Shakthisree Gopalan

Shakthisree Gopalan
Background information
Born 25 October 1988
Kochi, Kerala, India
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • Lyricist
  • Composer
  • Activist
Instrument(s)
  • Guitar
  • Vocals
Years active 2008–present
Formerly of Off The Record
Pyjama Conspiracy
Website shakthisreegopalan.com

Shakthisree Gopalan (born 25 October 1988) is an Indian vocalist, composer, songwriter and performer, famous for her collaborations with the top south-Indian 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.

She has also been performing and releasing music independently in multiple languages.

She is an architect by profession, graduating from School of Architecture and Planning.

Early life and education

Shakthisree Gopalan was born and 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 Taxi 4777.

Career

2008–2012:Career beginnings

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. 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 Break and Playback songs

Shakthisree met A R Rahman when she got an assignment to design his music school, K M Music Conservatory. It was around that time she shared the music she had composed with him. That's when she got a break to sing 'Nenjikulle' for the movie Kadal, the first song that she recorded in her career. However, the title track for the composer's Bollywood film, Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) released first. She also got to jam the unplugged version of her Tamil film song "Nenjukkule" from the film Kadal with A R Rahman. She subsequently went on to record a number of songs for films such as "Irumbukottai Murattu Singham", "Kattradhu Kalavu". She has also been a backlisted vocalist for many A R Rahman compositions.

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 4th May 2023.

Discography

Composer

Year Film Title Language Director
2024 The Test Tamil S. Sashikanth

Cover Singer

Year Song Co-artists Original Artist Ref
2014 Crazy Michael Dias, Cherian K K Gnarls Barkley
2015 Nocturne Michael Dias, Cherian K K Pentagram
2017 Caramel Susan Vega, Chiara Civello
2021 I'd Rather Go Blind Vikram Vivekanand, Conrad Simmons Etta James
Summertime David Joseph, Naveen Napier, Shyam Benjamin George Gershwin
Naima (1959) David Joseph, Naveen Napier, Shyam Benjamin John Coltrane

Independent Singer

Year Song Co-artists Ref
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

Playback Singer

Year Song Film Title Language Composer
2008 "Sorgam Madhuvile" TN 07 AL 4777 Tamil Vijay Antony
2009 "Yelantha Pazham" Rajadhi Raja Karunas
"En Uchimandai" Vettaikaaran Vijay Antony
2010 "Raja Sindinesm" Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam G V Prakash Kumar
"Sudhandiram" Kattradhu Kalavu Paul J
"Everyday"

"Dakkanaga"

Dam 999 Ouseppachan
2011 "Makkayala" Naan Vijay Antony
2012 "Uyir Thozha" Konjam Koffee Konjam Kaadhal Phani Kalyan
"Jab Tak Hai Jaan" Jab Tak Hai Jaan Hindi A R Rahman
"Nenjukkulle" Kadal Tamil A R Rahman
"Vazhkaiye" Haridas Vijay Antony
"Enga pona raasa" Maryan A R Rahman
2013 "Chenthalire" KQ Malayalam Stephen Devassy
"Mannavane" Irandaam Ulagam Tamil Harris Jayaraj
"Angnyaade"

"Imaye Imaye"

Raja Rani G V Prakash Kumar
"Suruma Suruma" Camel Safari Malayalam Deepankuran
"Hey vennila" Pattam Pole M. Jayachandran
"Hare Rama" Aarambam Tamil Yuvan Shankar Raja
2014 "Thammil Oru Vaaku" Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram Malayalam Sean Roldan
"Padhiye Padhiye" Aaha Kalyanam Tamil Dharan Kumar
"Sathamilla Muttu Pola" Velmurugan Borewell Srikanth Deva
"Poonthikale" Mr. Fraud Malayalam Gopi Sundar
"Ayyare Ayyare"

"Vinave Vinave"

Raja Rani (Dubbed version) Telugu G V Prakash Kumar
"Vinmeengal" Malini 22 Palayamkottai Tamil Aravind–Shankar
"Shwaase Nuvve" Maine Pyar Kiya Telugu Pradeep Kumar
"Naan Nee" Madras Tamil Santhosh Narayanan
"Saala Saloothey" Vizhi Moodi Yosithaal B.Aathif
"Kadhal Ara Onnu Vizundhuchu" Vaayai Moodi Pesavum Sean Roldan
"Ee Tharadha Jothegara" Chaturbhuja Kannada Poornachandra Tejaswi
2015 "Thodu Vaanam" Anegan Tamil Harris Jayaraj
"Kadhal Kan Kattudhe" Kakki Sattai Anirudh Ravichander
"Usrey Nee" Mahabalipuram K
"Ilaigalile Sadugudu Nadathuthu" Agathinai Maria Manohar
"Vaaya En Veera" Kanchana 2 Leon James
"Reppakela vodharpu" Telugu (Dubbed version) Leon james
"Remember You" Neena Malayalam Nikhil J Menon
"Adada Onnum Solladha" Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga Tamil D Imman
"Thoonga Kangal" Maya Ron Ethan Yohann
"Don't You Mess With Me" Vedalam Anirudh Ravichander
"Naan Pudicha Mosakuttiye" Eetti G.V. Prakash Kumar
"Pularikalo" Charlie Malayalam Gopi Sunder
2016 "Azhagu Kutty Chellam" Azhagu Kutty Chellam Tamil Ved Shanker Sugavanam
"Aararo" 24 A R Rahman
"By Your Side" Single English Hari Dafusia, Nigel Roopnarine
"Koodu Vekkan" Jalam Malayalam Ouseppachan
"Yathra Manoramayude"
"Bhoomiyil Enganum"
"Ore oru vaanam" Thirunaal Tamil Srikanth Deva
2017 "Kolai Ondrey" Dhayam Sathish Selvam
"Begin" Single English Prashanth
"Hai En Kai Mela" Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae Tamil Vishal Chandrasekhar
"Yaanji Yaanji" Vikram Vedha Sam C. S.
"Ilamai" Adventures of Omanakuttan Malayalam Arun
"Oohale" Mental Madhilo Telugu Prashanth R Vihari
"Kaarigai Kanne" Aval Tamil Girishh
"Vaa Velaikkara" Velaikkaran Anirudh Ravichander
"Angkale" Villain (2017 film) Malayalam 4 Musics
"Yelugula Taraley" Yuddam Saranam Telugu Vivek Sagar
2018 "Nishashalabame" Hey Jude (film) Malayalam M. Jayachandran
"Ilakal ayi Pookal ayi" Parole Evelyn
"Pulari Mazhakal" Mandharam Mujeeb Majeed
"Bhoomi Bhoomi" Chekka Chivantha Vaanam Tamil A. R. Rahman
"Kalla Kalavani"
"Bhaga Bhaga" Nawab Telugu (Dubbed version)
"Nannu Nammanee"
2019 "Kaatil" Uyare Malayalam Gopi Sundar
"Nenena Nenena" Suryakantham Telugu Mark K Robin
"Oru Nooru Murai" Dev Tamil Harris Jayaraj
"Padhe Padhe" Jersey Telugu Anirudh Ravichander
"Vaazhkaiye Vattamaai/Nants' Ingonyama" The Lion King Tamil (Dubbed version) Elton John
"Jeevana Chakkram/Nants' Ingonyama" Telugu (Dubbed version)
"Ekantha Thaarame" Saaho Malayalam (Dubbed version) Guru Randhawa
"Mazhaiyum Veiyilum" Tamil
2020 "Magave" Odavum Mudiyathu Oliyavum Mudiyathu Tamil Kaushik Krish
"Payanangal" Dharala Prabhu Bharath Shankar
2021 "Nee Yenadharuginil Nee" Oh Manapenne Vishal Chandrasekhar
"Rendu Kadhal" Kaathu Vaakula Rendu Kaadhal Anirudh Ravichander
2022 "Tupathu" Thallumaala Malayalam Vishnu Vijay
2023 ''Ninaivirukka'' Pathu Thala Tamil A. R. Rahman
"Aga Naga" Ponniyin Selvan: II
''Aaganandhe'' Telugu
''Akamalar'' Malayalam
"Humsafar" Samajavaragamana Telugu Gopi Sundar
"Nenjame Nenjame" Maamannan Tamil A. R. Rahman
"Idhu Pola" Iraivan Yuvan Shankar Raja
"Kanmaraye Kaade" Sapta Sagaradaache Ello - Side A Kannada Charan Raj
"Villain Yaaru" Leo Tamil Anirudh Ravichander
"Ammaadi" Hi Nanna Telugu Hesham Abdul Wahab
"Asalelaa"
"Iru Perum Nadhigal" Minmini Tamil Khatija Rahman
"Railin Oligal" Blue Star Govind Vasantha

Filmography

As a dubbing artist

Year Movie Language Dubbing for
2013 Kadal Tamil Lakshmi Manchu
2013 Annayum Rasoolum Malayalam Andrea Jeremiah
2021 Maara Tamil Shraddha Srinath
2021 Nizhal Malayalam Nayanthara

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