Mahalakshmi Iyer
Mahalakshmi Iyer is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Hindi and Tamil songs. She has sung in many other Indian languages as well, including Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Gujarati, Assamese and Kannada.[1]
Mahalakshmi Iyer | |
---|---|
Mahalakshmi Iyer | |
Background information | |
Genres | Playback singing, Indian classical music, folk, Indipop |
Occupation(s) | Singer, playback singer |
Instruments | Vocalist |
Years active | 1996–present |
Career
Mahalakshmi made her playback debut with the film Dus, which was also Shankar–Ehsaan–Loys' debut as music directors in 1996. The film never completed due to the sudden passing of the film's director. The album however was released in 1999 as a tribute. The same week she recorded for Dus, she also 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. Mahalakshmi continued singing for Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and A.R. Rahman in many films which followed.[2]
Since then she has also sung many serials, jingles, and original albums.[3] 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, 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.[4]
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).[5]
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.
Personal life
Mahalakshmi comes from a Tamil musical family. Her mother is a Carnatic classical singer. She began learning Hindustani music at an early age as did her three sisters, Kalpana, Padmini and Shobha. Iyer grew up in Chembur, Mumbai, and is a graduate of R. A. Podar College of Commerce & Economics, Mumbai.
Television songs
Year | Name of Serial | Composer | Company / Production |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | Kasamm | Lalit Sen | Balaji Telefilms |
2000-2001 | Kundali | ||
2002-2003 | Kuchh Jhuki Palkain | ||
2002-2005 | Kehta Hai Dil | ||
2002-2003 | Kammal | Saurabh Bhatt | |
2002–2006 | Astitva...Ek Prem Kahani | Pritam | Ananda Films & Telecomm. Pvt. Ltd. |
2003–2004 | Aandhi | Lalit Sen | Siddhant Cinevision |
2003–2005 | Saara Akaash | Anand Sharma | Miditech |
2006-2007 | Thodi Khushi Thode Gham | Uttank Vora | Shobhana Desai Production Pvt Ltd & Adlabs |
2006-2009 | Banoo Main Teri Dulhann | K.C. Loy & Aashish Rego | Shakuntalam Telefilms |
2007-2008 | Meri Awaz Ko Mil Gayi Roshni | Jeet Ganguly | Fox Television Studios |
2008-2010 | Miley Jab Hum Tum | Shaleen Sharma | Sunshine Productions & Endemol India |
2009–2011 | Majhiya Priyala Preet Kalena | Shreekant Thakare | Balaji Telefilms |
2010 | Bandh Reshmache | ||
2015-2016 | Aadhe Adhoore | N/A | Ananda Films & Zindagi TV Productions |
2017 | Aarambh | Shankar Ehsaan Loy | Rose Audio Visuals |
In 2013, Mahalakshmi Iyer sang a song with Udit Narayan titled "Ek dil banaaya, phir pyar basaaya", penned by Raghvendra Singh music direction of Navin Manish for Rajshri 's TV show Jhilmil Sitaaron Ka Aangan Hoga on Sahara One.
Selected film songs
Selected 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 | |
2006 | Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu | "Uyirilae Enadhu Uyirilae" | Harris Jayaraj | Srinivas |
2007 | Unnale Unnale | "Mudhal Naal Indru" | 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 |
Awards and honors
- Alpha award for Best Playback for Adhar
- Maharashtra Kala Niketan Award for Suna Yeti Gharaat
- 2016 Filmfare nomination for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Un Mele Oru Kannu" (Rajini Murugan)
- Best Play Back Singer Maharashtra State Award for Datle Dhuke (Time Pass)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mahalakshmi Iyer. |
References
- ""I am known as Mahalukhimi in Assam and Mahalokhi in Calcutta. I have heard stories where they have asked people that when did this Assam native move to Bombay?" – Mahalaxmi Iyer". IndiaFM. 14 March 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
- "Money doesn't matter to me: Mahalaxmi Iyer". Hindustan Times. 12 November 2016.
- "'My day will come too!'". rediff.com. 7 April 2001. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
- "Mahalakshmi Iyer Wants Albums For TV Shows' Songs". Mid Day. 11 April 2018.
- Vij, Manish (24 January 2009). "Jai ho Rahman". Ultrabrown. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2009.