Shankar Mahadevan

Shankar Mahadevan

Shankar Mahadevan (born 3 March 1967) is an Indian singer and composer who is part of the Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy trio that makes music for Indian films. In 2023, he was awarded an honorary doctorate (honoris causa degree) by Birmingham City University.

Early and personal life

Shankar Mahadevan

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

Shankar Mahadevan

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

Shankar Mahadevan

The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Padma Shree Award to Mahadevan, at an Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 11 March 2019

• 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

Discography

Solo albums

• Nine • Breathless

Jingles

<table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Brand</th><th>Composer</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>"Kuch Khaas Hai Hum Sabhi Mai"</td><td>Dairy Milk</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>"Chal Nikal Taiyaar Ho Ja"</td><td>Delhi Disaster Management Authority</td><td>Vaibhav Saxena</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Television

Shankar Mahadevan

• 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