Shakthisree Gopalan

Shakthisree Gopalan is an Indian vocalist, composer, songwriter and performer, famous for her collaborations with the music composers like A.R. Rahman. Aside from the film music, she is a regular in the independent music scene, performing with various bands over the years dabbling in Pop, R'n'B, trip-hop and jazz.

Early life and education Shakthisree Gopalan was brought up in Kochi, Kerala. She did her schooling in Rajagiri Public School, Kalamassery. She moved to Chennai after her school and pursued her degree in architecture at the Anna University's School of Architecture and Planning.

She was trained in Carnatic music for 13 years. During her 11th standard, SS Music conducted Voice Hunt 1. Since she was under 18, it ended with the auditions. Eventually in 2008, she won the second season of SS Music's Voice Hunt. She was first auditioned in November 2008 and got the opportunity to sing her debut song for the film TN 07 AL 4777.

Career

2008–2012: Career beginnings and playback debut At the age of 13, Shakthisree Gopalan was already trained in the field of Carnatic music and rock. After having won the "SS Music Voice Hunt " title in the year 2008, Gopalan debuted into film playback in the same year in Vijay Antony's TN 07 AL 4777. She subsequently went on to record a number of songs for films such as Rajadhi Raja, Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam and Naan. She was placed third in the Chennai Live's Band hunt. In the year 2014, she performed in MCC (Madras Christian College) cultural fest at Deepwoods and National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli cultural fest Festember, SASTRA University cultural fest Kuruksastra'14, VIT University cultural fest Riviera 14 and Madras Institute of Technology cultural fest Mitafest 15.

"Off the Record" consists of Vikram Vivekanand (Guitar), Satish Narayanan (Bass) and Tapas Naresh/Vinay Ramakrishnan (Drums).

2012–2016: Mainstream success Shakthisree met A.R. Rahman when she got an assignment to design his music school, KM Music Conservatory. It was around that time she shared the music she had composed with him and got to sing 'Nenjukkulle' for the movie Kadal, which would catapult her into the spotlight. Although it was the first song of the duo's now long-lived collaboration, the eponymous title track for the composer's Bollywood film, Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) which they recorded after "Nenjukkulle", would release before it.

The string of major successes that followed includes her works on Raja Rani, Madras, Anegan, Kaaki Sattai, Kanchana 2 among others. Not one to be confined to a single language, she also began her foray into the Telugu and Malayalam playback industries, finding just as much success in dubbed versions of Raja Rani and Kanchana 2, and Charlie.

2016–present: Song releases She also released 'By Your Side' in December 2016, in which she collaborated with Hari Dafusia, a Toronto-based keyboardist-producer, and Nigel Roopnarine, a bass player. Apart from playback singing for movies, she also collaborated with Prashanth and released an indie single called Begin in November 2017.

She recorded the song Aga Naga for A. R. Rahman in the film Ponniyin Selvan, which was first used as a short background song in the first part of the movie. The song gained immense popularity among the audiences upon release of the first part. The entire song was then released as part of the main soundtrack of the second part.

2024–present: Debut as a composer She is set to debut as a music composer in January 2024 for the film The Test directed by S. Sashikanth and starring Madhavan, Nayanthara, Siddharth, and Meera Jasmine. Music composer A. R. Rahman announced her debut as music director on Twitter on 4 May 2023.

Discography Composer + List of composer credits Year Title Language2025 Test Tamil

Cover singer Source: + List of cover singing credits Year Song Co-artists Original Artist 2014 "Crazy"Michael Dias, Cherian K KGnarls Barkley 2015 "Nocturne"Michael Dias, Cherian K KPentagram 2017 "Caramel"Susan Vega, Chiara Civello 2021 "I'd Rather Go Blind" Vikram Vivekanand, Conrad SimmonsEtta James "Summertime"David Joseph, Naveen Napier, Shyam BenjaminGeorge Gershwin "Naima" (1959)David Joseph, Naveen Napier, Shyam BenjaminJohn Coltrane

Independent singer Source: + List of singing credits Year Song Co-artists 2011 "Little Star" Shyam Benjamin 2012 "Voices" 2016 "By Your Side"Dafusia 2017 "Begin"Prashanth Techno 2018 "Phir Wahin" 2019 "Wake Up"Prashanth Techno 2020 "Cycle Gap" 2020 "Birds and the Bees"Alfie 2021 "Nee Pothumey"Akshay Yesodharan "Litle Star" (10 years remix)Shyam Benjamin, David Joseph and Naveen Napier 2022 "Love is..."Sio Tepper 2023 "Old Friend" 2024"Rekka"Vathshan Uthayakumar 2024"Thozhiye"Sahi Siva

Playback singer Source:

Tamil + List of Tamil film playback singing credits Year Title Song Composer Co-Singers2008 TN 07 AL 4777 "Sorgam Madhuvile" Vijay Antony Rahul Nambiar2009 Rajadhi Raja "Yelantha Pazham" Karunas Dinesh Vettaikaaran "En Uchimandai" Vijay Antony Krishna Iyer, Shoba Chandrasekhar, Charulatha Mani2010 Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam "Raja Sindinesm" G. V. Prakash Kumar Rahul Nambiar, Big Nikk Kattradhu Kalavu "Sudhandiram" Paul J Dam 999 "Everyday" Ouseppachan Ouseppachan "Dakkanaga" Suchith Suresan, Ouseppachan2011 Naan "Makkayala" Vijay Antony Krishan Maheson, Mark Thomas2012 Konjam Koffee Konjam Kaadhal "Uyir Thozha" Phani Kalyan Kadal "Nenjukkulle" A. R. Rahman A.R. Rahman Haridas "Vazhkaiye" Vijay Antony Maalavika Manoj, GNR Kumar Maryan "Enga Pona Raasa" A. R. Rahman2013 Irandaam Ulagam "Mannavane" Harris Jayaraj Gopal Rao Raja Rani "Angnyaade" G. V. Prakash Kumar "Imaye Imaye" G. V. Prakash Kumar Aarambam "Hare Rama" Yuvan Shankar Raja Tanvi Shah2014 Aaha Kalyanam "Padhiye Padhiye" Dharan Kumar Velmurugan Borewells "Sathamilla Muttu Pola" Srikanth Deva Malini 22 Palayamkottai "Vinmeengal" Aravind–Shankar Madras "Naan Nee" Santhosh Narayanan Dhee Vizhi Moodi Yosithaal "Saala Saloothey" B.Aathif Deepak, Vikram Vaayai Moodi Pesavum "Kadhal Ara Onnu Vizundhuchu" Sean Roldan Sean Roldan2015 Anegan "Thodu Vaanam"Harris Jayaraj Hariharan Kaaki Sattai "Kadhal Kan Kattudhe" Anirudh Ravichander Anirudh Ravichander Mahabalipuram "Usrey Nee" K Imman Agathinai "Ilaigalile Sadugudu Nadathuthu" Maria Manohar Maria Manohar Kanchana 2 "Vaaya En Veera" Leon James Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga "Adada Onnum Solladha" D Imman Benny Dayal Maya "Thoonga Kangal" Ron Ethan Yohann Vedalam "Don't You Mess With Me" Anirudh Ravichander Shruti Haasan Eetti "Naan Pudicha Mosakuttiye" G.V. Prakash Kumar G. V. Prakash Kumar2016 Azhagu Kutty Chellam "Azhagu Kutty Chellam" Ved Shanker Sugavanam 24 "Aararo" A. R. Rahman Thirunaal "Ore Oru Vaanam" Srikanth Deva Mahalakshmi Iyer2017 Dhayam "Kolai Ondrey" Sathish Selvam Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae "Hai En Kai Mela" Vishal Chandrasekhar Anirudh Ravichander Vikram Vedha"Yaanji Yaanji" Sam C. S.Anirudh Ravichander, D. Sathyaprakash Aval "Kaarigai Kanne" GirishhVijay Prakash Velaikkaran"Vaa Velaikkara" Anirudh RavichanderBjorn Surrao2018 Chekka Chivantha Vaanam "Bhoomi Bhoomi" A. R. Rahman"Kalla Kalavani"Lady Kash2019 Dev"Oru Nooru Murai"Harris JayarajD. Sathyaprakash The Lion King (dubbed) "Vaazhkaiye Vattamaai/Nants' Ingonyama"Elton John 2020 Odavum Mudiyadhu Oliyavum Mudiyadhu"Magave"Kaushik Krish Dharala Prabhu"Payanangal"Bharath Shankar 2021 Oh Manapenne"Nee Yenadharuginil Nee"Vishal Chandrasekhar Kaathu Vaakula Rendu Kaadhal"Rendu Kadhal"Anirudh RavichanderAnirudh Ravichander, Aishwarya Suresh Bindra2023 Pathu Thala "Ninaivirukka"A. R. RahmanA. R. Ameen Ponniyin Selvan: II"Aga Naga" Maamannan"Nenjame Nenjame"Vijay Yesudas Iraivan"Idhu Pola"Yuvan Shankar RajaYuvan Shankar Raja Leo"Villain Yaaru"Anirudh RavichanderAnirudh Ravichander Minmini"Iru Perum Nadhigal"Khatija Rahman Blue Star"Railin Oligal"Govind VasanthaPradeep Kumar2024 Singappenney"Idha Thane Ethir Paathen"Kumaran Sivamani Laandhar"Ayalpirai"M. S. Prraveen Lover"Thaensudarae"Sean RoldanSean RoldanEmakku Thozhil Romance"Vaada Poda (Reprise)"Nivas K. Prasanna2025Niram Marum Ulagil"Aazhi"Dev Prakash ReganTest"Hope"Shakthisree Gopalan"Lullaby""Hope" (Remix)Kunal MerchantThug Life"Jinguchaa"A. R. RahmanVaishali Samant, Adithya RKOthers"Oru Paarvai Paarthavanae"GhibranNamitha BabuYellow"Megangal"Cliffy Chris & Anand Kashinath 2026Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil"Poyi Vaadi"Vishnu Vijay

Malayalam

Telugu

Other languages

Filmography As a dubbing artist + List of film dubbing credits Year Title Language Dubbing for 2013 Kadal Tamil Lakshmi Manchu 2013 Annayum Rasoolum Malayalam Andrea Jeremiah 2021 Maara Tamil Shraddha Srinath 2021 Nizhal Malayalam Nayanthara 2025Sarvam MayaMalayalamPreity Mukundan

Awards and nominations She has won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil and the Vijay Award for Best Female Playback Singer for singing "Nenjukkulle" from Kadal.

Following is a list of Awards won by Shakthisree Won – Femina Award-Women of Power Won – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Nenjukkulle" – Kadal Won – Radio Mirchi Music Awards Vocalist of the Year Won – SIIMA Award Best Playback Singer Female Tamil Won – The Pride of Tamil Nadu Award Won – Vijay Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Nenjukkulle" – Kadal Won – SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu – "Ammaadi" – Hi Nanna Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Naan Nee" – Madras Nominated-Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Bhoomi Bhoomi" – Chekka Chivantha Vaanam Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu – "Ammaadi" – Hi Nanna Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Aga Naga" – Ponniyin Selvan: II Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Nenjame Nenjame" – Maamannan Nominated – SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil – "Bhoomi Bhoomi" – Chekka Chivantha Vaanam Nominated – Vijay Award for Best Female Playback Singer – "Naan Nee" – Madras