Mahathi
| Mahathi. S மஹதி | |
|---|---|
 Indian classical and playback singer Mahathi Carnatic musician and a playback singer | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mahathi. S |
| Also known as | Mahathy, Mahati |
| Born | 10 February 1985 |
| Genres | Carnatic, Film Music |
| Occupation(s) | Playback singer |
| Instruments | Vocalist |
| Years active | 2003–current |
| Website |
mahathimusic |
Mahathi (Tamil: மஹதி) is a Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in several Indian languages.
Family
Mahathi was born in Chennai to a family of Carnatic musicians. Her maternal great grandfather, Pazhamaneri Swaminatha Iyer, was a Carnatic vocalist and recipient of the Sangeetha Kalanidhi title. Her mother, Vasanthi Sekhar, was a flautist, while her father, Thiruvaiyaru Sekar was a Carnatic vocalist and disciple of M. Balamuralikrishna.
Mahathi moved to Kerala as a toddler, and did her schooling Hari Sri Vidya Nidhi, Trichur and Sacred Heart Convent, Cochin. She graduated in Chennai from Meenakshi College, Kodambakkam with English literature as her main stream.
Mahathi was married on 16 March 2008 to Dr. K. Sreekumar, an oral and maxillo facial surgeon. Their son, Samarth, was born on 27 February 2011.
Career
Carnatic musician
Mahathi started identifying Carnatic Ragas at the age of 1 ½ years. This talent was identified by her parents during her father's concert at a temple in Palakkad. Her parents nurtured her talent by teaching her more and more Ragas. When she was 2 ½ years old she was able to identify about 75 Carnatic Ragas. Just to test her talents, her father mixed up Carnatic Swaras but Mahathi did not fail to identify the exact Swaras of the Ragas.
When she was 3 years old she came to Chennai with her mother for the December Music season (1988). At the Concert of Mandolin U. Srinivas at the Mylapore Fine Arts, on 25 December, Mahathi, sitting on her mother's lap kept identifying the Ragas played by the musicians on stage. The Secretary of the Sabha, who was sitting next to her mother arranged for a live demonstration of the child's talents, soon after the main item of the concert. Mahathi, without the slightest hesitation, identified all the Ragas and enthralled the audience. This incident appeared in all the leading newspapers at that time.
Mahathi underwent her initial musical training from her parents and from Deepa and Gayatri of Trivandrum. When Mahathi's family moved to Trichur, she was put under the guidance of Sri. Mangad K. Natesan. Mahathi underwent advanced musical training under the tutelage of Sri O S Thiagarajan, Padmabhushan Chevalier Dr.M. Balamuralikrishna and Padmabhushan T. N. Seshagopalan.
She has been awarded the scholarship for Classical Music from the Central Government of India in the year 1994. At Trichur she began recording various Devotional Cassettes.
Mahathi has been giving Carnatic concerts since the age of 10, all over the country and abroad. She has been performing in Various Sabhas during the December Music Festival. In 2003, she had the blessing of performing before her guru T. N. S., on 25 December at the Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha, Chennai.
Playback singing
Mahathi's introduction to playback singing came in 2003 when she sang a duet, "Iyyaiyyo Pudichirukku", with Hariharan, under the music direction of Harris Jayaraj in the Tamil movie, Saamy. Although she had a previous experience singing a song ("Enna Maranthalum") under the music direction of Ilaiyaraja, the movie for which it was recorded, Kaadhal Jaathi, was not released.
In 2008, Mahathi won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Naeraa Varattuma" from the movie "Nenjathai Killadhe".[1]
Mahathi has since sung for movies in the Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam languages.
| Year | Film / Soundtrack | Language | Song | Music Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Saamy | Tamil | "Iyyaiyo Pidichirukku" | Harris Jayaraj |
| 2004 | Varnajaalam | Tamil | "Nee Vendum" | Vidyasagar |
| 2004 | Chellamae | Tamil | "Kaadhalikkum" | Harris Jayaraj |
| "Vellaikkara Mutham" | ||||
| Prema Chadarangam | Telugu | "Pettadey Oh Muddu" | ||
| "Venditeralo Bulliteralo" | ||||
| 2004 | Dreams | Tamil | Appa Amma | Bharadwaj |
| 2004 | Chanti | Telugu | Rukku Rukku | Sri |
| 2004 | Kovil | Tamil | Puyaley Puyaley | Harris Jayaraj |
| 2005 | ABCD | Tamil | Engae Engae | D. Imman |
| 2006 | Nee Venunda Chellam | Tamil | "Thottuputtan" | Dhina |
| 2006 | Achacho | Tamil | Pengal | M.K.S. Narula Khan |
| 2006 | Kumaran | Tamil | Bayla Baylamo | Harris Jayaraj |
| 2006 | Vallavan | Tamil | Yammadi Aathaadi | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| 2006 | Parijatham | Tamil | Ennil Ennil | Dharan |
| 2006 | Varalaru | Tamil | Innisai | A. R. Rahman |
| 2006 | Uyir | Tamil | Kann Simittum | Joshua Sridhar |
| 2006 | Oru Kadhalan Oru Kadha | Tamil | Galagalagalappa | Bharani |
| 2007 | Maharadhi | Telugu | Maja Maja | Guru Kiran |
| Kempa | Kannada | Hello Ondu | ||
| 2008 | Bheema | Tamil | Mudhal Mazhai | Harris Jayaraj |
| Bheema | Telugu | Paruvapu Vaana | ||
| 2008 | Seval | Tamil | Namma Ooru | G. V. Prakash Kumar |
| 2008 | Samrajyam | Telugu | Joo Joo | Deva |
| 2009 | Naan Aval Adhu | Tamil | Vaa Nila | R. P. Patnaik |
| 2009 | Ayan | Tamil | Nenjae Nenjae | Harris Jayaraj |
| 2009 | Bet | Telugu | Yamini Yamini | Deva |
| 2010 | Engeyum Kadhal | Tamil | Thee Illai | Harris Jayaraj |
| Ninnu Chusthe Love Vasthundi | Telugu | Segaledhu Pogaledhu | ||
| 2011 | Vellore Maavattam | Tamil | Unnai Unnai | Sundar C Babu |
| 2010 | Nellu | Tamil | Muthu Muthu | S S Kumaran |
| 2010 | Nagarpuram | Tamil | Veyile Veyile – Siru Siru | Aruldev |
| Telugu | Veluge Veluge – Ciru Ciru | |||
| 2011 | Potta Potti | Tamil | Idhuvarai Idhuvarai | Aruldev |
| 2011 | Osthe | Tamil | Neduvaali | S. Thaman |
| 2011 | Gun | Kannada | Bissi Bissi | Ronnie Raphel |
| 2012 | Kadhal Padhai | Tamil | Ennavo Nenjiley | S S Kumaran |
| 2012 | Unnadhamaanavan | Tamil | Vaanam Yeno Indru | Srikanth Deva |
| 2012 | Mazhaikalam | Tamil | Devathai Neethaan | Premanandh |
| 2012 | Meenkothi | Tamil | Kandravi Kaadhal Paaru | Dhina |
| 2012 | Chaarulatha | Tamil | Ondraagha | Sundar C Babu |
| Telugu | Idharaa | |||
| Kannada | Oh Kandhaa | |||
| Malayalam | Onnai Mulaikkum | |||
| 2012 | Ullam | Tamil | Kannai Thirandu | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| 2013 | Killadi | Tamil | Nee Raangikaari | Srikanth Deva |
| 2014 | Ra Ra... Krishnayya | Telugu | Seetha Kalyanam | Achu Rajamani |
| 2014 | Vetri Selvan | Tamil | Yennai Yennai | Mani Sharma |
| 2014 | Theriyama Unna Kadhalichitten | Tamil | Nelavukkum Naanam | PR Srinath |
| 2015 | Yennai Arindhaal... | Tamil | Unakkenna Venum Sollu | Harris Jayaraj |
| 2015 | Enthavadu gaani... | Telugu | Neekem kavalo cheppu | Harris Jayaraj |
| 2015 | Natpathigaram 79 | Tamil | Penne Nee Kaadhal | Deebak Nilamboor |
Television works
Mahathi presented the music based quiz program, "Aaha Paadalam" on Doordarshan Podhigai TV with Raaghav.[2] In October 2005 she presented Ilaiyaraja's Live-in Concert organised by Jaya TV, "Andrum Indrum Endrum" with actor Parthiban.[3]
Apart from hosting shows, Mahathi has also appeared as a judge for various music competition reality shows. Mahathi, music director Ouspechan, and director Rajasenan were permanent judges in Kairali TV's "Gandharva Sangeetham" in 2013. Mahathi has appeared as an audition judge in seasons 2, 3, and 4 of Vijay TV's musical reality-talent shows Airtel Super Singer and Airtel Super Singer Junior. She has also appeared as a guest judge in seasons 1, 2, and 3 of Raj TV's Carnatic music reality-talent show, Tanishq Swarna Sangeetham.
Mahathi has also recorded title songs for various TV serials in Vijay TV and Jaya TV, and several advertisement jingles.
| Serial name | Music Director | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Rekkai kattiya Manasu | K. Balachander | Raj TV |
| Thulasi | Rehan | Zee Tamil |
| Priyamudan K B | K. Balachander | Vijay TV |
| Makkal Arangam | Rajhesh Vaidhya | Jaya TV |
| Ethir Neechal | K. Balachander | Jaya TV |
| Miss and Mrs Title song | Saravanan | Jaya TV |
| Song | Music Director |
|---|---|
| Pothys | Karthik Raja |
| Chennai Silks | D. Imman |
| Saravana Stores | D. Imman |
| Kadhir Fabrics | |
| Khazana Jewellery | |
| Aroor Moora and Sons | Kannan |
| Saravana Stores Gold Palace | Kannan |
| Madurai Rajmahal Silks | |
| Aachi Masala | |
| Jeyam Pulses | |
| RMKV Silks | |
| Bindu Appalam | |
| Sathya Home Appliances | |
| A V R Swarna Mahal |
Tours and performances
- Toured all over Malaysia and Singapore for classical concerts in 2002.
- Toured Burma (Myanmar) for Star Night Shows with Sri. Gangai Amaran and Sri. Malaysia Vasudevan in 2002.
- Performed for Boy's Boom Boom night with Singers Vasundhara Das, Manikka Vinayagam, Tippu, Karthik, Malathi Lakshman etc. at Colombo
- Toured London, Colombo, Kandy for light music and classical concerts in 2004.
- Toured Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark for concerts and shows in 2005.
- Toured Dubai and Bahrain for Asianet Onam Festival Shows(Malayalam) in 2006.
- Toured Australia (Melbourne & Sydney) with Dr. kJ Yesudas & Smt.Sujatha Mohan in October 2006. Performed at the concert hall in Sydney Opera House. This Performance is the first Tamil show at the Sydney Opera House.
- Performed for the Enfield Nagabooshani Amman temple, London with Sri. Harish Raghavendra in March 2008.
- Performed at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium with Deva (music director) for a star nite show in February 2008.
- Performed a live concert for the Tamil new year at Colombo for the Sri Lankan Government Tamil Channel Roopavahini.
- Toured all over the United States in May – June 2010 for Concerts and Shows.
- Toured UK for concerts in November 2010.
- Performed for the Kuwait Tamil Sangam in May 2011.
- Performed a Live Concert with Dr K. J. Yesudas at Kuala Lumpur for Astro Vanavil Channel.
- Toured all over the United States in October – November 2012 for concerts and shows along with playback singers Harish Raghavendra and Sathya Prakash.
- Performed at The 4th Tamil Trinity Festival, Melbourne in March 2013.
- Performed a fusion concert with Rajhesh Vaidhya and Stephen Devassy at London and Toronto in March 2013.
Titles, awards, and other recognition
| Year | Honour | Honouring bestowed or presented by | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | All Kerala ICSE Award for light music | ||
| 2001 | All Kerala State Award for Carnatic Music | ||
| 2001 | Bala Bhaskara Award for excellence in Carnatic Music | ||
| Innisai Ilayavani | Vani Vilas Sabha, Kumbakonnam | ||
| 2003 | Sensational Debut Singer Award (for Saamy) | Variety Film Awards | |
| 2003 | Best Singer Award (for Saamy) | Ajantha Arts Academy | |
| 2003 | Best Debut Singer Award (for Saamy) | Sivaji Arts Academy, from M.G.R. | |
| 2005 | Best Performer Award | Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Chennai | |
| 2006 | Best Young Vocalist Award for Raga Alapana | Madras Music Academy | |
| 2008 | Youth Excellence Award in the field of Carnatic Music | Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer Trust | |
| 2008 | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback (for "Naeraa Varattuma" from Nenjathai Killadhe) | Government of Tamil Nadu | |
| 2008 | Best Playback Singer (for "Mudhal Mazhai" from Bheema) | Jaya TV | |
| 2008 | ITFA Best Female Playback Award (for "Mudhal Mazhai" from Bheema) | [4] | |
| 2009 | Best Female Playback Singer Award | Isai Aruvi Tamil Music Awards | |
| 2010 | P. K. Chari Endowment Prize for the Best Concert of the 2010 Gokulashtami Series | Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai | |
| 2009 | "Yuva Kala Bharathi" (title for Outstanding Achievement in the field of Carnatic Music) | Bharat Kalachar, Chennai | |
| 2011 | V4 Entertainers Award (for "Neduvaali" from Osthe) | ||
| 2011 | "The Chord Wizard" (title) | WE (Women Exclusive) Magazine, Chennai, India | [5] |
| 2014 | "Gana Kala Vipanche" (title) | Vipanchee Fine Arts | |
| 2015 | "M S Subbulakshmi Award" | Narada Gana Sabha | |
| 2015 | "G Ramanathan Award" | Parthasarathy Swami Sabha | |
| 2016 | "Eminent Women Achiever Award" | Rajalakshmi Group of Institutions | |
| 2016 | "Women Achiever's Award" | Inner Wheel Club of Nanganallur | |
| 2016 | "Gana Kala Praveena" (title) | Shastriya Sangeetha Puraskar 2016, Bay Area Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival |
References
- ↑ "Front Page : Rajini, Kamal win best actor awards". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ↑ "Aaha Paadalam". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 13 February 2004.
- ↑ "The Raja still reigns supreme". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 21 October 2005.
- ↑ "Mahathi gets fourth time lucky". The Times of India. 27 May 2009.
- ↑ http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/may-11-01/poornima-bagyaraj-mahathi-05-05-11.html
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