Sangeetha Rajeev

Sangeetha Rajeev (born 23 October), also known professionally as SaRa, is an Indian playback singer, composer and independent music artist. She is known for her contributions to Kannada pop music (Ka-Pop) and is regarded as one of the first female independent artists in the Kannada music scene. And she introduced the genre Ka Pop or ಕ Pop (Kannada Pop), which was launched by the legendary Dr. Puneeth Rajkumar.

In 2019, she received the Best International Pop Singer award at the VIMA Music Awards in Malaysia.

Sangeetha has collaborated with several notable artists, including Sonu Nigam for the Kannada track "Neene Neene", which was later released in Hindi as "Tuhi Tuhi". Her single "Nee Hinga Nodabyada", which she wrote, composed and performed, gained widespread popularity and became one of the most recognisable tracks in the Kannada independent music space.

She has since expanded into other regional music industries, debuting in Telugu with the single "Naa Raju" and in Punjabi with the EP Rise (2023). In 2022, she was featured by YouTube as part of its "Creating for India" campaign, becoming the first artist from Karnataka to receive front-page coverage in major newspapers through the initiative.

Sangeetha is also pursuing a career in acting, with upcoming roles in the Hindi film Red Collar and the 2025 released Kannada feature film Nimitta Matra. She also received positive reviews for her performance in the film from both critics and audiences.

Early life

Sangeetha Rajeev was born Bangalore to a musical family. Her father S Rajeev was a bank manager, who had to move to Mumbai on an official transfer. She along with her family moved to Mumbai at the age of 6 where she spent most of her childhood. In Mumbai she was trained in Bharatnatyam and Carnatic classical music. She is also trained in Hindustani classical music.

Sangeetha did most of her schooling in Mumbai. Sangeetha graduated in information science engineering. She then moved to England to work before returning to India to pursue music.

Career Sangeetha started her career from Kannada films. She was introduced to this industry by the music composer Dharma Vish. She sang a song in the film Aane Pataaki for which she also won the best playback singer award the same year. She was then introduced to the Tollywood industry by the Kshanam music composer Sricharan Pakala and director Shreeranjani through actor/producer Nagarjuna's home production Annapurna Studios. She started her Telugu film career with the film Rangula Ratnam where she sang the Birthday (Tic Toc) song and became the voice of Sithara (actress). She has also sung in the Hindi film Simply Ek Love Story.

She has also produced and composed many independent singles in the Kannada and Hindi languages, including "Nee Hinga Nodabyada". Her single "Neene Neene" was a collaboration with Sonu Nigam

Influences One of SaRa's early musical influences was her mother herself, M K Sharadamba, who is a Carnatic classical musician. SaRa is highly influenced by western music and considers the late great Michael Jackson to be her western influences.

Discography

As a playback singer

Year Song Film / Album Composer Language Ref. 2013 "Yentane taragathi" Aane Pataaki Dharma Vish Kannada "Thinbedakami 2" Lucia Poornachandra Tejaswi 2014 "Haule Haule" Simply Ek Love Story Karthik Vijay Hindi 2015 "Ali Baba" Rebel Jassie Gift Kannada "Namma ee aata" Aadhya Jeevan Reddy 2016 "Bijili Krishna" I Dash You Adil Nadaf "Hero Cycle" Bhujanga Poornachandra Tejaswi (composer) "Khushi" Looty Dharma Vish Tulu 2017 "Dhool Yebbussro" Raj Vishnu Arjun Janya Kannada 2018 "Birthday" Rangula Ratnam Sricharan Pakala Telugu 2018 "Namde Lifu" Edakallu Guddada Mele Ashic Arun Kannada 2019 "Rum Rum Rurum (Psychedelic Song)" Mataash S.D. Aravinda "Heartalli" Chanaksha Abhimann Roy "Nadu Naachide" Naguva Nayana Karthik Pai "Payanava" Premier Padmini Arjun Janya "Taasha" Kushka Abhilash Gupta "Shaane Top Agavne" Sinnga Dharma Vish "Mussanje-EDM" Paaravvana Kanasu Tharun Symonds 2020 "Moodanada Surya" Gule Sangeetha Rajeev "Late Late" Puncture Manasa Holla 2022 "Coka 2.0" Liger Jaani, Lijo George-DJ Chetas 2023 "Yaaro Yaaro" Yadha Yadha Hi Sricharan Pakala 2025 "Jawari Swag" Nimitta Matra Sangeetha Rajeev 2025 "Mouna" Nimitta Matra Sangeetha Rajeev

Independent Music

Year Work Composer Language 2013 "Sarvasva" Sangeetha Rajeev Kannada 2016 "Chan Se Udi" Hindi 2017 "Kare" Kannada 2018 "Tu Hi" Hindi 2018 "Ee Sala Cup Namde (RCB Anthem)" Kannada 2018 "Zindagi" Hindi 2018 "Nan E Life" Kannada 2019 "Hai Salaam" Hindi 2020 "YML" "Wedlock Down" "Nee Hinga Nodabyada" "Neene Neene" "Tuhi Tuhi" Hindi "Ena Maadali" Kannada 2021 "Noda Noda" "Appa" "Nee Hinga Nodabyada 2" "Nannatta Soodamaku" Telugu "Nannatta Soodamaku 2" "Naa Muttidella Chinna" Kannada 2022 "Lovvu Lovvu" 2022 "Naa Raju" Telugu "Nan Raja" Kannada 2022 "Neene Illade" Sangeetha Rajeev Kannada 2022 "Tanha" Hindi 2023 "Aigiri Nandini" Kannada 2023 "Innu Yaaka Baralilla" Kannada 2023 "Rise" Punjabi 2025 "Rudra (By SHAZZE & Stone Van Brooken Feat. Sangeetha Rajeev)" Sanskrit 2025 "Jai Ganaraya" Hindi

+ As a Music Director Year Song Film Language 2020 Oora Bittu Gule Kannada 2020 Moodanada Surya Gule Kannada 2025 Jawari Swag Nimitta Matra Kannada 2025 Mouna Nimitta Matra Kannada 2025 Mouna Sad Reprise Nimitta Matra Kannada 2025 Jo Jo Nimitta Matra Kannada

Filmography

Year Film Language Ref. 2024 Red Collar Hindi 2025 Nimitta Matra Kannada KiMA International Music Awards Yentane Taragathi Kannada