Editing Yuvan Shankar Raja (section)

==== Rise to prominence (2001–2003) ====
<!-- Thanks to this film's enormous success, he eventually broke into the Tamil music scene as offers were pouring in subsequently. He was mainly approached by many young new directors. -->In 2001, he had three album releases, the first being ''Thulluvadho Ilamai'', collaborating with [[Selvaraghavan]] for the first time. The film was directed by [[Kasthuri Raja]], but his son Selvaraghavan wrote the script and worked with Yuvan Shankar Raja for the film's soundtrack album. The soundtrack album of ''Thulluvadho Ilamai'' particularly appealed to the younger generation. The film itself, marking the debut of Selvaraghavan's brother [[Dhanush]], released one year later and became a [[sleeper hit]] at the 
Chennai box office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nanjilonline.com/music/kadhalkondaen_rev.asp |title=Kadhal Kondaen Music Review |publisher=NanjilOnline.com |access-date=20 August 2011 |archive-date=2 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402095855/http://www.nanjilonline.com/music/kadhalkondaen_rev.asp |url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thiraipadam.com/cgi-bin/movie_review.pl?id=408&user_name=bbalaji&review_lang=english&lang=english |title=Kadhal Konden&nbsp;– Tamil Movie Review |publisher=Thiraipadam.com |access-date=20 August 2011 |archive-date=4 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004175410/http://www.thiraipadam.com/cgi-bin/movie_review.pl?id=408&user_name=bbalaji&review_lang=english&lang=english |url-status=live }}</ref> This was followed by [[Bala (director)|Bala's]] ''[[Nandha]]'' (2001), for which he received rave reviews.<ref name="Masterpieces of Ilayaraja" /> He then gained notice by churning out "youthful music" in the college-life based ''[[April Maadhathil]]'' (2002), the [[romantic comedy]] films ''[[Kadhal Samrajyam]]'' (2002) (The film was never released theatrically, the soundtrack was released in 2002) and ''[[Mounam Pesiyadhe]]'' (2002), [[Ameer Sultan|Ameer's]] directorial debut film, and the [[love triangle|triangular love story]] ''[[Punnagai Poove]]'' (2002), in which he also made his on-screen debut, appearing in some scenes and one song sequence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.chennaionline.com/interviews/yuvan.asp |title=Yuvan Sankar Raja - a short chat |website=archives.chennaionline.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121084859/http://archives.chennaionline.com/interviews/yuvan.asp |archive-date=21 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At the same time, he made his [[Cinema of Andhra Pradesh|Telugu]] debut with ''[[Seshu]]'' and ''[[Malli Malli Chudali]]'' and also composed for the Tamil films ''[[Junior Senior (2002 film)|Junior Senior]]'' and ''[[Pop Carn (2003 film)|Pop Carn]]'', starring Malayalam actors [[Mammootty]] and [[Mohanlal]], respectively, though all of which performed poorly at the box office.

In 2003, Selvaraghavan's first independent directorial, the drama-[[thriller film]] ''[[Kaadhal Kondein]]'' released, which is considered a milestone for Yuvan Shankar Raja.<ref name="rediff.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/feb/08spice.htm |title=Jaya bats for Tamil film industry |publisher=Rediff |date=8 February 2005 |access-date=20 August 2011 |archive-date=2 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302015632/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/feb/08spice.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> His work in the film, particularly his background score, was unanimously praised, leading to the release of a separate CD consisting of several film score pieces, à la "Hollywood-style", which was reportedly the first film score CD release in India. Furthermore, the film went on to become a blockbuster, cementing the film's lead artist Dhanush and Yuvan Shankar in the Tamil film and music industry.<ref name="Generation NEXT">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/10/27/stories/2003102700060300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031130002349/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/10/27/stories/2003102700060300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 November 2003|title=Generation NEXT|access-date=31 August 2009|location=Chennai, India|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=27 October 2003}}</ref> The same year, he worked in [[Vishnuvardhan (director)|Vishnuvardhan's]] debut film ''[[Kurumbu]]'', which featured the first [[remix]] song in a Tamil film. By that time, in a career spanning less than a decade, Yuvan Shankar Raja had established himself as one of the leading and most-sought after music directors in the Tamil film industry, despite having worked predominantly with newcomers and in low-budget productions.<ref name="rediff.com" /><ref name="Generation NEXT" />