Shankar Mahadevan

Personal life and early career

Shankar Mahadevan was born in Chembur, Mumbai into a Tamil family originally from Palakkad, Kerala. He learned Hindustani classical and Carnatic music as a child and began playing the veena at the age of five under Shri Lalitha Venkataraman. Mahadevan studied music under Pandit Shrinivas Khale and T.R. Balamani.

He is an alumnus of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour High School, Chembur and graduated in 1988 with a degree in Computer Science and Software Engineering from the Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology in Navi Mumbai, affiliated with Mumbai University, and was a software engineer for the company Leading Edge. After working for Leading Edge Systems (now Trigyn Technologies Limited), Mahadevan ventured into music.

He has two sons, Siddharth Mahadevan and Shivam Mahadevan, both of whom are singers.

Musical career

Mahadevan got early fame as an Indi-pop star with his fusion of Carnatic, Hindustani, and Jazz. At that time, his non-film album, Breathless topped the Indian music charts in 1998. He won one Grammy Award and received three nominations.

Awards and honors

• 2000: National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer – "Yenna Solla Pogirai" (Kandukondain Kandukondain)
• 2006: Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Telugu – "Chandrullo" (Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana)
• 2007: Swaralaya-Kairali-Yesudas Award for outstanding contribution to Indian film music
• 2007: National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer – "Maa" (Taare Zameen Par)
• 2008: Kerala State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer – "Kalyana Kacheri" (Madampi)
• 2009: Asianet Film Award for Best Male Playback – "Pichavecha Naal" (Puthiya Mukham)
• 2009: Annual Malayalam Movie Awards (Dubai) for Best Male Singer – "Pichavecha Naal" (Puthiya Mukham)
• 2011: Lata Mangeshkar Award by Government of Andhra Pradesh
• 2011: Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Male Playback Singer – "Indhumukhi Varumo" (Holidays)
• 2012: MAA Music Award for Best Male Playback Singer – "Nee Dookudu" (Dookudu)
• 2012: National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer – "Bolo Na" (Chittagong)
• 2015: Tulu Cinemotsava Awards for Best Playback Singer – Rikshaw Driver (Tulu Movie)
• 2019: Padma Shri Award for his contributions to film music under the category Arts.
• 2023: Awarded an honorary doctorate (honoris causa degree) by Birmingham City University.
• 2024: Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album for This Moment as a member of Shakti.
• 2026: Grammy Awards nominations for the album Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live) in the Best Global Music Album category and Shrini's Dream (Live) in the Best Global Music Performance category.

Filmography

As actor

• Aranmanai 3 (2021) Tamil – guest appearance in song "Theeyaga Thondarihvn
• Katyar Kaljat Ghusali (2015) Marathi film
• Rhythm (2000) Tamil – guest appearance in song "Thaniye"
• Ek Se Badkar Ek (1995) Doordarshan Serial

As composer

• Rockford (1999)
• Bhopal Express (1999)
• Shool (1999)
• Dillagi (1999)
• Mission Kashmir (2000)
• Aalavandhan (2001) (Tamil)
• Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
• Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai? (2002)
• Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003)
• Armaan (2003)
• Nayee Padosan (2003)
• Kuch Naa Kaho (2003)
• Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
• Rudraksh (2004)
• Main Hoon Na (2004)
• Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... (2004)
• Lakshya (2004)
• Phir Milenge (2004)
• Vanity Fair (2004)
• Bunty Aur Babli (2005)
• Dil Jo Bhi Kahey... (2005)
• Dus (2005)
• Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)
• Don: The Chase Begins Again (2006)
• Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love (2007)
• Marigold: An Adventure in India (2007)
• Heyy Babyy (2007)
• Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007)
• Johnny Gaddaar (2007)
• Taare Zameen Par (2007)
• High School Musical 2 soundtrack (Hindi version)
• Rock On!! (2008)
• Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008)
• Madambi (Malayalam) (2008)
• Chandni Chowk to China (2009)
• 13B: Fear Has a New Address / Yavarum Nalam (Hindi-Tamil) (2009)
• Shortkut (2009)
• Luck by Chance (2009)
• Sikandar (2009)
• Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam (Telugu) (2009)
• Wake Up Sid (2009)
• London Dreams (2009)
• My Name Is Khan (2010)
• Kismat Talkies (2010)
• Karthik Calling Karthik (2010)
• Hum Tum Aur Ghost (2010)
• Housefull (2010)
• Tere Bin Laden (2010)
• Koochie Koochie Hota Hai (2011)
• Patiala House (2011)
• De Ghuma Ke (World Cup 2011 song)
• Game (2011)
• Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)
• Don 2 (2011)
• Chittagong (2012)
• Vishwaroopam (2013)
• Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)
• D - Day (2013)
• One By Two (2014)
• Darr @ the Mall (2014)
• 2 States (2014)
• Kill Dil (2014)
• Mitwaa (2015) Marathi
• Katyar Kaljat Ghusali (2015) Marathi
• Than Than Gopal (2015) Marathi
• Thai Manne 2.0 (2023) Tamil
• Thai Manne 2.0 (2023) Hindi

As playback singer

Main article: List of songs recorded by Shankar Mahadevan

Discography

Solo albums

• Nine
• Breathless

Jingles

Television

• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs 2022 as a judge
• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa :Sapnon Ki Shuruwaat as a judge
• Taare Zameen Par as a judge
• Rising Star Live on Colors as a judge
• Indian Voice on Mazhavil Manorama as a judge
• Super Singer 6 & 7 as a special guest on Star Vijay
• Vijay Star Nite as a performer on Star Vijay
• Super Singer Junior seasons 6 & 7 on Star Vijay as a judge
• Super Singer Champion of Champions on Star Vijay as a judge
• Super Singer 8 as a performer & judge along with other leading singers of Tamil (Hariharan, Sid Sriram, Unni Krishnan, Anuradha Sri Ram, Shasha Tirupati, Stephen Devassy, SPB Charan, Vijay Yesudas, Benny Dayal, Kalpana Ragavendar, Saindhavi, Shakthisree Gopalan, Pradeep Kumar, Vijay Prakash, Karthick, Gana Bala, Anthony Daasan, Chinnaponnu, Grace Karunas, Karunas) on the Grand Launch Episode on Star Vijay
• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2012 as a judge and mentor
• Music ka Maha Muqqabla as a contestant-captain of Shankar's Rockstars
• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2009, as a judge and mentor

References

References

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2. Puri, Amit. (21 October 2002). "Nerd who started at 5 and still not Breathless". Tribune India.
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4. Narayan, Shoba. (17 January 2015). "The psychology of a Matunga Tamilian".
5. "Shankar Mahadevan – Artist Biography".
6. "Khale a maestro till his last breath: Mahadevan".
7. (5 October 2018). "Best Marathi songs by Shankar Mahadevan you would love to listen to". Times of India..
8. Ramani, Hema Iyer Ramani and V. v. (27 July 2017). "The sound of his music". The Hindu.
9. "Shankar Mahadevan Alumni".
10. Network, Post News. (2021-03-03). "Happy B’day Shankar Mahadevan; Ace singer ditched software job for music - OrissaPOST".
11. "Eminent Alumni {{!}} RAIT".
12. Yasir, S.M.. (6 November 2003). "Striking the right note... for his supper". [[The Hindu]].
13. (23 September 2018). "Folk music is above even classical music: Shankar Mahadevan". DNA India.
14. Kumar, R. ed., 2003. Essays on Indian music. Discovery Publishing House.
15. "Shankar Mahadevan {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com".
16. "Swaralaya Kairali Yesudas Award". Thiraseela.com.
17. "Kerala State Film Awards".
18. Juhan Samuel. "Mohan Lal, Kaniha to get best actor, actress award!". Hindustan Times.
19. Antao, Lisa. (1 October 2011). "Lata Mangeshkar Award for Shankar Mahadevan".
20. (26 February 2011). "Critics award: ''Gaddama'' adjudged best film". The Indian Express.
21. (11 March 2019). "Mohanlal, Prabhudheva and Shankar Mahadevan receive Padma Awards".
22. "Shankar Mahadevan & Zakir Hussain Triumph at 2024 Grammy Awards with 'The moment' album".
23. (5 February 2024). "Grammy Awards 2024 winner Shakti: 5 things you need to know about Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain's fusion band".
24. "Shankar Mahadevan {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com".
25. (31 July 2023). "Netaji and Chatrapati Shivaji featuring Thai Manne 2.0 Ravi Murrugiah/ Shankar Mahadevan #ThaiManne". Vasan Digitz.
26. (31 July 2023). "Netaji and Chatrapati Shivaji featuring Bharat Maa 2.0 Ravi Murrugiah/ Shankar Mahadevan #ThaiManne". Vasan Digitz.
27. Tyagi, Avantika. (31 January 2015). "Blending music to create heady re-(mix)". [[The Times of India]].