Poornachandra Tejaswi

Biography

*Poornachandra Tejaswi* (born 6 October 1982) is an acclaimed Indian film composer, lyricist, and playback singer who primarily works in Kannada cinema. Known for his fresh, experimental, and deeply engaging soundtracks, he has established himself as one of the most prominent contemporary music directors in the Sandalwood industry. Born in Srirangapatna in the Mandya district of Karnataka and raised in Mysuru, Tejaswi initially pursued a career in technology, earning a bachelor's degree in Engineering from NIE College, Mysore, and working as a software engineer. However, his deep passion for music and the arts led him to participate actively with the rock band "Stone Age" and the Mysuru-based theatre group Niranthara Foundation, which strongly influenced his artistic sensibilities. Tejaswi made a spectacular entry into the Kannada film industry with Pawan Kumar's critically acclaimed and pathbreaking 2013 psychological thriller Lucia. His exceptional work on the film's soundtrack—for which he composed the music, wrote the lyrics, and sang the viral hit song "Thinbedakammi"—became a massive sensation and played a pivotal role in the film's enduring cult status. His phenomenal debut earned him the prestigious Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director, as well as the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer. Following the immense success of Lucia, Tejaswi became a highly sought-after composer known for his versatility and contemporary sound. He has composed soundtracks and background scores for several notable and critically acclaimed films, including Chaturbhuja (2014), Vascodigama (2015), the hit mystery thriller U Turn (2016), Hebbet Ramakka (2018), Chambal (2019), Fortuner (2019), and Matinee (2024). He has also expanded his musical footprint across South Indian cinema, contributing to the Telugu web series Kudi Yedamaithe (2021) and making his Malayalam debut with the Hombale Films production Dhoomam (2023).