>Grieffindor at 12:04, 27 May 2021

2021-05-27T12:04:19Z

New page

{{multiple issues|
{{essay-like|date=June 2015}}
{{fanpov|date=June 2015}}
{{BLP primary sources|date=June 2015}}
{{BLP sources|date=June 2015}}
}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Blaaze
| caption =
| image =
| birth_name = Lakshmi Narasimha Vijaya Rajagopala Sheshadri Sharma Rajesh Raman
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1975|10|15}}
| origin = [[Chennai, Tamil Nadu]], India

| genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]

| occupation = Producer, musician, [[rapper]], singer, songwriter, lyricist, editor, actor
| years_active = 1991–present
| website = [http://www.blaaze.in/index_new.html blaaze.in]
}}

'''Lakshmi Narasimha Vijaya Rajagopala Sheshadri Sharma Rajesh Raman''' (born 15 October 1975), professionally known as '''Blaaze''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|l|ɑː|z|eɪ}}),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2006/04/18/stories/2006041800020100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907051433/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2006/04/18/stories/2006041800020100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 September 2006 |title=Metro Plus Chennai : 'RAP is rhythm and poetry' |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=18 April 2006 |access-date=22 December 2011}}</ref> is an Indian Tamil language playback singer and rapper in [[Cinema of India|Indian cinema]] who specializes in writing and performing [[rap music]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/music-meets-food-in-blaazes-kitchen/articleshow/61066757.cms|title=Music meets food, in Blaaze’s kitchen |website=The Times of India|access-date=28 October 2017}}</ref> An Indian by birth, born in [[Chennai]], he grew up in [[Zambia]] and later did his education in [[England]] and in the [[US]].

==Life and career==

Blaaze was born on the [[Vijaya Dashami]] day of 1975 into a Brahmin family from [[Chennai]], Tamil Nadu, India. The name 'Vijaya' was added to his full name because of his birth on Vijaya Dashami. He was later raised in [[Kitwe]], [[Zambia]], educated in England and graduated from [[Columbia College Hollywood]], United States. His father being an architect, his family toured around the entire country with Blaaze starting to perform [[Breakdance]] on the sets his father designed, when he was 9.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/43797.html |title=Blaaze wins MTV youth icon – Tamil Movie News |publisher=IndiaGlitz |access-date=22 December 2011}}</ref> He then moved on to rapping and his music career began with a performance for President [[Chiluba]] of [[Zambia]] during the election campaign in October 1991 at the age of 16 and just 5 months later he produced and performed in Zambia's first ever music video ''Advice 4 Livin''' with the Zambian national broadcasting corporation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.megastarconcerts.com/cosingers.html |title=Esquire Viva Entertainment |publisher=Megastarconcerts.com |access-date=22 December 2011 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Ten years later, in 2002 his entry into the [[Indian film industry]] happened, when [[A. R. Rahman]] appointed Blaaze to sing his first song in [[Tamil cinema]], the "Baba Rap" for [[Rajinikanth]]'s movie [[Baba (2002 film)|''Baba'']]. Thereafter he performed for several Chennai film industry songs frequently under Rahman's direction on scores for ''[[Kangalal Kaidhu Sei]]'', ''[[Boys (2003 film)|Boys]]'', ''[[Enakku 20 Unakku 18]]'', ''[[New (film)|New]]'', ''[[Aayutha Ezhuthu]]'', ''[[Anbe Aaruyire (2005 film)|Anbe Aaruyire]]'' . Other music directors from the film industry also started using Blaaze's rap talent in their films like [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]] for ''[[Manmadhan (film)|Manmadhan]]'' and ''[[Vallavan]]'' and the likes of [[Harris Jayaraj]], [[Joshua Sridhar]], [[Deva (music director)|Deva]], [[Mani Sharma]], [[Devi Sri Prasad]] inter alia for their films respectively. He has also done the rap lyrics for the title track of the famous Star One show ''[[Remix (TV series)|Remix]]''. He has appeared as himself in the music videos of several songs he has rapped for, including "Yennadi Muniyamma" (''[[Vathiyar]]''), "Taxi Taxi" (''[[Sakkarakatti]]''), "Vaanam Ellai" (''[[Unnaipol Oruvan (2009 film)|Unnaipol Oruvan]]'') and "Padapadakkudhu Maname" (''[[Moondru Per Moondru Kadal]]'').<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spicyonion.com/singer/blaaze-songs/|title=Blaaze|website=spicyonion.com|access-date=2016-06-19}}</ref> Blaaze with several others like A.R. Rahman, and [[Apache Indian|Apache India]] played a significant role in familiarizing hip hop in South India in the previous decade.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sudevan|first=Praveen|date=2020-11-25|title=How independent hip-hop music is taking off in South India|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/how-independent-hip-hop-music-is-taking-off-in-south-india/article33177924.ece|access-date=2021-05-27|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

His famous songs include "[[The Boss (Sivaji)|The Boss]]" and "Style" for ''[[Sivaji: The Boss]],'',"CEO in the House" for ''[[Sarkar (2018 film)|Sarkar]]'', "Hey Salaa" for ''[[Aegan]]'', "Gangsta Blues" for ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'', "Hosanna" for ''[[Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa]]'', "Raajali" for ''[[2.0 (film)|2.0]]''. He also co-wrote the song "Dreams on Fire" from ''Slumdog Millionaire'', as well as being the lyricist on ''Gangsta Blues,'' from ''Slumdog Millionaire''. With guidance from [[A. R. Rahman]], Blaaze wrote the official UN Anthem for Poverty, "[[Pray For Me Brother]]". His continued perseverance to rap about issue-oriented subjects earned him the nation's vote for [[MTV Youth Icon of the Year]] 2008.<ref name=":0" />

He has rapped in [[Mohanlal]]'s Malayalam movie ''Casanova'' and is the lyricist for two songs on the [[Vince Vaughn]] motion picture ''Couples Retreat.'' , co-written with [[A. R. Rahman]], and, "NaNa", co-written with Vivian Chaix and [[A. R. Rahman]]. His band, ZambeZi funK, is ready with their debut album, ''funKalistiC syllaBleZ''. His non-film work comprises issue oriented music, with messages being spread on the Gujarat Riots, Bilkis Bano, the religion issues in India, banning of corrupt police in the song "Ban The Crooked Police"... Inquilab, and "Stand Up Unite", for the Mumbai terror attacks. He has worked as a Music Director for Warner Bros film ''Saas, Bahu Aur ex'', with the song on a new age India, called, "What's Up India". The film was directed by Shona Urvashi.

He has also worked as music director for the soundtrack of the film ''Striker''. In September 2011, 'Time For Gandhi' – BlaaZe's debut album – India's first real hip hop 'protest' album – released on EMI VIRGIN MUSIC.

He lives in Chennai with his family.

His sister, Rekha Srinivasan, is a trained Bharatnatyam and Kathak Dancer, residing in New Jersey and founder of the Bhaarat Nritya Academy. With over 100 students trained and mentored, and several accolades, she is a pillar of the New Jersey Community. [http://www.reksrini.com Bhaarat Nritya Academy]

BlaaZé teamed up with Music Director Paul Jacob, and together they released the world's first Sanskrit hip hop album, ''Rap Bhakthi Mala''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rap-bhakthi-mala/id1215563134?ign-mpt=uo=4|title=Rap Bhakthi Mala by Blaaze on Apple Music|website=itunes.Apple.com|access-date=28 October 2017}}</ref>

In 2020, he rapped for the [[Telugu language|Telugu]] single, <nowiki>''</nowiki>[[OMG Daddy]]<nowiki>''</nowiki> from the [[Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (soundtrack)|Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo soundtrack album]] of the [[Telugu cinema|Tollywood]] film ''[[Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo]]''.

==Awards==
* MTV Youth Icon 2008
:Chosen out of 8,000 probables, and voted as India's favourite, MTV Networks, announced its 8 winners of the Pepsi MTV Youth Icon Awards in 2008. BlaaZe won the votes for his contribution to socially relevant issues through his music, and his lyrics for the official UN anthem on poverty alleviation, Pray For Me, Brother, composed by A R Rahman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.mid-day.com/entertainment/2009/jan/150109-Blaaze-Mary-Kom-Mangesh-Hadawale-Rahul-Misra-Ishita-Khanna-Ankit-Fadia-MTV-Youth-Icon-winners.htm|title=Catch the MTV Youth Icons|website=archive.mid-day.com|access-date=19 June 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081217053045/http://www.blaaze.in/ Official website]
* {{IMDb name|id=1830865 |name=Blaaze}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/rblaaze BlaaZe's Youtube Channel]
* https://web.archive.org/web/20071021212520/http://hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/04/18/stories/2006041800020100.htm

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blaaze}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian male film singers]]
[[Category:Indian hip hop singers]]
[[Category:Indian rappers]]
[[Category:Tamil musicians]]
[[Category:Bollywood playback singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Chennai]]

Blaaze - Revision history

>Grieffindor at 12:04, 27 May 2021