Who is S. J. Jananiy?
S. J. Jananiy is a Film Composer, Indian & Western Classical Vocalist, Singer-Songwriter and Music Producer from India, with a lifelong passion for spreading peace through music. She was fortunate to begin her musical journey at a very young age, performing publicly at just five, and over the years, she was trained in Carnatic, Hindustani, and Western classical music.
Music, for her, has always been a way to connect to emotions, to spirituality, and to people across cultures. She plays multiple instruments, including the Keyboard, Violin, Veena, Piano, and Harmonium, and she enjoys blending traditional Indian sounds with contemporary global styles.
She has the privilege of releasing over 100 albums spanning genres such as Indian Classical Vocal, Indian Classical Instrumental Keyboard/Synth, Pop, Electronic, Fusion, World, Trap, Blues, Folk, Soundtrack, New Age, and Spiritual/Devotional. Along the way, she collaborated with incredible artists, worked on film scores, and performed internationally.
Beyond creating music, Jananiy is passionate about supporting women in music through organizations like the Alliance for Women Film Composers, and she is honored to be a voting member of the Recording Academy for the GRAMMY® Awards.
At the heart of it all, Jananiy sees herself as a storyteller through sound — one who hopes to touch hearts, unite cultures, uplift humanity through the power of music, and celebrate the universality of sound.
With 25+ years of accomplished experience, her music is a synthesis of rigorous training and fearless experimentation.
Jananiy’s musical odyssey began at just 5 years old, blossoming into a national sensation when she received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (National Award) from the Government of India at the age of 7. Since then, she has amassed over 1100 live performances, including a historic Jugalbandhi with Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia in Paris.
She composed for the Tamil feature film “Rail”, collaborating with the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and for the film “Prabha”, featuring the last recorded playback of her Guru Padma Vibhushan Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna. Her viral mantra “Om Namo Venkatesaya” has amassed 160+ million views on YouTube Shorts and social platforms.
Jananiy serves as a jury member for international awards including the ISSA Awards – International Singer-Songwriters Association (Atlanta, USA) and the ICMA Awards – InterContinental Music Awards (Los Angeles, USA).
She holds a Graduate degree in Economics from Stella Maris College, Chennai, an MA and MPhil in Indian Music from Queen Mary’s College, Chennai, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Music at the same institution.
She has completed ATCL (Associate Trinity College London) in Western Classical Vocal, Grade 8 in Western Classical Vocal, Keyboard, and Theory, as well as a Senior Diploma in Hindustani Vocal (Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad).
A lifelong student of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, her compositions reflect a meditative depth — from Brahmakumaris chants to empowering anthems like Nari Shakti, and socially conscious works like Friendship Song and Keliri Keliri (Anti-Addiction Song).
She owns the 3 DOT Recording Studios (Suite A & B) and her independent label JSJ Audio, where every note is crafted with precision, purpose, and passion.
Do you remember the exact moment you fell in love with cinema?
Way back during my childhood, I still remember watching my first Hollywood movie “Dinosaur” in my hometown in India. I was inspired by the way a single melody could adhere to a pounding heartbeat, laugh, scream, and even get scared. That’s when I knew music was my path to score for movies.
Tell us about your project “Poo Pookudhu (From RAIL Movie) – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”.
This original soundtrack, a mesmerising melody “Poo Pookkudhu” from the Tamil feature film “Rail”, is based on a nativity-inspired story rooted in a South Indian village setting. It was composed, produced, arranged, and sung by myself — a multi-global award-winning composer & singer-songwriter. The lyrics were beautifully written by Rameshvaidya.
The song weaves themes of blooming (flowers opening — “poo pookudhu” means “the flower blossoms”), longing, bonds, love, fragrance, and nature’s tender beauty. There’s also a sense of devotion and emotional connection to place, people, and memories.
I collaborated with the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra to record the strings ensemble. Set to a 6/8 rhythm structure, this song’s lyrics consist of local language slang, which was a challenge for vocal delivery — especially since it was composed for lyrics depicting the relationship between a father and a child, creating an empathic and heartfelt connection.
Though modern in its production quality, the piece retains folk sensibilities, evoking local identity and traditions. Listeners familiar with Tamil folklore or devotional music might feel both at home and pleasantly surprised.
Awards and Accolades for “Poo Pookudhu (From RAIL Movie)”
- “Best Original Song” – World Film Festival 2025, Cannes, France
- “Best Music Director” – Dadasaheb Phalke Janmabhoomi Puraskar, 2025 NIFF Nashik International Film Festival, India
- 2× Clef Music Awards – “Best Music Director” & “Best Film Song”, 2024, Mumbai, India
- “Best Composer” – Chicago Indie Film Awards 2025, U.S.A.
- “Best Composer” – Cannes Arts Film Festival 2025, France
- “Best Soundtrack” – Humro Cinema International Film Festival, Nepal, May 2025
Which Director inspires you the most?
Christopher Nolan proves that bold ideas and human emotion can coexist on the silver screen. Nolan inspires by making films that challenge the mind, move the heart, and redefine storytelling.
What do you dislike about the world and what would you change?
Through my mission to “Spread Peace through Music”, I dream of a world filled with kindness, harmony, and joy — where every heart feels compassion and happiness.
Through music, I dream of a world free from conflict, where compassion and happiness thrive everywhere.
Let music be a bridge to peace, inspiring hearts to live with kindness and joy.
How do you imagine cinema in 100 years?
A hundred years from now, I imagine cinema not as a screen to watch, but a world to enter — a place where we breathe the story, touch its emotions, and wander through its universe. Yet, despite the marvels of technology, its true power will remain unchanged: to connect hearts, inspire minds, and celebrate the timeless essence of what it means to be human.
What is your impression of WILD FILMMAKER?
Wild Filmmaker is inspiring because it celebrates cinema’s evolution. In today’s era, anyone with a smartphone can tell a story and share it worldwide. At the same time, it honors the masters of the past — Kubrick, Fellini, Neorealism, New Hollywood — while imagining a freer, richer, and more alive cinema where audiences are active participants in storytelling.
