Nithyasree Mahadevan (born 25 August 1973) is an Indian Carnatic musician and playback singer. A prominent vocalist, she has performed at all major sabhas (music organisations) in India and has released over 750 albums. Nithyasree Mahadevan is also known for her work as a playback singer in Indian cinema, particularly for her debut song, "Kannodu Kaanbadhellam," composed by A. R. Rahman for the 1998 film Jeans.
Early life and background Nithyasree was born to Lalitha Sivakumar and Iswaran Sivakumar. She comes from a distinguished musical lineage. Her paternal grandmother, D. K. Pattammal, and grand-uncle, D. K. Jayaraman, were celebrated Carnatic vocalists. Her maternal grandfather was the legendary mridangam virtuoso, Palghat Mani Iyer.
Nithyasree's initial musical training was under her mother, Lalitha Sivakumar. She later trained under her grandmother, D. K. Pattammal, and frequently accompanied both her mother and grandmother in their concerts. Her father, a skilled mridangam player, also accompanied her in performances.
Musical career Carnatic music Nithyasree gave her first public concert at the age of 14 for the Youth Association For Classical Music on 10 August 1987. The performance was attended by prominent musicians including D. K. Pattammal, D. K. Jayaraman, and the chief guest, K. V. Narayanaswamy.
Throughout her career, Nithyasree has performed extensively across India and internationally, with concerts in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore, among other countries. She is known for her thematic presentations, continuing her family's tradition of popularising compositions by poets such as Papanasam Sivan and Gopalakrishna Bharathi. She has also performed unique concerts, such as a three-hour performance in 1994 consisting entirely of 17 compositions in the raga Bhairavi. To commemorate the 50th year of Indian Independence, she performed several concerts featuring only patriotic songs.
Playback singing Nithyasree's career as a playback singer began in 1998 when A. R. Rahman invited her to record "Kannodu Kaanbadhellam" for the film Jeans. The song was an immediate success and earned her the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
She continued to collaborate with Rahman on several popular songs, including "Minsara Kanna" for Padayappa (1999) and "Sowkiyama Kannae" for Sangamam (1999). Her other notable film songs include "Thaai Thindra Mannae" from Aayirathil Oruvan (2010) and "Kana Kaangiren" from Ananda Thandavam (2009). She has also recorded songs for films in other South Indian languages, including Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam.
Personal life Nithyasree was married to V. Mahadevan until his death in 2012. They have two daughters, Tanujashree and Tejashree, who have occasionally accompanied her in concerts.
Discography List of songs recorded by Nithyasree. Year Film Language Song title Music director Co-singer 1998 Jeans Tamil Kannuodu Kaanbadhalam A. R. Rahman Telugu Kannulatho Choseve 1999 Padayappa Tamil Minsara Poove A. R. Rahman Srinivas & Palakkad Sreeram Telugu Meriseti Puvvaa Sangamam Tamil Sowkiyama Kannae A. R. Rahman Poovellam Kettuppar Poove Poove (Female) Yuvan Shankar Raja 2000 Kshemamga Velli Labhamga Randi Telugu Joru Joruga Vandemataram Srinivas Sukhwinder Singh Manasunna Maaraju Eddulabandi Ekki Moodu Mukkalaata Chinavaada Chinavaada M. M. Srilekha Mano Pennin Manathai Thottu Tamil Thiyagarajarin S. A. Rajkumar P. Unni Krishnan Sri Srimati Satyabhama Telugu Ice Cream Cuppulo S. V. Krishna Reddy 2001 Chandu Telugu Prema Nee Chirunama K.Veeru Jojo & Ramu Grama Devathe Kannada Shivaraja Dhina Shankar Mahadevan Telugu Shankaruni Charithanni Harish Raghavendra Love Channel Tamil Desingu Raja Deva Paarthale Paravasam Tamil Manmadha Masam A. R. Rahman Shankar Mahadevan Telugu Manmadha Masam 2002 Panchathantiram Tamil Vandhaen Vandhaen Deva Sujatha & Kamal Haasan Samurai Oru Nadhi Oru Pournami Harris Jayaraj Tushara Sri Bannari Amman Kallaanalum Kanavanthan T. Rajendar Swarnalatha Villain Orae Manam Vidyasagar Hariharan 2003 Parasuram Tamil Jack And Jill A. R. Rahman Surjo Bhattacharya & Mathangi Sena Thirathathu Kathal D. Imman Unni Menon 2004 Apthamitra Kannada Raa Raa Gurukiran Rajesh Krishnan Ennavo Pudichirukku Tamil Iru Vizhi Subhash Jawahar New / Naani Kumbakonam Sandhaiyile A. R. Rahman Shankar Mahadevan & Manikka Vinayagam Telugu Markandeya 2005 ABCD Tamil Thavam Ondru D. Imman P. Balram Chandramukhi Telugu Vaarai Naan Unnai Thedi Vidyasagar Kannadi Pookal Tamil Hey Silu Silu S. A. Rajkumar Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram Mogudu Pellam O Dongodu Telugu Sata Koti Manmadha Kabuli 2006 Gandugali Kumara Rama Kannada Sarasake Baaro Gurukiran Hariharan Kalabha Kadhalan Tamil Pattuselai Niru Krishnaraj & Sriram 2008 Vallamai Tharayo Tamil Aayiram Yaanai Bharadwaj 2009 Ananda Thandavam Tamil Kana Kaangiren G. V. Prakash Kumar Shubha Mudgal & Vinitha Naan Avanillai 2 Manmadha Leelai D. Imman Shail Hada & Benny Dayal 2010 Aayirathil Oruvan Tamil Thaai Thindra Mannae G. V. Prakash Kumar Vijay Yesudas & Shri Krishna Super Cowboy Telugu Kanna Namora Alakinchara Navin Iyer & D.A.Srinivas Yuganiki Okkadu Singaarinchina Vijay Yesudas 2012 Arike Malayalam Varavayi Thozhi Vadhuvayi Ouseppachan 2015 Panjumittai Tamil Kaattu Karuvamulla D. Imman T. L. Maharajan 2018 Mohini Tamil Mohini's Rage Melvin NOTA Telugu Raja Raja Kula Sam C. S. Abhay Jodhpurkar 2021 Udanpirappe Tamil Karambakudi Kanaga D. Imman Jayamoorthy
Music Director and Composer Nithyasree Mahadevan has composed music for songs, and has composed background scores for studio album recordings.
Semmozhi Anthem Nithyasree Mahadevan was one among the singers who sang the "Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam" song for the World Classical Tamil Conference 2010. She also appeared on the screen after Aruna Sayeeram and was followed by S. Sowmya.
Television works Nithyasree has appeared as a guest judge in various reality TV music talent shows, often aired on Tamil language TV channels. She first appeared as a guest judge in Sun TV's Sapthaswarangal. She later appeared as a guest judge in several episodes and rounds of Zee Tamil's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2009 Challenge, before appearing as a judge for STAR Vijay in seasons 2, 3, and 4 of Airtel Super Singer Junior, seasons 3, 4, and 5 of Airtel Super Singer, the debut episode of Super Singer Celebrity Season, and Nippon Paint Super Singer Junior season 5. She also appeared as a guest judge on episodes 22 and 23 of Indian Voice which was aired in October 2012 on Mazhavil Manorama, a Malayalam language TV channel, and as a guest judge for the finals of season 6 of Raj TV's Raja Geetham, which was held on 6 August 2015 at Kamarajar Arangam, and subsequently aired on 15 August 2015. Nithyashree appeared as a special guest for the debut season of Zee Tamil's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs. In March 2018, she returned as a special guest in the classical round of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Seniors, a week after the tribute round to music director M. S. Viswanathan featuring special guests Vani Jairam and P. Susheela was telecast. During March 2018, Nithyashree also made her first appearance as a special guest judge in Sun TV's Sun Singer.
Nithyasree was also a permanent judge in reality TV music talent shows. In 2014, Nithyasree was a permanent judge in season 3 of Raj TV's Carnatic music reality-talent show, Tanishq Swarna Sangeetham, having previously appeared as a guest judge at various levels in earlier seasons of the show. Nithyasree also appeared as a permanent judge in the debut season of Jaya Super Singer South India which was aired on Jaya TV between 2014 and 2015.
She sang several advertisement jingles for various companies, including more recently Sree Kumaran Thangamaligai which was recorded and aired on various Tamil language TV channels. Nithyasree has also sung title songs for various TV serials which were recorded and telecast in South India, including Chithi - a mega serial originally aired on Sun TV.
Serial name Music director Channel(s) Chithi Dhina Sun TV Krishnadasi D. Imman Sun TV & Raj TV Metti Oli Dhina Sun TV Buvaneshwari Ramesh Sun TV Arasi Kiran Sun TV Mythili S. P. Venkatesh Kalaignar TV Uravugal D. Imman Sun TV Kanchana STAR Vijay Anni Jaya TV Engirundho Vandhal Jaya TV Kakka Kakka Raj TV
Titles, awards and other recognition Nithyasree is a "Top Rank" graded artist of Akashvani, and All India Radio, Chennai. She received the "Best Concert Award" for 6 years from the Madras Music Academy, and won the Kalaimamani award from the Government of Tamil Nadu, who subsequently appointed her as a member in the Expert Committee panel in the "IYAL ISAI NATAKA MANDRAM". During her career, Nithyasree has been bestowed with numerous other titles, and won numerous other awards and prizes.