Sunitha Sarathy

Sunitha Sarathy is an Indian vocalist and performer in both Indian contemporary and Western classical music genres.[1] She is also a gospel singer who performs in various church choirs. After having won the "Virgin Voice Choice" contest – a joint initiative of Channel V and Virgin Records in the year 2000, Sarathy debuted into film playback in the year 2002.

Sunitha Sarathy
Background information
Birth nameSunitha Sarathy
BornChennai, Tamilnadu, India
GenresWestern Classical, Gospel, R&B
Occupation(s)Singer
InstrumentsVocalist
Years active2002–current

She debuted as a playback singer with the Tamil film Yei! Nee Romba Azhagey Irruke guest-singing the prelude and interlude portions of the song "Ini Naanum Naanillai" with Srinivas and Sujatha Mohan as the lead singers.[2] Sarathy has around 200 film songs in various languages, performances as singer-keyboardist-percussionist across a wide spectrum of Western music genres including classical, jazz, soul and R&B, neo-soul and quiet storm, and a prolific output of gospel songs to her credit.[3]

Early life

Coming from a family well-versed in Western music (classical jazz), Sarathy started singing in choirs from a young age of four. Her mother Susheela Sarathy is a pianist and conductor of leading Madras choirs at Santhome Church and Lazarus Church. Sunitha's irrepressible talent conquered all, including her initial flippancy. Her performances at Santhome – including devotionals in Latin and Franz Schubert's Ave Maria – elevated her to star status among Madras' church music circles. She has had the honour of rendering the 'Easter Proclamation' – a typical Catholic chant – for three years before an overflowing San Thome Basilica.

In 2000, Sarathy won the Virgin Voice Choice contest – a joint initiative of Channel V and Virgin Records. Out of 45,000 entries, 1,500 contestants were shortlisted. Ten made it to the finals in Mumbai, of which Sarathy emerged as a winner.

Career

Sunitha Sarathy was noticed by playback singer Srinivas after her victory in the talent hunt program. He offered her a small portion of a song which he was guest-composing for the film Hey! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke in the year 2002. Soon later, composer Harris Jayaraj recorded her voice for a Love theme and dance theme in his Telugu film Vasu. However she got a big break and wider recognition after singing the full-length solo song "Thoodu Varuma" for the blockbuster Tamil film, Kaakha Kaakha in the same year.

Sarathy got a national recognition for her playback singing for a Hindi – Tamil bilingual film Yuva / Aaytha Ezhuthu in 2004 both directed by Mani Ratnam with music composition by A. R. Rahman. Soon after this, Sarathy recorded her voice for many successful soundtracks in various languages. Some of her notable works are for the films that include Mitr, My Friend, Anniyan, Polladhavan, Vallavan, Kana Kandaen, Don 2, Happy Days, Sainikudu, Cheluvina Chittara among others.[4][5] She also recorded the song "Warriors in peace" for the Mandarin film Warriors of Heaven and Earth composed by A. R. Rahman.

Sarathy performed for a song at the 2006 Asian Games.[6]

In July 2013, Sunitha Sarathy became the first solo female performer from India to be signed by AKG microphones as an endorsee[7]

July 2014 saw the launch of Sunitha Sarathy's School of Vocal Excellence, a performance oriented learning center for aspiring singers.

Notable Filmography

YearSongFilm TitleLanguageCo-singer(s)
2002"Ini Naanum Naanillai"Hey! Nee Romba Azhaga IrukkeTamil
2002"Give me Hugs"Mitr, My FriendEnglish
2003"Warriors in Peace"Warriors of Heaven and EarthEnglish/ Mandarin
2003"Thoodu Varumaa"Kaakha KaakhaTamil
2003"Kaaka Kaaka Karuppu Paaru"Julie GanapathiTamil
2003"Seduction Saawariya"BoomHindi
2003"Maaro Maaro"BoysTamil/ Telugu
2003"Habibi"TehzeebHindi
2004"My Heart Beats"PranaKannada
2004"Shaaba Shaaba"RunwayMalayalam
2004"Yaakai Thiri"Aaytha EzhuthuTamil
2004"Hey Goodbye Nanba"Aaytha EzhuthuTamil
2004"Fanaa"YuvaHindi
2004"Hey Khuda Hafiz"YuvaHindi
2004"Arakonathil"ArasatchiTamil
2004"Ivanthaana"KaadhalTamil
2004"Andathanama"GharshanaTelugu
2004"La La Lahiri"MassTelugu
2004"New New"NewTamil
2005"My Wish comes true"KisnaHindi
2005"Chinna Chinna"Kana KandaenTamil
2005"Dai Dai Kattikoda"SachienTamil
2005"F TV Chiranjeevi"AndarivaaduTelugu
2005"Pattuko Ko"Naa AlluduTelugu
2005"Stranger in Black"AnniyanEnglish/Tamil
2006"Kalloori Saalaikkul"SivappathigaramTamil
2006"Bangaranni"Nuvvu Nenu PremaTelugu
2006"Hip Hip Hurray"VallavanTamil
2006"Byla Bylamo"SainikuduTelugu
2007"Neeye Sol"PolladhavanTamil
2007"Yaar Iraivanai"Oram PoTamil
2007"Ye Cheekati"Happy DaysTelugu
2008"Chellame Chellame"SatyamTamil
2008"He Dil Deewana"Twenty 20Malayalam
2009"Paathi Kaadhal"Modhi VilayaduTamil
2009"Saregama Saregama"Jolly DaysKannada
2010"Hey CM"LeaderTeluguNominated - Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu
2010"Non Stop"Namo VenkatesaTelugu
2010"Thuru Thuru"JaggubhaiTamil
2010"Suthude Suthude"PaiyaaTamil
2010"Kooda Kooda"NaanayamTamil
2011"Dushman Mera"Don 2Hindi
2011"The Rise of Damo"7aam ArivuTamil/ Telugu
2011"Its a Game"GameHindi
2011"Nuvvante Naaku"MoguduTelugu
2012"Bubble Gum"LeelaiTamil
2014"Ennodu Nee Irundhal"I (film)Tamil
2014"Yaen Ennai"Yennai ArindhaalTamil
2015"Orea oru murai"Purampokku Engira PodhuvudamaiTamil
2015"Thoovanam"Romeo JulietTamil
2018 "Tik Tik Tik" Tik Tik Tik Tamil
2018"Sevandhu Pochu Nenju"Chekka Chivantha VaanamTamil
2019"Bad Boy"SaahoTamilBenny Dayal
Malayalam
"Breaking My Heart"SuryakanthamTelugu
"Speechless"SpeechlessTelugu

References

  1. Frederick, Prince (20 October 2011). "Sunitha Sarathy". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  2. "My First Break – Sunitha Sarathy". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 1 April 2010.
  3. Frederick, Prince (20 October 2011). "Soaring notes". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  4. "Don 2: The Chase Continues".
  5. "Don 2 Music Review".
  6. "Sunitha Sarathy – Climbing greater heights". Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  7. http://www.harman.in/products/professional/artists/sunitha-sarathy/
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