 |
Malathy Lakshman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 August 1973 |
| Origin | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Genres | Playback singer, singer |
| Instrument | Vocals |
Malathi Lakshman, also known as Malathy Lakshman, is a renowned Indian playback singer predominantly active in the Telugu and Tamil film industries.
Malathy Lakshman was born on 27 August 1973. [1] [2] Her mother tongue is Tamil, and she is also fluent in Telugu. From an early age, she showed a keen interest in music and began singing publicly during her brother’s marriage ceremony, marking her first stage appearance. She studied up to the 10th standard and later dedicated herself fully to music. Malathy is married to V. Lakshman, the founder of the Lakshman Sruthi Orchestra, whom she credits as her biggest source of inspiration and support, famously remarked that “Lakshman is not behind my success, he is my success.” The couple has a daughter, Shruthi, who is learning Carnatic music under noted vocalist Nithyasree Mahadevan. Malathy has described her happiest moment as marrying Lakshman, who has always been supportive of her musical journey. One of her saddest moments occurred on 14 February, during a college concert in Thanjavur, when she received news of her father’s death mid-performance. Choosing not to disappoint the audience, she completed the programme despite her grief and later learned that she could not see her father again after returning from the event.
Her early musical inspiration came from playback legends such as S. Janaki, Dr. S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra, whom she cites as her favourite singers. She has often described the song “Poove Sempoove” by S. Janaki as one of her lifelong favourites, recalling that she performed it during stage shows with a sense of childlike joy. [3] Malathy has also expressed deep admiration for the songs of actor-singer M. G. Ramachandran, particularly “Tharai Mel Pirakka Vaithaan” from the film Padagotti . Her favourite films include Nayakan and Autograph .
Malathy Lakshman began her career as a stage singer in 1986, performing in star-night shows alongside music directors, playback singers, and film actors. Over the years, she has performed in more than 5,000 live concerts, sung for over 150 films, and recorded around 20 private albums.[citation needed] She has toured extensively across India and abroad, giving performances in France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), and several Asian and Middle Eastern countries including Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dubai, and Sharjah. She has also performed internationally with renowned playback singers such as Dr. K. J. Yesudas, Dr. S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha, and Anuradha Sriram, often as part of the Lakshman Sruthi Orchestra and concerts with leading South Indian music directors. [4]
Malathy made her playback film debut in 1997 under the music direction of Deva for the Tamil film Saathisanam . The song, picturised on actress Vichithra, marked her first recording opportunity. She received this break after film director Jayaprakash, a friend of her husband V. Lakshman, saw her perform at stage shows and recommended her to Deva. After her initial debut, Malathy took a brief hiatus from playback singing. In 2002, she was reintroduced by music director Vidyasagar, after veteran singer Manikka Vinayagam recommended her voice for a female part requiring depth and energy. Her comeback song, "Sri Ranga Pattanam", from the Tamil film Karmegham , brought her recognition among music directors. She followed this with songs in films such as Parthiban Kanavu , Suyetchai MLA, and Anbe Sivam .
Malathy’s major breakthrough came with the chart-topping hit "Manmadha Rasa" from the Tamil film Thiruda Thirudi (2003), composed by Dhina. She was offered the song after the composer heard her voice in the track "Vaadi Machhiniyae" from Parthiban Kanavu. The song’s massive success made her a household name across South India, later being remade in Telugu and Kannada. Following the success of Manmadha Rasa, she became a popular choice for energetic folk and dance numbers. She went on to deliver a string of hits such as "Umma Umma" ( Adithadi ), "Matha Matha Mathanu" (Varnajalam), "Saapida Vaadaa" ( Kuthu ), and "Kumbida Pona Deivam" ( Thirupaachi ), which captured Tamil audiences. In Telugu, she achieved enormous success with "Aa Ante Amalapuram" from Arya (2004), along with popular songs in Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. , Anandam Anandamaye, Donga Dongadi, and Shiv Shankar, making her one of the most sought-after female playback singers in Telugu cinema.
Malathy is also renowned for her versatility and vocal mimicry, possessing the rare ability to sing in over 40 different voice styles, emulating legendary singers and performers such as K. B. Sundarambal, Dr. Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan, Bangalore Ramani Ammal, Manorama, S. Varalakshmi, the Soolamangalam Sisters, Usha Uthup, Shubha Mudgal, and Alka Yagnik. [5] Malathy has stated that "Manmadha Rasa" was a turning point in her career. [6] She credits composers Deva, Vidyasagar, Devi Sri Prasad, and Dhina for shaping her musical identity and giving her the space to explore her energetic and distinctive vocal style.
| Year | Song | Film | Language | Co-singers | Music director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Naattukkoru Seithi" | Anbe Sivam | Tamil | Kamal Haasan | Vidyasagar |
| 2003 | "Naa Pere Kanchanmala" | Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. | Telugu | Karthik | Devi Sri Prasad |
| 2003 | "Manmatha Rasa" | Thiruda Thirudi | Tamil | Shankar Mahadevan | Dhina |
| 2003 | "Vaadi Machhiniyae" | Parthiban Kanavu | Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram | Vidyasagar | |
| 2004 | "Kumbida Pona Deivam" | Thirupaachi | Shankar Mahadevan | Dhina | |
| 2004 | "Umma Umma" | Adithadi | Manikka Vinayagam | Deva | |
| 2004 | "Sappida Vada" | Kuthu | Udit Narayan | Srikanth Deva | |
| 2004 | Ore Oru Raathirikku | Chatrapathy | S.A.Rajkumar | ||
| 2004 | "Aa Ante Amalapuram" | Arya | Telugu | Ranjith | Devi Sri Prasad |
| 2004 | "Manmadha Raja" | Donga Dongadi | Shankar Mahadevan | Dhina | |
| 2004 | "Silakemo" | Venky | Sri Ram | Devi Sri Prasad | |
| 2005 | "Unnale Thookam" | Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam | Tamil | Ranjith | Ilaiyaraaja |
| 2005 | "Gundu Manga" | Sachien | Jassie Gift | Devi Sri Prasad | |
| 2005 | Sayya Sayyare | Naa Alludu | Telugu | Karthik | Devi Sri Prasad |
| 2005 | "Vangathota" | Abhi | Devi Sri Prasad | ||
| 2005 | "Jabilammavo" | Bunny | Devi Sri Prasad | ||
| 2006 | "Lelepaadi Lelepaadi" | Gandugali Kumara rama | Kannada | Mano | Gurukiran |
| 2006 | "Undivil" | Paramasivan | Tamil | Shankar Mahadevan | Vidyasagar |
| 2006 | "Paniyaram Suttu" | Thagapansamy | Udit Narayan | Srikanth Deva | |
| 2006 | "Yammaadi Aathaadi" | Vallavan | T. Rajendar, Suchitra, Silambarasan | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| 2009 | "Rangi Ranagamma" | Padikkadavan | Udit Narayan | Mani Sharma | |
| 2009 | "En Peru Meenakumari" | Kanthaswamy | Krishna Iyer | Devi Sri Prasad | |
| 2010 | "Vanga Kadal Ellai" | Sura | Naveen | Mani Sharma | |
| 2011 | "Azhagha Poranthuputa" | Siruthai | Priyadharshini | Vidyasagar | |
| 2011 | "Thoranthu vacha Puthagm" | Karuvarai Pookkal | Dr.Vincent Theraisnathan, J.Kevin Jason | Thomas Rathnam | |
| 2011 | "Kodiavanin Kadhaya" | Kanchana | Sriram, M. L. R. Karthikeyan | S. Thaman | |
| 2011 | "Villathi Villain" | Rajapattai | Mano | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| 2013 | "Karaikudi Aalamkudi" | Muthu Nagaram | Jayprakas | ||
| 2015 | "Virugambakkam Vettu Kili" | Pathiladi | Manicka Vinayagam, Dr.Vincent Theraisnathan, J.Kevin Jason | Thomas Rathnam | |
| 2022 | "Kodi Kodi" | Regina | Tamil | Sathish Nair | |
| "Vela Vela" (dubbed) | Telugu | Sathish Nair |
| Year | Name of Television Show | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Super Singer Season 10 | Guest | Star Vijay |
| Authority control databases: Artists |
|---|
