Mahalakshmi Iyer
Indian singer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mahalakshmi Iyer is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Hindi, Assamese and Tamil songs. She has sung in many other Indian languages as well, including Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Gujarati and Kannada.[2]
Mahalakshmi Iyer | |
|---|---|
| |
| Background information | |
| Born | 11 July 1976[1] |
| Genres | Playback singing, Indian classical music, folk, Indipop |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Instrument | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1996–present |
Career
Playback singing
Mahalakshmi made her playback debut with the film Dus in 1997, but the film was never completed and remained unreleased due to the sudden passing of the film's director Mukul S. Anand. The album however was released in 1999 as a tribute. She sang the track Ae Ajnabee with Udit Narayan for A. R. Rahman in Mani Ratnam's Dil Se.. which was her first release as a playback singer and considered to be her debut. Mahalakshmi continued singing for Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy and A.R. Rahman in many films which followed.[3]
Since then she has also sung many serials, jingles, and original albums.[4] She was part of several successful soundtracks such as Mission Kashmir, Yaadein and Saathiya and worked with some of the biggest music composers like A. R. Rahman, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Vishal–Shekhar, Nadeem–Shravan, Jatin–Lalit and more.
She has sung for many Yash Raj Films' biggest hits like Dhoom 2, Bunty Aur Babli, Salaam Namaste, Fanaa, Ta Ra Rum Pum and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.
She was known for her performances in songs like "Kabhi Sham Dhale" from Sur – The Melody of Life (2002), "Har Taraf" from Rishtey (2002) and for hit songs like "Chup Chup Ke" from Bunty Aur Babli (2005), "Aaj Ki Raat" from Don: The Chase Begins Again (2006) and "Bol Na Halke Halke" from Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.[5]
She sang on the Academy Award-winning song "Jai Ho" for A. R. Rahman in the film Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Specifically, she sang the Hindi words between the short "Jai Ho" chants, as well as portions of the verses (most of which were sung by Sukhwinder Singh).[6]
In the past, she rendered background vocal to the very famous Ghazal of Pankaj Udhas named Aur Ahistaa. She has also rendered her voice to many private album remixes notably Aaja Piya Tohe Pyar and Baahon Mein Chali Aao, which was originally rendered by the legendary Lata Mangeshkar.
Discography
Hindi
Assamese
| Year | Song | Film(s) | Composer | Lyricist | Co-singer(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "Morome Bisare Aaji" | Bukur Majot Jole | Monoj Kashyap | Monoj Kashyap | Solo | [7] |
| "Morom Nodir Gabharu Ghat" | Morom Nodir Gabharu Ghat | Atul Medhi | Zubeen Garg | Solo | ||
| "Bukure Bhakha Mor Nopowane" | Solo | |||||
| 2001 | "Motoliya Botahe" | Nayak | Zubeen Garg | Zubeen Garg | Solo | |
| "Lahe Lahe" | Zubeen Garg, Shashwati Phukan | |||||
| "Kinu Xuria" | Zubeen Garg, Pamela Jain | |||||
| "Mon Gahanot" | Zubeen Garg, Shaan, Pamela Jain, Sagarika | |||||
| 2002 | "Sokuwe Sokuwe Sinaki" | Prem Aru Prem | Zubeen Garg | Zubeen Garg | Bobita Sharma, Zubeen Garg, Jonkey Borthakur, Sagarika | |
| "Ui Guthibo Jaanene" | Kanyadaan | Manas Robin | Zubeen Garg, Shaswati Phukan | |||
| "Phul Golapore" | Priya O' Priya | Manas Robin | Manas Robin | Jitul Sonowal, Dilip Das | ||
| "Ei Ghar Amar" | Jibon Nodir Duti Paar | Zubeen Garg | Zubeen Garg | Zubeen Garg, Shaan, Sagarika, Arnab Chakrabarty, Jonkey Borthakur | ||
| "Kokal Khamusiya" | Zubeen Garg | |||||
| 2004 | "Rong Tumi Huane" | Rong | Zubeen Garg | Zubeen Garg | Solo | |
| "Gun Gun Gun Koi" | Hridoy Kopowa Gaan | Jayanta Nath | Zubeen Garg | Solo | ||
| 2011 | "Poita Bhaat" | Poley Poley Urey Mon | Timothy Das Hanse, Biman Baruah | Zubeen Garg, Chayanika Bhuyan | ||
| 2012 | "Xamayor Lagote" | Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare | Zubeen Garg | Bidyut Kotoky | Solo | |
| 2015 | "Xapun Namise Suwa" | Khel - The Game | Dhruba Jyoti Phukon | Zubeen Garg | Solo | |
| 2016 | "Xaliki Puwar" | Gaane Ki Aane | Zubeen Garg | Zubeen Garg | Solo | |
| 2017 | "Dure Dure Tumi" | Nijaanor Gaan | Jatin Sharma | Rajdweep | Siddharth Hazarika | |
| 2023 | "Silmil Tuponite" | Raghav | Zubeen Garg | Zubeen Garg | ||
| 2025 | "Era Eri" | Bhaimon Da | Zubeen Garg | Zubeen Garg, Amritprava Mahanta |
Tamil
| Year | Film | Song | Composer(s) | Co-artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Poonthottam | "Meethaatha Oru Veenai" | Ilaiyaraaja | Hariharan |
| 1999 | Jodi | "Velli Malarae" | A. R. Rahman | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| "Vanna Poongavai" | ||||
| Mudhalvan | "Kurukku Siruthhavale" | Hariharan | ||
| 2000 | Alaipayuthey | "Yaaro Yaarodi" | A. R. Rahman | |
| Hey Ram | "Pollatha Madhana" | Ilaiyaraaja | ||
| Kandukondain Kandukondain | "Kandukonden Kandukonden" | A. R. Rahman | Hariharan | |
| Priyamaanavale | "Ennavo Ennavo" | S. A. Rajkumar | Hariharan | |
| "Enakoru Snegidhi" | ||||
| 2001 | Dheena | "Nee Illai Endraal" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Bhavatharini |
| Aalavandhan | "Siri Siri" | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | Kamal Haasan | |
| 12B | "Poove Vai Pesum" | Harris Jayaraj | Harish Raghavendra | |
| "Mutham Mutham" | KK | |||
| Narasimha | "Kadhal Aararo" | Mani Sharma | Saisivan | |
| Vedham | "Malai Kattru Vandhu" | Vidhyasagar | Hariharan | |
| Chocklet | "Dhuryodhana Dhuryodhana" | Deva | Shankar Mahadevan | |
| "Kappaleh Kappaleh" | Hariharan | |||
| 2002 | Aasai Aasaiyai | "Kannam Sivakka" | Mani Sharma | Ranjith |
| King | "Achuvellam Pacharisi" | Dhina | Shankar Mahadevan | |
| Ragasiyam | "Paarvaiyal Paavaiye" | Nadeem-Shravan | ||
| "Anbin Uruvam" | Balram | |||
| "Onnu Pola" | Balram | |||
| "Shanti Shanti Than" | Jolly Mukherjee | |||
| "En Mugam" | Vijay Prakash | |||
| Pammal K. Sambandam | "Gadothkaja" | Deva | Srinivas | |
| "Dindukallu Poota" | Shankar Mahadevan | |||
| Raja | "Chinna Chinna" | S. A. Rajkumar | ||
| "Oru Pouranami" | Hariharan | |||
| Red | "November Madham" | Deva | Hariharan | |
| 2003 | Alaudin | "Goyyaka" | Mani Sharma | Karthik |
| Dum | "Polladha Padava" | Deva | KK | |
| Jay Jay | "Pengal Nenjai" | Bharadwaj | KK | |
| Priyamaana Thozhi | "Rojakkale" | S. A. Rajkumar | ||
| Success | "Marathi Kutti" | Deva | KK | |
| Thennavan | "Vinodhane Vinodhane" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Srinivas | |
| Vaseegara | "Nenjam Oru Murai" | S. A. Rajkumar | Srinivas | |
| Winner | "Mudhal Murai" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Srinivas | |
| 2004 | Jai | "Kanna Simittina" | Mani Sharma | Karthik |
| Kuthu | "Assana Assana" | Srikanth Deva | Zubeen Garg | |
| 2005 | Daas | "Vaa Vaa" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Shankar Mahadevan |
| Kanda Naal Mudhal | "Koo Koovena" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Karthik, Harish Raghavendra | |
| 2006 | Madrasi | "Vidamatten Vidamatten" | D. Imman | |
| Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu | "Uyirilae Enadhu" | Harris Jayaraj | Srinivas | |
| Dhoom 2 | "Kadal Kadal Thedi" | Pritam | Gopal Rao, Jolly Mukherjee, Suzanne D'Mello, Vijay Prakash | |
| 2007 | Agaram | "Unnai Naan Paarthen" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| Kanna | "Thullum" | Ranjit Barot | Balaraman | |
| Machakaaran | "Vayasu Ponnukku" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | ||
| Mirugam | "Vaargona Vaargona" | Sabesh–Murali | ||
| Thavam | "Kannadasa Kannadasa" | D. Imman | ||
| "Kannadasa"(Reprsie) | Sudha Ragunathan | |||
| Unnale Unnale | "Mudhal Naal Indru" | Harris Jayaraj | KK | |
| 2010 | Bale Pandiya | "Aaradha Kobamillai" | Devan Ekambaram | Raman Mahadevan |
| 2012 | Maattrraan | "Kaal Mulaitha Poove" | Harris Jayaraj | Javed Ali |
| 2013 | Dhoom 3 | "Mayanga (Malang)" | Pritam | Abhishek Nailwal |
| 2015 | Rajinimurugan | "Un Mele Oru Kannu" | D. Imman | Jithin Raj |
| 2016 | Thirunaal | "Ore Oru Vaanam" | Srikanth Deva | Shakthisree Gopalan |
| 2019 | Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi | "Koamaanae" | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | Shriram Iyer |
| "Nanjukku" | Hamsika Iyer, Siddharth Mahadevan |
Telugu
| Year | Movie | Song | Composer(s) | Writer(s) | Co-artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Oke Okkadu | "Nelluri Nerajana" | A. R. Rahman | ||
| 2000 | Ammo! Okato Tareekhu | "Nee Aakupacha" | Vandemataram Srinivas | ||
| Azad | "Kala Anuko Kaladanuko" | Mani Sharma | |||
| Choosoddaam Randi | "Anda Linda Brahmanda" | M. M. Keeravani | |||
| "Dumuvulu" | |||||
| Priyuralu Pilichindi | "Thongi Choose" | A. R. Rahman | |||
| Sakutumba Saparivaara Sametam | "Pachi Venna Thechi" | S. V. Krishna Reddy | |||
| Sardukupodaam Randi | "Kothimeera Puvvulanti" | ||||
| 2001 | Chocklet | "Suyodhana Duryodhana" | Deva | ||
| "Oh Priya Oh Pirya" | |||||
| Deevinchandi | "Chilakamma Chilakamma" | S. A. Rajkumar | |||
| "Ammammo Chaligavundi" | |||||
| Jabili | "Achamaina Telugu" | S. V. Krishna Reddy | |||
| Manasantha Nuvve | "Dhin Dhin Dhinak" | R. P. Patnaik | |||
| Muthyam | "Nooziveedu Mamidi" | Vandemataram Srinivas | |||
| Ninnu Choodalani | "Ye Chota Nenunna" | S. A. Rajkumar | |||
| 2002 | Bharatasimha Reddy | "Malli Malli" | |||
| Indhra | "Dhaayi Dhaayi Dhamma" | Mani Sharma | |||
| Kalalu Kandham Raa | "Siri Siri Muvvala" | Ramesh Erra | |||
| Premaku Swagatam | "Andhaka Yuvarani" | S. V. Krishna Reddy | |||
| Rahashyam | "Ee Nagarame" | Nadeem–Shravan | |||
| "Jillumantondhi" | |||||
| "Kantiki Edhuruga" | |||||
| "Needu Premenule" | |||||
| "Evevo Baashalu" | |||||
| "Neelanti Jodu" | |||||
| 2003 | Chantigadu | "Okkasari Pilichavante" | Vandemataram Srinivas | ||
| Neetho Vastha | "Kalasina Tholakari" | M. M. Srilekha | |||
| Praanam | "Nindu Noorella" | Kamalakar | |||
| Tagore | "Manmadha Manmadha" | Mani Sharma | |||
| 2004 | Adavi Ramudu | "Aakasham Sakshiga" | Mani Sharma | ||
| Anji | "Gumma Gulabi Komma" | ||||
| Lakshmi Narasimha | "Pappesuko Charesuko" | ||||
| "Naathothi Neeku" | |||||
| Mee Intikosthe Yemistharu Maa Intikosthe Yemthestharu | "Chammaku Chakkera" | Ghantadi Krishna | |||
| Samba | "Luxemburg Lux Sundari" | Mani Sharma | |||
| Vidyardhi | "Andhra Khiladi" | ||||
| 2005 | Allari Pidugu | "Ongolu Githaro" | |||
| Athadu | "Chandamama" | ||||
| Balu | "Athi Methani" | ||||
| Jai Chiranjeeva | "Thumsup Thunder" | ||||
| Narasimhudu | "Mudhoche Kopalu" | ||||
| Orey Pandu | "Aakasha Veedhilo" | Anand Raaj Anand | |||
| "Come Come" | |||||
| Subash Chandra Bose | "Neredu Pallu" | Mani Sharma | |||
| 2006 | Dhoom 2 | "Raajukunna Segalalona" | Pritam | ||
| Pokiri | "Choododdu Antunna" | Mani Sharma | |||
| Raghavan | "Hrudayame" | Harris Jayaraj | |||
| Ramalayam Veedhilo Madhumathi | "Churukanti" | Kishan | |||
| Ranam | "Varevva" | Mani Sharma | |||
| Stalin | "Go Go Gova Maguva" | ||||
| Style | "Thadava Thadavaku" | ||||
| Veerabhadra | "Jujibeelallo" | ||||
| 2007 | Munna | "Manasa Nuvvunde"(Film) | Harris Jayaraj | ||
| "Manasa Nuvvunde"(Humming) | |||||
| Ta Ra Rum Pum | "Ta Ra Ram Pum" | Vishal–Shekhar | |||
| "Hey Shonaa Hey Shonaa" | |||||
| 2008 | Chintakayala Ravi | "Shava Shava Bhalle" | Vishal–Shekhar | ||
| "Endhuko Tholi" | |||||
| Dasavathaaram | "Oh Sanama Ho Sanam" | Himesh Reshammiya | |||
| "Oh Sanam Ho Sanam"(Remix) | |||||
| Krishna | "Dil Maange More" | Chakri | |||
| Salute | "Endammaya" | Harris Jayaraj | |||
| 2009 | Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam | "Abbacha" | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | ||
| 2012 | Brothers | "Kommalanni Poovai" | Harris Jayaraj | Javed Ali | |
| 2019 | Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi | "Naa Raja" | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | ||
| "Rae Raelae Re" |
Bengali
| Year | Song | Film | Music director | Co-singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Mon Dole" | Ghatak | Jeet Gannguli | Shaan |
| 2009 | "Bolo Piya" | Saat Paake Bandha | Jeet Gannguli | Sonu Nigam |
| 2012 | "Tore Niye Jai" | Khokababu | Rishi Chanda | Zubeen Garg |
| 2012 | "Guti Guti Paye" | Bikram Singha | Shree Pritam | Shaan |
| 2012 | "Dhuan Dhuan" | Bikram Singha | Shree Pritam | Shaan |
| 2012 | "Sajna Paas Aa Tu Jara" | Idiot | Shree Pritam | Shaan |
| 2012 | "Jhor Othe Mone" | Idiot | Shree Pritam | Zubeen Garg |
| 2013 | "O Bondhu Amar" | Khoka 420 | Shree Pritam | Shaan |
| 2013 | "Govinda Jay Jay" | Khoka 420 | Shree Pritam | Abhijeet Bhattacharya |
| 2013 | "Pagal Ami Already" | Khiladi | Shree Pritam | Zubeen Garg |
| 2018 | "Mon E Kemon" | Wrong Route | Dev Sen | Imran Mahmudul |
| 2018 | "Ja Hobe Dekha" | Raja Rani Raji | Lincon | Shaan |
Marathi
| Year | Song | Film | Music director | Co-singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Naach Gaanyacha Rang" | Nana Mama | Sachin Sanghvi | Solo |
| 2011 | "Mala Sang Na" | Sharyat | Chinar - Mahesh | Solo |
| 2014 | "Daatale Reshami" | Timepass | Chinar - Mahesh | Chinar Kharkar |
| 2015 | "Angat Rangat" | Kaay Raav Tumhi | Kanak Raj | Solo |
| 2015 | "Praju" | Timepass 2 | Chinar - Mahesh | Rishikesh Kamerkar |
| 2015 | "Sune Sune" | Welcome Zindagi | Soumil Shringarpure-Siddharth Mahadevan | Solo |
| 2015 | "Abhas Ha" | 3:56 Killari | Chinar - Mahesh | Solo |
| 2018 | "Runa Zuna" | Memory Card | Mitesh-Pritesh | Javed Ali |
| 2018 | "Halwa Halwa" | Jaga Vegli Antyatra | Rohan Pradhan & Rohan Gokhale | Siddharth Mahadevan |
Kannada
| Year | Song | Film | Music director | Co-singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Ee Nanna Kannaane" | Abhi | Gurukiran | Udit Narayan |
| 2004 | "Ninna Mareyalare" | Kanchana Ganga | S. A. Rajkumar | Udit Narayan |
| 2007 | "Yeko Yeno" | Arasu | Joshua Sridhar | Solo |
| 2008 | "Dheem Dheem" | Accident | V. Harikrishna | Sonu Nigam |
| 2013 | "Yarigu Kanada Kamana Billina" | Mandahasa | Veer Samarth | Karthik |
| 2018 | "Nee Yaaro Nanage" | Amma I Love You | Gurukiran | Santhosh Venky |
| "Minugo Putta Taregale" | Saahasa Makkalu | Sharath Bilinele |
Non-film songs
| Year | Album | Song | Composer | Lyricist | Co-singer(s) | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Zubeenor Gaan | "Ujagori Nikhaar" | Zubeen Garg | Zubeen Garg | Zubeen Garg | Assamese | [8] | |
| 1996 | Rong | "Rong Tumi Huwane" | [9] | |||||
| 1998 | Meghor Boron | "Aagoli Kolapat" | Solo | [10] | ||||
| "Jodihe Jun Tora" (Version 1) | Zubeen Garg | [11] | ||||||
| "Purnima Jun Tumi" | Zubeen Garg, Udit Narayan, Sagarika Mukherjee Da Costa | [12] | ||||||
| 1998 | Xabda | "Kokal Khamusiya" | Zubeen Garg | |||||
| 1998 | Snigdha Junak | "Fagun Ahile Boi" | Diganta Bharati | Solo | ||||
| 2000 | Sparsh | "Kya Hone Laga Mujhe" | Zubeen Garg | Zubeen Garg | Zubeen Garg, Sagarika Mukherjee Da Costa | Hindi | [13] | |
| 2001 | Pranayam | "Thengum Nin Ullam" | Thej Mervin | M.A. Babji | Malayalam | |||
| 2002 | Dance Masti Again | "Aaja Piya" | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | Instant Karma | Hindi |
Awards and honours
- Grammy Award as Vocalist on the recording of "Jai Ho" from the film Slumdog Millionaire
- Alpha award for Best Playback for Adhar
- Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer At 51st Maharashtra State Film Awards For Song "Datle Reshami Dhuke" From Film Timepass.
- Maharashtra Kala Niketan Award for Suna Yeti Gharaat
- 2016 Filmfare nomination for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Un Mele Oru Kannu" (Rajinimurugan)
- Best playback singer - Orissa State Award for "Dheu Kere Kule" (From the film Mimamsa)
