Shankar Mahadevan is an Indian and a multiple National Film Award-winning music composer and singer. An accomplished musician in Bollywood and Tamil Cinema, he is a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio team that provides music to Bollywood films. He is considered as one of the best present-day Indian singers for his ability to sing at very high as well as low pitches.
Early life
Shankar Mahadevan was born and brought up in Chembur, a suburb of Mumbai to an Iyer family from Kerala. His Mother Tongue is Tamil. He learned Hindustani classical music and Carnatic music in his childhood and started playing the Veena at the age of five. He went to OLPS High School Mumbai University
Career
After working for a while for Leading Edge Systems, Shankar ventured into the field of music. He earned his first award as a playback singer in a Tamil movie, collaborating with A. R. Rahman and winning a National Film Award for his song in Kandukondain Kandukondain. A prominent star in the Kodambakkam film industry, he later gained more recognition by releasing his first music album called Breathless in 1998, in which he appears to sing through the whole song in a single breath. He later got into music direction and became a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio, composing music for Hindi films.
He has sung in many movies for A. R. Rahman, Anu Malik and other music directors, performing songs like "Urvashi Take It Easy" from Humse Hai Muqabla (1995), "I Love You" from Auzaar (1997), "Kay Sera Sera" from Pukar (2000) and many more songs in the nineties. He sings songs in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, and Marathi.
He enjoyed a successful run with the fusion jazz band SILK with Louis Banks on keyboards, Sivamani on percussion, Sridhar Parthasarathy on mridangam and Karl Peters on bass guitar.
Shankar Mahadevan has also provided vocals for several songs by the band Remember Shakti, which features maestros like Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin, U. Srinivas and Selvaganesh Vinayakram. He was music director and singer for the famous "School Chale Hum" song that used to come on Doordarshan.
He was a mentor on Zee TV's musical reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa
He also was a Team Captain, judge, and mentor on STAR Plus's musical show Music Ka Maha Muqqabla for the team Shankar's Rockstars and his team won Music Ka Maha Muqqabala 2010.
Awards
- Swaralaya-Kairali-Yesudas Award
2007 - Yesudas Award for his outstanding contribution to Indian film music
- National Film Awards
2000 - National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer: "Yenna Solla Pogirai", Kandukondain Kandukondain
2002 - National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer : "Maa Tujhhe Salaam", Maa Tujhhe Salaam (film)
2004 - National Film Award for Best Music Direction: Kal Ho Naa Ho (as part of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy)
2008 - National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer: "Maa", Taare Zameen Par
2008 - Best male playback singer for the film Venkatadri
2008 - Best Playback Singer (Male) for the song "Kalyaana Kacheri" from the movie Madampi
- Filmfare Awards
2003 - Best Music Direction win for Kal Ho Naa Ho
2005 - Best Music Direction win for Bunty Aur Babli
- Star Screen Awards
2000 - Best Background Music nomination for Mission Kashmir
2001 - Best Music Direction win for Dil Chahta Hai
2005 - Best Music Direction win for Bunty aur Babli
2009 - Best Music Direction nomination for Rock On!!
- Asianet Film Awards
2009 - Best Male Playback - Puthiya Mukham
Other awards
2009 - Annual Malayalam Movie Awards (Dubai
Filmography as composer
Don 2 – The Chase Continues {2011}, Tere Bin Laden (2010),
Housefull(2010), Hum Tum Aur Ghost (2010),
Karthik Calling Karthik (2010), Kismat Talkies (2010),
My Name is Khan (2010), London Dreams (2009),
Wake Up Sid (2009), Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam(Telugu-2009),
13B (2009), Luck By Chance (2009),
SHORTKUT, Yavarum Nalam (Tamil) (2009),
Chandni Chowk to China
Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008), Rock On!! (2008),
High School Musical 2 Soundtrack (Hindi), Taare Zameen Par (2007),
Johnny Gaddaar (2007), Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007),
Heyy Babyy (2007), Marigold: An Adventure in India
Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love (2007), Don-The Chase Begins Again(2006),
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), Dil Jo Bhi Kahey... (2005),
Dus (2005), Bunty Aur Babli (2005),
Vanity Fair (2004), Phir Milenge (2004),
Lakshya (2004), Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na (2004),
Rudraksh (2004), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003),
Kuch Naa Kaho (2003), Nayee Padosan (2003),
Armaan (2003), Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003),
Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai? (2002), Dil Chahta Hai (2001),
Aalavandhan (2001) (Tamil), Mission Kashmir (2000),
Dillagi (1999), Shool (1999),
Discography
Breathless - Breathless is the album that first gave him fame, including the song, "Breathless," which he appears to sing in one breath.
Nine - Nine is Shankar's most recent album. Each song is a representation of a "mood," including joy, sadness, love, etc.
