# Arjun Menon > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Arjun_Menon > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Arjun_Menon.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjun_Menon > Source revision: 1343881698 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American singer (born 1987)}} {{for|the Singaporean cricket coach|Arjun Menon (coach)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Arjun Menon | image = Arjun Menon - Singer.jpg | image_size = | landscape = | caption = Menon in 2012 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|12|19}} | birth_place = Chennai | genre = Film Music, Indian Classical Music | occupation = Singer, Musician | instrument = Vocalist, Acoustic Guitar | years_active = 2011 – present }} '''Arjun Menon''' (born 19 December 1987) is an Indian [playback singer](/source/playback_singer) and songwriter based in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) and [London](/source/London).{{cite news|title=Music is Everything to me|url=http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130312/entertainment-tvmusic/article/music-everything-me-arjun-menon|newspaper=[Deccan Chronicle](/source/Deccan_Chronicle)|date=12 March 2013|access-date=15 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924041027/http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130312/entertainment-tvmusic/article/music-everything-me-arjun-menon|archive-date=24 September 2014|url-status=dead}} He has sung for music directors including [A.R. Rahman](/source/A.R._Rahman), [Harris Jayaraj](/source/Harris_Jayaraj) and [G.V Prakash](/source/G._V._Prakash_Kumar). Arjun started his music career performing [Carnatic music](/source/Carnatic_music) as a solo artist and subsequently performed several shows across the country collaborating with top musicians. He sang the re-recording song "Kulu Kulu Venpani Pola"{{cite news|title=Harris turns lyricist!|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news-and-interviews/Harris-turns-lyricist/articleshow/7806477.cms|newspaper=[Times of India](/source/Times_of_India)|date=29 March 2011|first=Sreedhar|last=Pillai|accessdate=18 May 2018}} for the movie ''[Engeyum Kadhal](/source/Engeyum_Kadhal)'', which was composed and penned by [Harris Jayaraj](/source/Harris_Jayaraj). His playblack debut and big break came with the song "Latcham Calorie" from the movie [''Yaan''](/source/Yaan_(film)) in 2014. ==Early life== Arjun was born on 19 December 1987 into a family of music connoisseurs. His parents, [Prem Menon](/source/Prem_Menon) and Usha, discovered his love for music at a young age and initiated his vocal training when he was four. He started learning Carnatic music under several gurus, including Ajay Namboodiri and Prof. Ramamoorthy Rao (a disciple of [Bhimsen Joshi](/source/Bhimsen_joshi)). He was also briefly under the tutelage of [Chitravina Ravikiran](/source/Chitravina_Ravikiran). He performed his first stage show at the age of five. He performed several Carnatic concerts from 1997 to 2003 and performed at the prestigious Tiruvaiyyaru [Tyagaraja Aradhana](/source/Tyagaraja_Aradhana) in the years 1999 and 2000. During his schooling, Arjun was exposed to several genres of music which inspired him to learn to play the [acoustic guitar](/source/acoustic_guitar). He won several competitions organized by groups like the Sangam Kala Group and the Annual Swathi Smrithi Music Competition. In 2001, Arjun played the role of Ayyappan in the Malayalam television series ''Swami Ayyappan''. The series was directed by [P. N. Menon](/source/P._N._Menon_(director)) and was broadcast on [Asianet](/source/Asianet_(TV_channel)). While at college, Arjun took part in several inter-college culturals. He won several awards, including Best Vocalist at Pradharshini in 2006 (conducted by the [Kilpauk Medical College](/source/Kilpauk_Medical_College)) and Light Music Vocal - Solo Title at [Saarang](/source/Saarang) in 2009. While at college, he formed the band Clarity in Confusion. Arjun completed his school education at Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Taylors Road in 2005. He went on to complete a bachelor's degree in electrical and electronics engineering at [Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering](/source/Sri_Venkateswara_College_of_Engineering) in 2009. He also holds a PGDBA in operations management from SCDL, Pune. He speaks English, Tamil and Malayalam fluently, and sings in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Urdu. ==Career== ===Music=== Arjun's music career started at a young age. He started performing carnatic music concerts across the country as a solo artist, often accompanying his gurus. He appeared on ''Isai Unplugged'', a television show on the [Zee Tamil](/source/Zee_Tamil) channel, in 2010. The show ran for over a year and saw him collaborate with several prominent musicians. In the second season of the show, in 2013, he performed with his melodic rock band CinC. He sang the re-recording song "Kulu Kulu Venpani Pola", composed by [Harris Jeyaraj](/source/Harris_Jeyaraj), in the Kollywood movie ''[Engeyum Kadhal](/source/Engeyum_Kadhal)'' in 2011. He also sang on the soundtracks of several other films, including ''[Saguni](/source/Saguni)'' and ''[Thalaiva](/source/Thalaiva)''.{{Cite web |url=http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130312/entertainment-tvmusic/article/music-everything-me-arjun-menon |title='Music everything to me': Arjun Menon |access-date=15 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924041027/http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130312/entertainment-tvmusic/article/music-everything-me-arjun-menon |archive-date=24 September 2014 |url-status=dead }} During this period, he collaborated with several independent musicians and sang on gospel and devotional albums. Arjun's playback debut came in 2014 with the song "Latcham Calorie" from the movie [Yaan](/source/Yaan_(film)). The song received great reviews from both critics and music lovers and reached the [Radio Mirchi](/source/Radio_Mirchi) Top 20 Tamil Songs (peak position 5),{{cite news|title=Radio Mirchi Top20 Tamil Songs|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/musicchart/1081479906.cms?chartid=5&periodtype=4&date=2014-10-10}} [Suryan FM](/source/Suryan_FM) Top 20 Tamil (peak position 1),{{cite news|title=Suryan FM Top 20 Songs|url=http://www.suryanfm.in/trichy/Chart/index.aspx?i=2|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113144913/http://www.suryanfm.in/trichy/Chart/index.aspx?i=2|archive-date=13 November 2014|url-status=dead}} Behindwoods Top 10 Songs (peak position 4){{cite news|title=Behindwoods Top 20 Songs|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-14/behindwoods-presents-the-top-10-songs-of-the-week-oct-4th-oct-10th.html}} and #3 in Qatar [iTunes](/source/iTunes) Top 100.{{cite news|title=Latcham Calorie ranks No 3 on iTunes|url=https://twitter.com/ihotmusiccharts/status/483141205069275136}} Arjun has performed over 400 shows across India, the US and Canada. He has also judged music competitions at corporate and educational institutions, including Anna University, SIET, Meenakshi Dental College, AJUBA,{{cite news|title=Arjun Judges at Ajuba|url=http://www.ajubanet.net/blog/18-icons/69-culturals-e28093-extravaganza-redefined-2}} Cognizant and Ethiraj College. He regularly performs gigs with his melodic rock band CinC. ==Discography== ===Film songs=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Song ! scope="col" | Film ! scope="col" | Language ! scope="col" | Music Director ! scope="col" | Co-Singers ! scope="col" | Lyricist |- | 2011 || "Kulu Kulu Venpani Pola" || ''[Engeyum Kadhal](/source/Engeyum_Kadhal)''|| Tamil || [Harris Jayaraj](/source/Harris_Jayaraj)|| Solo || [Harris Jayaraj](/source/Harris_Jayaraj) |- | 2012 || "Mila Mila" || ''Ninnu Choosthe Love Vasthundi''|| Telugu || [Harris Jayaraj](/source/Harris_Jayaraj) || Solo || [Vanamali](/source/Vanamali) |- | 2014 || "Latcham Calorie" || ''[Yaan](/source/Yaan_(film))'' || Tamil || [Harris Jayaraj](/source/Harris_Jayaraj) || [Chinmayi](/source/Chinmayi_Sripada) || [Pa. Vijay](/source/Pa._Vijay) |- |rowspan=2| 2015 || "Neerambal Poovae" || ''[Nannbenda](/source/Nannbenda)'' || Tamil || [Harris Jayaraj](/source/Harris_Jayaraj) || MC. Vickey || [Thamarai](/source/Thamarai) |- | "Laksha Calorie" || ''Nene'' || Telugu|| [Harris Jayaraj](/source/Harris_Jayaraj) || [Chinmayi](/source/Chinmayi_Sripada) || [Vanamali](/source/Vanamali) |- |} ===Title songs for television soap operas=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Song ! scope="col" | Program ! scope="col" | Language ! scope="col" | Channel ! scope="col" | Notes |- |rowspan=3| 2012 || "Thumbikkai Azhaga" || ''Shree Ganesh''|| Tamil || Zee Tamil|| |- | "Title Song" || ''Olimayamaana Yedhirkaalam''|| Instrumental|| Zee Tamil ||Credited as composer |- | "Ulahi Ulahi" || ''Merku Mambalathil Oru Kadhal''|| Tamil || Zee Tamil || |} ==Personal life== Arjun is married to Preethi, a software professional. They have a daughter, Aria. ==Fundraising== Arjun has performed at fundraiser shows for [Rotary International](/source/Rotary_International), [Round Table](/source/Round_Table_(club)) and the TANKER foundation. He regularly performs for children with special needs and has also performed at orphanages including [Udavum Karangal](/source/Udavum_Karangal).{{cite news|title=Hearts of Gold|url=https://sites.google.com/site/udavumkarangal/february08news}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{facebook|singer.arjun.menon}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Menon, Arjun}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Songwriters from New York (state) Category:American singers of Indian descent Category:Tamil-language playback singers Category:Telugu-language playback singers Category:Singers from Chennai Category:21st-century American singers Category:21st-century American male singers Category:American male songwriters Category:American people of Malayali descent --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arjun Menon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjun_Menon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjun_Menon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.