Sunitha Sarathy
Sunitha Sarathy is an Indian vocalist and performer in both Indian contemporary and Western classical music genres.[1] She is also a gospel singer who performs in various church choirs. After having won the "Virgin Voice Choice" contest – a joint initiative of Channel V and Virgin Records in the year 2000, Sarathy debuted into film playback in the year 2002.
Sunitha Sarathy | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sunitha Sarathy |
| Born | Chennai, Tamilnadu, India |
| Genres | Western Classical, Gospel, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocalist |
| Years active | 2002–current |
She debuted as a playback singer with the Tamil film Yei! Nee Romba Azhagey Irruke guest-singing the prelude and interlude portions of the song "Ini Naanum Naanillai" with Srinivas and Sujatha Mohan as the lead singers.[2] Sarathy has around 200 film songs in various languages, performances as singer-keyboardist-percussionist across a wide spectrum of Western music genres including classical, jazz, soul and R&B, neo-soul and quiet storm, and a prolific output of gospel songs to her credit.[3]
Early life
Coming from a family well-versed in Western music (classical jazz), Sarathy started singing in choirs from a young age of four. Her mother Susheela Sarathy is a pianist and conductor of leading Madras choirs at Santhome Church and Lazarus Church. Sunitha's irrepressible talent conquered all, including her initial flippancy. Her performances at Santhome – including devotionals in Latin and Franz Schubert's Ave Maria – elevated her to star status among Madras' church music circles. She has had the honour of rendering the 'Easter Proclamation' – a typical Catholic chant – for three years before an overflowing San Thome Basilica.
In 2000, Sarathy won the Virgin Voice Choice contest – a joint initiative of Channel V and Virgin Records. Out of 45,000 entries, 1,500 contestants were shortlisted. Ten made it to the finals in Mumbai, of which Sarathy emerged as a winner.
Career
Sunitha Sarathy was noticed by playback singer Srinivas after her victory in the talent hunt program. He offered her a small portion of a song which he was guest-composing for the film Hey! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke in the year 2002. Soon later, composer Harris Jayaraj recorded her voice for a Love theme and dance theme in his Telugu film Vasu. However she got a big break and wider recognition after singing the full-length solo song "Thoodu Varuma" for the blockbuster Tamil film, Kaakha Kaakha in the same year.
Sarathy got a national recognition for her playback singing for a Hindi – Tamil bilingual film Yuva / Aaytha Ezhuthu in 2004 both directed by Mani Ratnam with music composition by A. R. Rahman. Soon after this, Sarathy recorded her voice for many successful soundtracks in various languages. Some of her notable works are for the films that include Mitr, My Friend, Anniyan, Polladhavan, Vallavan, Kana Kandaen, Don 2, Happy Days, Sainikudu, Cheluvina Chittara among others.[4][5] She also recorded the song "Warriors in peace" for the Mandarin film Warriors of Heaven and Earth composed by A. R. Rahman.
Sarathy performed for a song at the 2006 Asian Games.[6]
In July 2013, Sunitha Sarathy became the first solo female performer from India to be signed by AKG microphones as an endorsee[7]
July 2014 saw the launch of Sunitha Sarathy's School of Vocal Excellence, a performance oriented learning center for aspiring singers.
Discography
| Year | Song | Film Title | Language | Co-singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "Ini Naanum Naanillai" | Hey! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke | Tamil | |
| 2002 | "Give me Hugs" | Mitr, My Friend | English | |
| 2003 | "Warriors in Peace" | Warriors of Heaven and Earth | English/ Mandarin | |
| 2003 | "Thoodu Varumaa" | Kaakha Kaakha | Tamil | |
| 2003 | "Kaaka Kaaka Karuppu Paaru" | Julie Ganapathi | Tamil | |
| 2003 | "Seduction Saawariya" | Boom | Hindi | |
| 2003 | "Maaro Maaro" | Boys | Tamil/ Telugu | |
| 2003 | "Habibi" | Tehzeeb | Hindi | |
| 2004 | "My Heart Beats" | Prana | Kannada | |
| 2004 | "Shaaba Shaaba" | Runway | Malayalam | |
| 2004 | "Yaakai Thiri" | Aaytha Ezhuthu | Tamil | |
| 2004 | "Hey Goodbye Nanba" | Aaytha Ezhuthu | Tamil | |
| 2004 | "Fanaa" | Yuva | Hindi | |
| 2004 | "Hey Khuda Hafiz" | Yuva | Hindi | |
| 2004 | "Arakonathil" | Arasatchi | Tamil | |
| 2004 | "Ivanthaana" | Kaadhal | Tamil | |
| 2004 | "Andathanama" | Gharshana | Telugu | |
| 2004 | "La La Lahiri" | Mass | Telugu | |
| 2004 | "New New" | New | Tamil | |
| 2005 | "My Wish comes true" | Kisna | Hindi | |
| 2005 | "Chinna Chinna" | Kana Kandaen | Tamil | |
| 2005 | "Dai Dai Kattikoda" | Sachien | Tamil | |
| 2005 | "F TV Chiranjeevi" | Andarivaadu | Telugu | |
| 2005 | "Pattuko Ko" | Naa Alludu | Telugu | |
| 2005 | "Stranger in Black" | Anniyan | English/Tamil | |
| 2006 | "Kalloori Saalaikkul" | Sivappathigaram | Tamil | |
| 2006 | "Bangaranni" | Nuvvu Nenu Prema | Telugu | |
| 2006 | "Hip Hip Hurray" | Vallavan | Tamil | |
| 2006 | "Byla Bylamo" | Sainikudu | Telugu | |
| 2007 | "Neeye Sol" | Polladhavan | Tamil | |
| 2007 | "Yaar Iraivanai" | Oram Po | Tamil | |
| 2007 | "Ye Cheekati" | Happy Days | Telugu | |
| 2008 | "Chellame Chellame" | Satyam | Tamil | |
| 2008 | "He Dil Deewana" | Twenty 20 | Malayalam | |
| 2009 | "Paathi Kaadhal" | Modhi Vilayadu | Tamil | |
| 2009 | "Saregama Saregama" | Jolly Days | Kannada | |
| 2010 | "Hey CM" | Leader | Telugu | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu |
| 2010 | "Non Stop" | Namo Venkatesa | Telugu | |
| 2010 | "Thuru Thuru" | Jaggubhai | Tamil | |
| 2010 | "Suthude Suthude" | Paiyaa | Tamil | |
| 2010 | "Kooda Kooda" | Naanayam | Tamil | |
| 2011 | "Dushman Mera" | Don 2 | Hindi | |
| 2011 | "The Rise of Damo" | 7aam Arivu | Tamil/ Telugu | |
| 2011 | "Its a Game" | Game | Hindi | |
| 2011 | "Nuvvante Naaku" | Mogudu | Telugu | |
| 2012 | "Bubble Gum" | Leelai | Tamil | |
| "Ellinda Banthu" | Toofan | Kannada | Kunal Ganjawala | |
| 2014 | "Ennodu Nee Irundhal" | I (film) | Tamil | |
| 2014 | "Yaen Ennai" | Yennai Arindhaal | Tamil | |
| 2015 | "Orea oru murai" | Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai | Tamil | |
| 2015 | "Thoovanam" | Romeo Juliet | Tamil | |
| 2018 | "Tik Tik Tik" | Tik Tik Tik | Tamil | |
| 2018 | "Sevandhu Pochu Nenju" | Chekka Chivantha Vaanam | Tamil | |
| 2019 | "Bad Boy" | Saaho | Tamil | Benny Dayal |
| Malayalam | ||||
| "Breaking My Heart" | Suryakantham | Telugu | ||
| "Speechless" | Aladdin | Tamil/Telugu |
References
- Frederick, Prince (20 October 2011). "Sunitha Sarathy". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
- "My First Break – Sunitha Sarathy". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 1 April 2010.
- Frederick, Prince (20 October 2011). "Soaring notes". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
- "Don 2: The Chase Continues".
- "Don 2 Music Review". 19 November 2011.
- "Sunitha Sarathy – Climbing greater heights". Archived from the original on 28 November 2006. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
- "HARMAN International".