film Birugaali in 2009. All the songs of this film were noticed and appreciated. Following this, he tasted success by scoring for the film Sanchari in 2010.
Arjun's biggest breakthrough came with the Sudeep vehicle Kempe Gowda in 2011, a remake of the Tamil blockbuster Singam. During this time, he changed his name from Arjun to Arjun Janya upon his astrologer's suggestion and Sudeep's recommendation. Some articles report that a meeting between Arjun and Oscar-winning composer A. R. Rahman changed his fortunes in the music industry. The song "Khaali Quarter" composed for the 2013 film Victory went viral and was on top of the charts for many weeks. He scored for his 50th film composition for Vajrakaya which released in April 2015 which received rave reviews.
Arjun is currently judging the Kannada version of the reality singing show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs in Zee Kannada channel along with singers Rajesh Krishnan and Vijay Prakash.
Filmography
As a composer
| Year | Film Title | Notes / Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Autograph Please | |
| 2007 | Baba | |
| 2007 | Yuga | |
| 2008 | Patre Loves Padma | |
| 2008 | Dheemaku | |
| 2008 | Slum Bala | |
| 2008 | Dheena | |
| 2009 | Machcha | |
| 2009 | Birugaali | South Scope Award for Best Music Director |
| 2010 | Jugaari | |
| 2010 | Sanchari | Suvarna Award for Best Song |
| 2010 | Nam Areali Ondina | |
| 2010 | Gubbi | |
| 2011 | Kempegowda | Won, South Scope Award for Best Stylish Music Album Kadiri Award for Best Music Director |
| 2011 | Rajadhani | Dubbed in Telugu as Bhagyanagaram |
| 2011 | Jarasandha | |
| 2012 | Thuglak | |
| 2012 | Lucky | |
| 2012 | Alemaari | Won, Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director |
| 2012 | Dandupalya | |
| 2012 | Romeo | Won, SIIMA Award for Best Music Director (Kannada) |
| 2012 | 18th Cross | |
| 2012 | Rambo | |
| 2013 | Varadanayaka | Won, SIIMA Award for Best Male Playback Singer (Kannada) |
| 2013 | Rajanikantha | |
| 2013 | Chathrigalu Saar Chathrigalu | |
| 2013 | Auto Raja | |
| 2013 | Jayammana Maga | |
| 2013 | Victory | |
| 2013 | Case No. 18/9 | |
| 2013 | Barfi | |
| 2013 | Dilwala | |
| 2013 | Sweety Nanna Jodi | |
| 2013 | Chaddi Dosth | |
| 2013 | Bhajarangi | Won, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director - Kannada |
| 2014 | Dil Rangeela | |
| 2014 | Darling | |
| 2014 | Angaaraka | |
| 2014 | Maanikya | |
| 2014 | Paru Wife of Devadas | |
| 2014 | Adyaksha | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada |
| 2014 | Super Ranga | |
| 2014 | Tirupathi Express | |
| 2014 | Paramashiva | |
| 2014 | Simhadri | |
| 2014 | Neenade Naa | |
| 2014 | Jai Hind 2 /Abhimanyu | Tamil/Kannada bilingual film |
| 2015 | Jackson | |
| 2015 | Raja Rajendra | |
| 2015 | DK | |
| 2015 | Goa | |
| 2015 | RX Soori | |
| 2015 | Vajrakaya | |
| 2015 | Bullet Basya | |
| 2015 | Arjuna | |
| 2015 | Dove | |
| 2015 | Ganga | |
| 2016 | Kathe Chitrakathe Nirdeshana Puttanna | |
| 2016 | Ricky | |
| 2016 | Mareyalaare | |
| 2016 | Style King | |
| 2016 | Jai Maruthi 800 | |
| 2016 | Jigarthanda | |
| 2016 | Lakshmana | |
| 2016 | Kalpana 2 | |
| 2016 | Mungaru Male 2 | |
| 2016 | Mukunda Murari | |
| 2016 | John Jani Janardhan | |
| 2017 | Hebbuli | |
| 2017 | Chakravarthy | |
| 2017 | Chowka | Two songs |
| 2017 | Naane Next CM | |
| 2017 | Raaga | |
| 2017 | Pataki |
As a singer
- "Belagageddu Coffee" – Romeo
- "Gowramma Baramma" – Lucky
- "Manethanka Baare" – Rambo
- "OOta Madro Dayavittu" - "Mrugashira"