Mugen Rao
Mugen Rao | |
|---|---|
Rao in 2020 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mugen Rao |
| Born | 20 October 1995 (age 27) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Website | www |
Mugen Rao (born in 1995) is a Malaysian Indian singer[1] and film actor in Tamil films. In 2019, he won Season 3 of Bigg Boss Tamil. He is sometimes known as MGR.[2]
Personal life
Rao was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, one of three children to a Telugu father and a Tamil mother.[2] His father, Prakash Rao, died in 2020.[3]
Career
He began his singing career with his father, a stage singer, and performed in fifty stage shows.[2][4] He made his acting debut in the Malay TV show Senandung Malam, then had small parts in films including Gerak Khas and Ghora, in shorts, TV films, and advertising.[2]
Rao's career took off in 2016, when his music video "Kayalvizhi" went viral on YouTube.[5] His later music videos include "Anbe Aruyire", "Pogiren", "Mayakkurriye", and "Oththa Thamarai", which was shot in 2022 using virtual production technology.[6]
In 2019, he was the first Malaysian contestant on Bigg Boss Tamil edition, and emerged as the winner.[5][7] While on Bigg Boss Tamil, he sang the unreleased song "Sathiyama", which was only officially released in 2020.[8] He then moved to Chennai and sought to break into Tamil cinema.[9][10]
He signed a three-film deal in 2020,[11] and was announced at the time to have a leading role in Vettri.[12] He played the lead in Velan, directed by Kavin Moorthy and released in December 2021.[13][14][15] In 2022, he began filming Mathil Mel Kadhal alongside Divya Bharathi.[16]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Film | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Ghora | Adhitya | Malaysian film |
| 2018 | Haran | Abdu | Malaysian film |
| 2018 | Hey Coffeelopher | Ram | Malaysian film |
| 2019 | Venpa | Yuvaraj Balakrishnan | Malaysian film |
| 2021 | Velan | Velan | |
| TBA | Vettri | TBA | |
| TBA | Madhil Mel Kaadhal | TBA | |
| TBA | Kaadhal Enbathu Saabama | TBA | |
| TBA | Jinn | TBA | [17] |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | MY3 | Tamil | Completed | [18] |
Short films
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | I am Peter | |
| 2018 | Light Up Someone's Life |
Television
Actor
| Year | Serial/Telemovie/Drama | Role | Channel | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Senandung Malam | Paperboy | Malay | ||
| 2010 | Da Bomba | Supporting | Malay | ||
| 2011 | Gerak Khas | Supporting | TV2 | Malay | |
| 2012 | Sindiket Fixie | Supporting | Malay | ||
| 2012 | Rumah Kecil Itu | Supporting | Malay | ||
| 2014 | Rembau Ada WiFi | Supporting | Malay | ||
| 2016 | ASTRO Sitcom: Barber | Main Cast | Tamil | ||
| 2016 | Veetuku Oru Paati | Main Cast | Tamil | ||
| 2016 | Ippadiyum Pannalama | Main Cast | Tamil | ||
| 2017 | Agam Puram | Tamil | |||
| 2018 | Sekuriti | TV2 | Tamil | ||
| 2018 | Sugamaana Sumaigal | Tamil | |||
| 2019 | Nee Yaar | Main Cast | TV2 | Tamil | Best TV Drama Actor award |
Reality shows (non fiction)
| Year | Reality Show/Fiction/Live Show | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 360 Degrees: Season 11 | Anchor | Astro Vaanavil | |
| 2017 | 360 Degrees: Season 12 | Anchor | Astro Vaanavil | |
| 2017 | Chinna Kabali | Anchor | Astro Vaanavil | |
| 2017 | Astro Ponggal | Anchor | Astro Vaanavil | |
| 2018 | Astro Ponggal | Anchor | Astro Vaanavil | |
| 2019 | KL to KK: Let's roll | Host | Astro Ulagam | |
| 2019 | Bigg Boss Tamil 3 | Contestant | Vijay TV | Winner[19] |
| 2020 | Dancing Super Stars | Judge | Vijay TV |
Discography
Singer
- Note: When he is credited as the composer, he is credited as Mugen Rao MGR.
| Year | Song | Composer(s) | Co-singer(s) | Writer(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | "Kaadhaley Kannir" | Coruz Hooks | A'sha, Coruz Hooks | Mugen Rao | |
| 2015 | "Ring-Eh" | Razor Ray | A Sha | [20] | |
| 2016 | "Kayalvizhi" | Coruz Hooks | Solo | ||
| 2018 | "Pogiren" | Prashan Sean | Prashan Sean | ||
| "Abinaya | Shane Extreme, Mugen Rao | Solo | |||
| 2019 | "Yenggedi" | Shane Extreme | Solo | [21] | |
| "Maya" | Mugen Rao | Solo | |||
| "Sathiyama" | Mugen Rao, Shane Extreme | Priyashankari | |||
| 2020 | "Arivum Anbum" | Ghibran | Kamal Haasan, Ghibran, Anirudh Ravichander, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Shankar Mahadevan, Bombay Jayashri, Sid Sriram, Devi Sri Prasad, Shruti Haasan, Andrea Jeremiah, Siddharth | Kamal Haasan | [22] |
| "Thedinen" | Mugen Rao, Shane Extreme | Solo | Mugen Rao | ||
| 2021 | "Sathiyama Sollurandi" | Gopi Sundar | Sivaangi Krishnakumar | ||
| 2022 | "Mudhal Kaathal" | Mugen Rao, Vivasvan | Solo | Mugen Rao, Vivasvan | |
| 2023 | "Murugan Cassette Vol.1" | Mugen Rao | Havoc Brothers | Mugen Rao |
Actor in music videos
| Year | Song | Music | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | "Anbe Aaruyirae" | Prashan Sean | |
| 2015 | "Aayiram Sorkal" | Emzzie Boi | Also co-lyricist |
| 2016 | "Kadhal Enbathu Saabama" | Lawrence Soosai | |
| "Nanba Vaa" | Jose Franklin | ||
| 2022 | "Mayakirriye" | AniVee | |
| "Othai Thamarai" | Sandy Sandellow | ||
| 2023 | "Single Aayiten Di" | Dharan Kumar | |
| "Makka Makka" | Harris Jayaraj |
References
- ^ Sriram Ranganath (2 October 2019). "Bigg Boss Tamil 3, Day 100 Written Update: How Mugen Rao Made The 100th Day Extra Special". NDTV. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Bigg Boss Tamil 3: From being influenced by gangster culture in Malaysia to a talented lyricist, lesser known facts of Mugen Rao". Times of India. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "Mugen Rao's father passes away". IndiaGlitz. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ https://varnam.my/51260/exclusive-velan-interview-with-malaysian-actor-mugen-rao/
- ^ a b "Malaysian Mugen Rao wins India's 'Bigg Boss 3' reality TV show". Malay Mail. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ M Suganth (25 March 2022). "Shoot at Site: Mugen's new music video is shot using virtual production technology". Times Of India. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "Mugen Rao wins Bigg Boss Tamil season 3 MGR". The Hindu. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ https://varnam.my/20982/watch-mugen-raos-infamous-tune-sathiyama-is-finally-out/
- ^ Gautam Sunder (15 October 2019). "Mugen Rao can't wait to conquer the world, beginning with Kollywood first". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ https://varnam.my/18940/mugen-rao-made-it-to-the-chennai-times-list-of-30-most-desirable-men-2019/
- ^ "Malaysian artiste Mugen Rao signs deal to star in 3 Kollywood movies". The Star. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "'Bigg Boss' winner Mugen Rao, Miss India Anukreethy Vas to debut in 'Vettri'". The Hindu. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "Mugen looked perfect for the role of Pollachi native boy in Velan: Director Kavin". Times Of India. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ Bhuvanesh Chandar (26 April 2021). "Velan to feature Mugen Rao in two looks; first look out". Cinema Express. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "Mugen Rao's Velan cleared with a clean 'U' certificate". Times Of India. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ Sharanya CR (2 December 2021). "Mugen Rao & Divya Bharathi's Mathil Mel Kadhal is a love story set in Chennai". Times Of India. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ Chandhini R (18 January 2023). "Mugen Rao's next titled Jinn; Film commences production". Cinema Express. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ "'MY3': First look of Hansika, Shanthnu, Mugen's web series out". www.thehindu.com. 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Bigg Boss winner Mugen Rao continues to dream bigger dreams". www.nst.com.my. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ "Ring Eh Song Lyrics - Mugen Rao (MGR, 2014)". www.exlyrics.com. 30 September 2020.
- ^ https://varnam.my/31735/mugens-yenggedi-received-praises-from-indias-popular-playback-singer-suchitra-on-twitter/
- ^ https://varnam.my/20601/kamal-haasan-mugen-rao-yuvan-and-other-kollywood-celebs-come-together-for-a-song-arivum-anbum/