MILI, professionally known as Mili Nair (born 7 April), is an Indian singer, composer, and producer. She released the single “Elephant,” a collaboration with Joe Satriani, becoming one of the first artist from India to collaborate with the legendary guitarist. Prior to this she released her debut album, Written In The Stars, featuring acclaimed musicians like Vinnie Colaiuta, Michael Landau. She has also worked with leading Indian composers including Amit Trivedi and A. R. Rahman
Biography
Early life MILI was born in Mumbai and finished her schooling in Pune. Although born in Mumbai, she is a Malayali with her family roots in both Kerala and Malaysia. She pursued her college education at Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, earning a bachelor's degree in Journalism, English Literature, and Psychology.
Mili's journey into music began at an early age. She completed her grade examinations in Western classical voice with Trinity College London and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and performed as a soprano soloist with professional choral groups across India.
At just 16, she began performing live professionally with rock and jazz bands.
Album: Written in the Stars Mili released her first album in English Written in the Stars in which she has composed all ten songs on the album and has collaborated with veteran musicians Vinnie Colaiuta, Michael Landau, James Genus and George Whitty. The album was launched with the first video Dream Like A Skylark on YouTube. Written in the Stars was recorded and produced in Los Angeles, California and released under the label Apostrophe Music.
The music video for the song Fooling and New Day was filmed in Budapest, Hungary and Stockholm, Sweden and was broadcast on VH1.
Single: Keep The Hope Alive! Mili released her first single in English "Keep The Hope Alive!” on 10 July 2020, which aims at keeping our spirits up, as the whole world is fighting against the pandemic.
Single: Elephant
Written, composed and arranged by MILI, Elephant marks a notable milestone, with MILI becoming the first artist from India to have Joe Satriani perform on her composition, making it a significant moment for the Indian music landscape.
Elephant features Joe Satriani on Guitars, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, James Genus on Bass, Jeff Babko on keys and produced by Hamesh.
Playback Singing & Coke Studio (India)
A.R. Rahman gave MILI her first break in film music with the Tamil song Keda Kari in Raavanan and Maham Maye in the Telugu film Komaram Puli. Her most recent release with Rahman is Parakka Seivaai from the Tamil film Ambikapathy (Tamil version of Bollywood film Raanjhana).
MILI went on to collaborate with composer Amit Trivedi on the Hindi film Kai Po Che!, lending her voice to the track Meethi Boliyaan. Meethi Boliyaan earned MILI award nominations from the Indian music industry. She later joined Trivedi on his national concert tours.
MILI also collaborated with director Mahesh Bhatt, performing the title song for the film Mr. X, composed by Jeet Gannguli. Additionally, she worked with composer Harris Jayaraj, delivering the Tamil song Rettai Kathirein from the film Maattrraan.
Her performances on the TV series Coke Studio@MTV Season 2 gained her further recognition.
Discography
Albums
Written in the Stars : track listing All songs written and composed by MILI.
Release: 15 December 2017 No: Song name Time 1. Good Morning 4:112.Had To Be You5:013.Dream Like A Skylark4:174.Written in the Stars5:105.Got An Eye3:236.Longing4:427.New Day4:098.Is It Something4:309.Inside Out4:3310.Fooling4:36 Personnel MILI – Vocals Vinnie Colaiuta – Drums Michael Landau - Guitars James Genus - Bass George Whitty - Piano Also appearing Bill Churchville – Trumpet Alejandro Carballo - Trombone Terry Landry - Tenor and Barritone Saxophone Mixed by: Helik Hadar
Mastered By: Gavin Lurssen and Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Masterig
Composition and lyrics by MILI.
Produced by Hamesh
Singles
1. Keep The Hope Alive! (Acoustic): Date of release July 10, 2026.
2. Elephant: MILI, Joe Satriani, Vinnie Colaiuta & Jeff Babko: Date of release May 1, 2026.
Feature films Film Song name Language Composer Mr. X Mr. X Title Song - You Can Call Me X - Mahesh Bhatt Hindi Jeet Gannguli Kai Po Che! Meethi Boliyaan Hindi Amit Trivedi Ambikapathy Parakka Seivaai Tamil A.R. Rahman Shaadi Ke Side Effects Tumse Pyar Ho Gaya Hindi Pritam Poojai IppadiyeTamil Yuvan Shankar Raja Nanbenda Nee Sunno Moono Tamil Harris Jayaraj Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe Hey Suttrum Tamil Madley Blues Maalai Nerathu Mayakkam Ennodu Tamil Amrit Rao Raavanan Keda Kari Tamil A.R. Rahman Puli Maham Maye Telugu A.R. Rahman Maattrraan Rettai Kathire English Harris Jayaraj Vanakkam Chennai Oh Penne Penne (Movie Version) Tamil Anirudh Ravichander Kalakalappu Angelina English Vijay Ebenezer Urumi Movie Theme Malayalam Deepak Dev Veera Parampare Ambarada Kannnada Narayan .S. Aidondla Aidu Neragi Kannada Ouseppachan
Coke Studio at MTV India Season Song name Composer/ producer Lyricists Language Singers Season 2 Yatra Amit Trivedi Swanand Kirkire Hindi Mili Nair, Shriram Iyer Season 2 Badari Badariyan Amit Trivedi Kausar Munir Hindi Mili Nair, Mame Khan
Awards and nominations Year Award Film/ song Title 2013 GIMA Awards Film: Kai Po Che! / Song: Meethi Boliyan Best Debut Bollywood – Nominated 2013 GIMA Awards Film: Kai Po Che! / Song: Meethi Boliyan Best Duet Bollywood – Nominated 2014 Mirchi Music Awards Film: Kai Po Che! / Song: Meethi Boliyan Upcoming Singer (Female) Bollywood – Nominated
References
External links – official site
Mili Keep The Hope Alive - Single Release Press. The New Indian Express - Indulge - India Mili Written In The Stars - Album Pre Release Press. Deccan Chronicle India Times of India, Bangalore Times 2018. Singer-songwriter Mili to release 'Fooling' video.