Early life

Harris Jayaraj was born and brought up in Chennai to Tamil parents. His father hails from a Christian family and his mother from a Hindu family. He studied at Krishnaswamy Matric School. At age six, Harris began his formal training in carnatic music. His father, S. M. Jayakumar, was a noted film guitarist and had frequently collaborated with T. M. Soundararajan, A. L. Raghavan, M.S.Viswanathan, Soolamangalam Sisters, K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki, Shankar Ganesh, S.P.Balasubramaniam, K. V. Mahadevan, Malaysia Vasudevan, L. R. Eswari, Jikki, K. Jamuna Rani, P.Susheela and Malayalam music director Shyam. Following two distressing bomb blast incidents he became more religiously inclined and young Harris had to take over the family responsibility.

Harris scored the highest mark in Asia on his 4th grade exam of Trinity College of Music, London. He started his music career as a guitarist under M. S. Viswanathan's assistant Joseph Krishna for a Malayalam film and he was paid ₹200.{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUJj9qt9R14|title= “Rejected 10 Vijay Films & Got Scolded for Buying Instruments” - The SS Podcast ft. Harris Jayaraj|time=4:00-5:34|work=SS Music|via=YouTube|date=12 March 2025|access-date=2 January 2026}} Harris could pursue his academics only up to High School, by then he always had problem with his attendance due to his recording sessions. Until 2000, he worked under noted composers including Raj–Koti, A. R. Rahman, Sadhu Kokila, Mani Sharma, Karthik Raja, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Sirpy, Suresh Peters, Chandrabose, Shyam, Ouseppachan, Adithyan, Vidyasagar and Bala Bharathi. In his early years as a musician, Harris has worked in movie soundtracks and film scores of various popular movies including Muthu, Seevalaperi Pandi, Asuran, * Indian*, Aravindhan, Ullaasam, Ratchagan, Jeans, Padayappa, Poovellam Kettuppar, Mudhalvan, Taj Mahal, Taal and Kandukondain Kandukondain. While working as an additional programmer under A. R. Rahman, he composed music for various television commercials including a Coca-Cola commercial featuring actor Vijay. In his early years, he admired music composers M. S. Viswanathan, Ennio Morricone, A. R. Rahman, Salil Chowdhury, and Hans Zimmer.

Film career

Harris debuted as a composer with Gautham Vasudev Menon's Minnale. The album was well received, particularly the song Vaseegara sung by Bombay Jayashri was exceptionally popular. He received the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil for his work in Minnale, breaking the 9 years continuous record of A. R. Rahman. The following soundtrack albums 12B and Majunu met with high acclaim and praise. He also composed for the Hindi remake of Minnale titled Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, also directed by Gautham Menon. Most of the tunes from the Tamil version were retained in the Hindi version too, and only two fresh tunes were composed. He then worked in Lesa Lesa directed by Priyadarshan. The title track of Lesa Lesa was the first song in India to be released as a single prior to a film soundtrack album release. Harris made his debut in Telugu cinema with Vasu. He received the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director and ITFA Best Music Director Award for Kaakha Kaakha, starring Suriya and Jyothika. This film directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon was a huge commercial success and the songs met with great critical acclaim. In its Telugu remake Gharshana two new songs apart from the Tamil version were added to suit the taste of Telugu audience. The song "Uyirin Uyire" reused as "Cheliya Cheliya" in Telugu and "Khwabon Khwabon" in Hindi had effective use of gibberish words which later became a signature element in Harris songs.

Harris once again paired up with director Jeeva on Ullam Ketkumae after 12B. The music was appreciated for its excellency and synergy with the atmosphere in and out of the movie. Director S. Shankar, noted leading director of Tamil cinema, paired up with Harris in his magnum opus Anniyan. It was the first time Shankar did not team up with A. R. Rahman. Shankar later mentioned that working with Harris was an experience. The soundtrack album received several awards including Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director and Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil. The next film he scored was Ghajini directed by AR Murugadoss, for which he received Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director. Critics noted that the album had "scintillating, party-hopping numbers", which resulted in a huge commercial success in audio sales; the track "Sutum Vizhi" crossed 20 million downloads and turned out to be phenomenally successful. Harris crafted a necessary classiness into Gautham Menon's blockbuster crime thriller Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu starring Kamal Haasan. Gautham revealed that he shares the entire script with Harris and provides input's from his side."Harris and I, when we work together, we put in a lot of effort. I give him the entire script. I give him inputs. When we sat down for Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, I told him to do away with the traditional pallavi-charanam format in the "Manjal veyyil" song." Harris once again ventured into Telugu films with a successful album Sainikudu. The music album of the film was released simultaneously in 10 chosen venues from five different countries. Gautham Menon who considers the music and background score of Harris as a major asset of his films, once again teamed up with Harris on a romantic-thriller Pachaikili Muthucharam. The soundtracks of Pachaikili Muthucharam are appraised as melancholic, lilting, mysterious, and alternatively catchy. Harris' collaboration with Jeeva continued with Unnale Unnale. The music album oozing with energy all through proved to be a cut above the rest. His next Telugu venture Munna had a good commercial reception, and the song "Manasa" fetched a Filmfare Best Singer Female award to Sadhana Sargam. With the following album Bheema, Harris continued his mettle with all the six songs. The track "Siru Parvaiyalae" used Pashto words in interludes. The album was praised for bringing up visual recapitulation from audio. Harris used a live orchestra of 84 members for the action cop film Sathyam. In 2009, Harris Jayaraj was signed in for Vikram Kumar's 24, which was to star Vikram. He was also signed in for the Malayalam film Yoddha 2, starring Mohanlal. But both films were subsequently shelved.

In Anegan, Harris's "Danga Maari Oodhari", featuring lyrics in North Madras slang become an instant chart-buster. After a hiatus of 6 years, Harris collaborated with Gautham Vasudev Menon for the action cop film Yennai Arindhaal. The soundtrack received positive reviews from critics and according to Behindwoods, it was the most played album of 2015 in Chennai radio stations.

Live in concert

Main article: Harris: On The Edge

In 2011, Harris announced his first musical world tour titled "Harris on the Edge". The tour featured live performance of Harris all over the world accompanied by a troupe of Tamil playback singers, including Karthik, Haricharan, Chinmayi, Tippu, Harini, Naresh Iyer, Harish Raghavendra, Krish, Aalap Raju, KK, Benny Dayal, Andrea, Suvi Suresh, Sunitha Sarathy, Srilekha Parthasarathy and Shweta Mohan and international musicians and dancers. The event was coordinated by Techfront and was directed by A. L. Vijay. The tour kick started in Chennai on 8 October 2011, and later continued in Coimbatore on 23 December 2011 and in Dubai on 4 February 2012. The whole tour was covered by Jaya TV.

Studio H

Harris opened a new studio on 8 January 2017, called Studio H. The studio consists of the latest audio recording systems and technology. The first song to be composed in the studio was Halena from Iru Mugan. The S3 soundtrack was the first project entirely composed here.

Filmography

Guest appearances

• 2011 Ko - in song "Aga Naga Naga"

Discography

As a music director

Notes:

• • Indicates languages of original release.
• ♦ Indicates a film remade in another language with a different cast, retaining Harris as the composer.

• indicates the soundtrack album has one or more bonus songs composed by a different composer.

• The movie * Thotti Jaya* has an additional track "Indha Ooru" composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja used only in the Tamil version of the movie. It was replaced in Telugu by the song "Ee Calcutta" composed by Harris.
• The movie Satyam was shot in Telugu as Salute; however, the music videos were not reshot.
• The movie Force has four songs composed by Harris. Film scoring is done by Sameer Phatarpekar with some themes having some of their melodies borrowed from the songs.

Upcoming

As a lyricist

Music videos

Ad jingles

He composed music for various television commercials including a Coca-Cola commercial featuring Vijay. In 2008, he composed for Herova? Zerova? ad campaign which Suriya initiated under the Agaram Foundation, working to help children who drop out of school early in Tamil Nadu. With the Ministry of Education in Tamil Nadu, he created a short commercial video outlining child poverty, labour and lack of education written and produced by Sivakumar and also starred Suriya, Vijay, R. Madhavan and Jyothika.

Personal life

Harris is married to Suma Jayaraj, the couple have a son named Samuel Nicholas Harris and a daughter named Karen Nikitha Harris, born in 2006. Nikitha is a playback singer who made her debut through the song "Vinnil Vinmeen" for the movie Kaappaan, and won a V4U Media award in 2020.

Awards and nominations

;Special Honours

;Filmfare Awards South

;Tamil Nadu State Film Awards ;

;South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA)

;Vijay Awards

• 2008: Won - Best Music Director - Vaaranam Aayiram
• 2009: Won - Best Music Director - Aadhavan
• 2008: Won - Favorite Song of the Year - "Ava Enna" from Vaaranam Aayiram
• 2011: Won - Favorite Song of the Year - "Enamo Aedho" from Ko
• 2012: Won - Favorite Song of the Year - "Google Google" from Thuppakki
• 2007: Nominated - Best Music Director - Unnale Unnale
• 2011: Nominated - Best Music Director - Engeyum Kaadhal
• 2012: Nominated - Best Music Director - Nanban
• 2011: Nominated - Best Background Score - Ko
• 2008: Nominated - Favourite Song of the Year - "Mundhinam" from Vaaranam Aayiram
• 2008: Nominated - Favourite Song of the Year - "Nenjukkul" from Vaaranam Aayiram
• 2009: Nominated - Favourite Song of the Year - "Hasili Fisili" from Aadhavan
• 2009: Nominated - Favourite Song of the Year - "Vizhi Moodi" from Ayan
• 2012: Nominated - Favourite Song of the Year - "Venaam Machan" from Oru Kal Oru Kannadi
• 2014: Nominated - Favourite Song of the Year - "Aathangara Orathil" from Yaan

;Vijay Music Awards

• 2011: Won - Best Music Director - Engeyum Kaadhal
• 2011: Won - Popular Song of the Year - "Enamo Aedho" from Ko
• 2011: Won - Best Western Song - "Nangaai" from Engeyum Kaadhal

;International Tamil Film Awards (ITFA)

• 2003: Won - Best Music Director - Kaakha Kaakha
• 2005: Won - Best Music Director - Ghajini
• 2008: Won - Best Music Director - Vaaranam Aayiram

;Mirchi Music Awards South

• 2009: Won - Best Album of the Year - Ayan
• 2009: Won - Mirchi Listeners' Choice for Best Album - Ayan
• 2010: Won - Best Album of the Year - Orange
• 2010: Won - Mirchi Listeners' Choice for Best Album - Orange
• 2010: Won - Mirchi Listeners' Choice for Best Song - "Nenu Nuvvantu" from Orange
• 2011: Won - Best Song of the Year - "Enamo Aedho" from Ko

;Edison Awards

• 2009: Won - Best Music Director - Ayan
• 2011: Won - Best Music Director - Ko
• 2015: Won - Favourite Song of the Year - "Danga Maari" from Anegan
• 2015: Nominated - Best Music Director - Anegan

;MGR Sivaji Cinema Awards

• 2019 - Best Music Director - Kaappaan
• 2019 - Mellisai Mannar M.S.Viswanathan Award

;Isaiaruvi Tamil Music Awards

• 2007 - Best Youthful Album of the Year - Unnale Unnale
• 2007 - Most Listened Song of the Year - "June Ponal" from Unnale Unnale
• 2008 - Best Romantic Song of the Year - "Anbe En Anbe" from Dhaam Dhoom
• 2008 - Best Album of the Year - Vaaranam Aayiram
• 2008 - Best Music Director - Vaaranam Aayiram
• 2009 - Best Romantic Song of the Year - "Vizhi Moodi Yosithal" from Ayan
• 2009 - Best Album of the Year - Aadhavan
• 2009 - Best Music Director of the Year - Aadhavan

;Big FM Awards

• 2010 - Best Music Director - Orange

; Big Tamil Melody Awards

• 2011 - Best Music Director - Engeyum Kaadhal
• 2011 - Best Album of the Year - Engeyum Kaadhal
• 2012 - Best Music Director - Nanban

;Chennai Times Film Awards

• 2011 - Best Music Director - Ko

;Maa Music Awards

• 2011 - Best Dubbing Song - "Enduko Emo" from Ko

;South Scope Awards

• 2008 - Most Stylish Music Director - Dhaam Dhoom
• 2009 - Best Music Director - Ayan

;Stardust Awards

• 2011: Nominated - Standout Performance by a Music Director - Force

References

References

1. (25 February 2009). "Tamil Nadu News : 70 artists get Kalaimamani awards". [[The Hindu]].
2. (25 January 2015). "Award for Harris Jayaraj". The Hindu.
3. (21 October 2019). "Harris Jayaraj conferred Doctorate - A.R.Rahman and other celebs applaud - Tamil News".
4. "God is Good கர்த்தர் நல்லவர் Episode 105 Dr. S.M. Jayakumar". Angel TV.
5. (1 June 2007). "Friday Review Chennai : From 'Minnalae' to 'Unnalae...'". [[The Hindu]].
6. (27 September 2020). "Harris Jayaraj about S.P.Balasubramaniyam".
7. (12 March 2012). "Harris Jayaraj interview on OK OK". Nickhilschannel.
8. "Harris on the edge oru Munnotam".
9. (21 January 2009). "Interview with Music Director Harris Jayaraj".
10. Pradeep, K.. (2016-04-28). "Music, his driving force". The Hindu.
11. "Harris Jayaraj | Harris Jayaraj Movies List". Exelweb.com.
12. "600 Films before Minnale, For Rs.200 Salary as Musician". BehindwoodsTV.
13. "பகல் ல TELUGU - NIGHT ல தமிழ் Harris Jayaraj & GVM Exclusive on Dhruva Natchatiram by Mirchi Jawi". Mirchi Tamil.
14. (6 June 2022). "Harris Jayaraj about Chakku Chakku Vathikuchi".
15. (25 October 2002). "The Hindu : Fame on a platter". Thehindujobs.com.
16. "A special birthday for Harris – Tamil Movie News".
17. (3 July 2009). "Cinema Plus / Columns : My First break". [[The Hindu]].
18. (5 October 2001). "First in many ways". [[The Hindu]].
19. (16 December 2005). "Tamil movies : Harris Jayaraj all set to break the Hindi jinx".
20. (18 October 2001). "Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein : Soundtrack listing and details".
21. (23 May 2003). "Lesa Lesa". [[The Hindu]].
22. (25 October 2002). "The Hindu : Fame on a platter". Thehindujobs.com.
23. (2 October 2009). "Suriya: Bollywood's hottest six-pack – Culture". livemint.com.
24. Baradwaj Rangan. (12 February 2011). "Between Reviews: Shooting from the Lip « Blogical Conclusion". Baradwajrangan.wordpress.com.
25. Free Movies says. (9 August 2011). "Gharshana (2004) Telugu Movie Subtitle | Subtitles Download". Subsplanet.com.
26. (8 July 2008). "How time flies!". [[The Times of India]].
27. (18 September 2019). "A Harris Jayaraj Fan Analyses His Harris Jayaraj Fandom".
28. (19 April 2004). "Campus caper". [[The Hindu]].
29. (10 May 2004). "Ullam Ketkumae Tamil Movie Preview".
30. (15 July 2004). "Ullam Ketkumae Review – Tamil Movie Review by P.V.Sathish Kumar". Nowrunning.com.
31. (20 January 2007). "Welcome to".
32. (11 March 2005). "Entertainment Chennai : Director's dream project". [[The Hindu]].
33. "TAMIL NADU STATE GOVERNMENT FILM AWARD YEAR 2005".
34. "Tamil Nadu Government awards".
35. (10 September 2006). "'Anniyan' sweeps Filmfare Awards!".
36. "Harris Jayaraj".
37. (21 January 2009). "Music Director Harris Jayaraj".
38. "Music Review :Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu".
39. (17 December 2006). "Interview: Gautham Menon « Baradwaj Rangan". Baradwajrangan.wordpress.com.
40. "'Sainikudu' slated for 30 Nov. release – Telugu Movie News".
41. (21 October 2006). "Sainikudu audio release – Telugu cinema – Mahesh Babu & Trisha". Idlebrain.com.
42. (20 January 2007). "Welcome to".
43. (24 January 2007). "Pachai Kili Muthucharam Music Review songs lyrics".
44. (13 April 2007). "Unnale Unnale Tamil Movie Review – cinema preview stills gallery trailer video clips showtimes".
45. "Movie Review:Unnale Unnale".
46. (24 January 2007). "Unnale Unnale Music Review songs lyrics".
47. "Bheema – Music Review".
48. "SATYAM MUSIC REVIEW - HARRIS JAYARAJ Behindwoods CAST VISHAL NAYANTHARA DIRECTION RAJASEKAR A PRODUCTION VIKRAM KRISHNA MUSIC HARRIS JAYARAJ images gallery".
49. "Tamil Cinema News - Tamil Movie Reviews - Tamil Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Tamil".
50. (15 May 2012). "'Chiyaan' Vikram ready for '24'".
51. (25 August 2008). "The Vaseegara guy". The Hindu.
52. "Anegan Danga Maari Oodhari Anegan, Dhanush".
53. xxxxx. "Paatuvarigal - Tamil Song Lyrics: Adhaaru Adhaaru Song Lyrics from yennai Arindhaal".
54. (17 October 2015). "Yennai Arindhaal is 2015's most played album in Chennai radio stations.".
55. "Harris Jayaraj shut down new film assignment". Supergoodmovies.com.
56. "Harris Jayaraj to go on world tour".
57. (30 September 2011). "Harris Jayaraj's Chennai concert postponed".
58. (20 September 2011). "On the Stage with Harris Jayaraj".
59. (20 January 2024). "Harris Jayaraj Live in Switzerland on 20th january 2024".
60. "Mahesh23, S3 album recorded in Harris Jayaraj s new Studio H".
61. (14 January 2017). "Harris Jayaraj's Studio H Opening, Event Gallery, Harris Jayaraj, Gautham Menon".
62. Sreedhar Pillai. (17 December 2009). "Harris Jayaraj, the man of {{sic". The Times of India.
63. (7 January 2025). "Happy Birthday Harris Jayaraj | KRR | ALVijay | Harris Jayaraj | Announcement video".
64. "India Turns Pink Pink Ambassador Mrs.Suma Jayaraj". India Turns Pink.
65. [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/harris-jayarajs-daughter-makes-her-singing-debut/articleshow/70330178.cms "Harris Jayaraj's daughter makes her singing debut"] {{Webarchive. link. (15 July 2021 . Times of India. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2021.)
66. [https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/301119/musics-in-her-blood.html "Music's in her blood"] {{Webarchive. link. (15 July 2021 . Deccan Chronicle. 30 November 2019, Retrieved 15 July 2021)
67. Best Debut Singer"] {{Webarchive. link. (21 July 2021 . [[Vasanth TV]]. 22 Feb 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2021.)
68. (4 February 2015). "Audi RITZ Icon Awards 2015: Chiyaan Vikram, Dulquer Salmaan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu Honoured". [[International Business Times]].
69. (7 October 2019). "Harris Jayaraj 'Aalavandhan' flashback | Behindwoods Gold Mic Awards: Special Highlight Moments".
70. (15 June 2009). "Univercell 3rd Vijay Awards - Winners List - Tamil Movie News".
71. K. Lakshmi. (30 May 2010). "The Hindu : Cities / Chennai : 'Pasanga' steals show at Vijay awards". The Hindu.
72. "Vijay Awards 06/18/09".
73. Prakash. (18 June 2012). "Vijay Awards 2012 winners". Entertainment.oneindia.in.
74. "Google Google was awarded favorite song of 2012".
75. (30 May 2012). "Vijay Awards 06/06/08".
76. "Vijay Awards 06/30/12".
77. "6th Annual Vijay Awards Oru Munnottam 06/03/12".
78. "Vijay Awards 06/21/10".
79. "2nd Annual Vijay Music Awards Winners List (for 2011)".
80. "Kakka Kakka receives eight ITFA awards". Yahoo Movies.
81. "ghajini: Latest News & Videos, Photos about ghajini - The Economic Times".
82. (October 2017)
83. "Mirchi Music Awards - South". Radioandmusic.com.
84. TNN. (18 July 2010). "Glitz, glamour and gaiety mark Uninor Mirchi Music awards". [[The Times of India]].
85. "Picture 8862 « RADIO MIRCHI MUSIC AWARDS 2010". Kural TV.
86. (31 March 2012). "Mirchi Music Awards - Mirchi Music Awards Full Length".
87. [[Mirchi Music Awards South#Jury awards]]
88. "Edison Awards 2012". Edisonawards.in.
89. "Edison Awards 2012". Images.behindwoods.com.
90. "Archived copy".
91. "Edison Awards 2016". [[Edison Awards (India).
92. (15 February 2020). "MGR - SIVAJI Cinema Awards 2020 | Best Music Director - Harris Jayaraj | Kaappaan | Vasanth TV".
93. (22 February 2020). "MGR - SIVAJI Cinema Awards 2020 | Mellisai Mannar M.S.Viswanathan Award - Harris Jayaraj | VasanthTV".
94. (11 July 2008). "Isayaruvi Sunfeast Tamil Music Awards 2008". mirchigossips.in.
95. "Isaiaruvi Music Awards - images - Behindwoods.com - Tamil Movie Events - Isaiaruvi Harris Jayaraj sundar c Hariharan James Vasanthan".
96. "Meera Isaiaruvi Tamil Music Awards 09".
97. "Isaiaruvi Music Awards - images - Behindwoods.com - Tamil Movie Events - Isaiaruvi Harris Jayaraj sundar c Hariharan James Vasanthan".
98. "ISAIARUVI TAMIL MUSIC AWARDS - Tamil Movie Event Images - ISAIARUVI TAMIL MUSIC AWARDS - Vijay | Shruti Hassan". Images.behindwoods.com.
99. "Twitter / Jharrisjayaraj: It's nice to receive the B".
100. (30 June 2012). "Celebs galore at BIG Tamil Melody Awards - Tamil Movie News".
101. Venkadesan S, TNIE. (30 June 2012). "Big Tamil Melody Awards: Big stars great melodies". The New Indian Express.
102. "The winners of the BIG Melody Awards!".
103. (22 June 2012). "The Chennai Times Film Awards 2011". The Times of India.
104. (5 February 2012). "Maa Music Awards 2012".
105. (26 October 2009). "Events - South Scope Style Awards 2009 Presented".
106. "South Scope award - Tamil Movie News - And the South Scope award goes to".
107. (25 January 2012). "Stardust Awards 2011–2012 Nominations". Indicine.com.