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Anirudh Ravichander, often credited simply as Anirudh, was born on October 16, 1990, into a Tamil family steeped in the arts, according to Wikipedia. His father is actor Ravi Raghavendra, his mother is classical dancer Lakshmi Ravichander, and superstar Rajinikanth is his uncle by marriage.
Anirudh studied piano through London's Trinity College of Music and played in a fusion band. He graduated from Loyola College in Chennai in 2011, a degree he called a backup in case music didn't work out.
It worked out. His debut song, "Why This Kolaveri Di," for the 2012 film 3, went viral around the world and has more than 590 million YouTube views. A.R. Murugadoss then hired him for Kaththi (2014), with the hit "Selfie Pulla," his biggest soundtrack until Rajinikanth's Petta (2019).
In 2016 he signed a record deal with Sony Music, which releases his independent albums and concerts, and featured with Diplo on the remix of Major Lazer's "Cold Water." He made his full Hindi film debut composing Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan (2023), and he scored Leo, his fourth film with actor Vijay. He has won two Filmfare Awards South, ten SIIMA Awards, six Edison Awards and five Vijay Awards.
He composed the music again for Nelson Dilipkumar's Jailer 2, starring Rajinikanth. Read how Jailer 2 hit No. 2 worldwide, and visit the Vijay Sethupathi hub.
Sources: Wikipedia
Our newest Anirudh Ravichander story, from October 19, 2026, is "Rajinikanth's 'Jailer 2' Hits No. 2 Worldwide, With a Cameo That Was 40 Years in the Making": Only 'Street Fighter' earned more around the world this weekend. Here are the numbers, the record it tied, the Hrithik Roshan reunion fans are talking about and how the ending sets up a third film.
"Why This Kolaveri Di," from the 2012 film 3, which has more than 590 million YouTube views (Wikipedia).
Yes. He composed the music for both Jailer films (our report).
Yes. Rajinikanth is his uncle by marriage. Anirudh's aunt is Latha Rajinikanth (Wikipedia).
