Anirudh Ravichander (born 16 October 1990) is an Indian composer and singer who works mainly in Tamil cinema and also in Telugu and Hindi films. He became famous overnight in 2011 when “Why This Kolaveri Di”, from his first film, went viral around the world. Known to fans simply as “Anirudh” or “Ani”, he has since composed chart-topping soundtracks for films such as Kaththi, Vikram, Jailer, Leo and Jawan, and he is among the highest-paid music directors in India.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Anirudh Ravichander |
| Born | 16 October 1990, Madras (now Chennai), India |
| Age | 36 |
| Occupation | Composer, singer |
| Parents | Ravi Raghavendra (actor), Lakshmi (dancer) |
| Education | Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan; Loyola College, Chennai; Trinity College London (piano) |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Relatives | Nephew of Latha Rajinikanth |
| Known for | “Why This Kolaveri Di”, Vikram, Jailer, Jawan |
Early Life
Anirudh was born in Chennai to the actor Ravi Raghavendra and the classical dancer Lakshmi. His father’s sister, Latha, is married to Rajinikanth. He learned Carnatic music and the piano as a child, passing the Trinity College London examinations, and played keyboards in a school band. He studied commerce at Loyola College.
Career
While still at college Anirudh scored short films made by his cousin Aishwarya Rajinikanth, who then asked him to compose for her first feature, 3 (2012). One song, “Why This Kolaveri Di”, sung by Dhanush in a mixture of Tamil and English, was released online in November 2011 and became one of the first Indian videos to pass 100 million views on YouTube.
He followed it with hit albums for Ethir Neechal (2013), Velaiyilla Pattathari (2014), Vijay‘s Kaththi (2014), Vedalam (2015) and Remo (2016). In 2019 he scored his uncle Rajinikanth’s Petta, and he made his Telugu debut with Agnyaathavaasi (2018) and the acclaimed Jersey (2019).
Anirudh’s songs for Master (2021), Beast (2022), whose “Arabic Kuthu” became a global dance trend, and Kamal Haasan‘s Vikram (2022) dominated the charts. In 2023 he scored Jailer, Leo and his first Hindi film, Shah Rukh Khan‘s Jawan, three of the year’s biggest hits. He has since composed for Devara (2024), with Jr NTR, and Coolie (2025). He also performs large stadium concerts in India and abroad.
Style
Anirudh’s music blends electronic dance music, hip-hop and rock with Tamil folk rhythms such as kuthu. He often sings his own songs and those of other composers.
Awards and Honours
Popular Songs
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Anirudh Ravichander born?
Anirudh Ravichander was born on 16 October 1990 in Madras (now Chennai), India and is 36 years old.
What is Anirudh Ravichander known for?
Known for: “Why This Kolaveri Di”, Vikram, Jailer, Jawan.
Featured image: Anirudh Ravichander at the audio launch of Velaikkaran, Chennai, December 2017. Photo by Dani Charles, Silverscreen Media, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
