Shankar Mahadevan, a renowned Indian playback singer and music composer, is celebrated for his incredible talent and contributions to the music industry. He’s best known for his iconic “Breathless” performance and his work with the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio. Let’s delve deeper into his fascinating life and career.
Wiki/Biography
Shankar Mahadevan was born on Friday, March 3, 1967 (age 56 as of 2023), in Chembur, Mumbai. He completed his schooling at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour High School and Swami Vivekananda High School in Chembur. In 1988, he earned a degree in Computer Science and Software Engineering from the Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology, Navi Mumbai. His musical journey began early; by age 5, he was proficient on the harmonium and veena. He received classical Hindustani music training under the guidance of Pandit Shrinivas Khale.
He also had the privilege of learning Carnatic Classical Music from the esteemed TR Balamani. His mentor, TR Balamani, initially found him mischievous and even described him as “useless” due to his frequent truancy and neglecting practice to focus on other pursuits.
Physical Appearance
- Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
- Eye Colour: Black
- Hair Colour: Black
Family, Caste & Wife
Shankar Mahadevan hails from a Tamil Iyer family originally from Palakkad, Kerala. He has a sister, Deepika Shringarpure. He is married to Sangeeta Shankar Mahadevan, and they have two sons: Shivam Shankar Mahadevan (born 2001), a singer, and Siddharth Mahadevan (born April 16, 1993), a singer and composer.
Career
Before his music career took off, Shankar worked as a software programmer for Oracle Corporation. He started by singing jingles for advertisements. His singing debut was in the 1994 film “Humse Hai Muqabala” (Hindi version of the Tamil film “Kadhalan”), where he sang “Petta Rap” and “Urvasi Urvasi.” His Bollywood debut came with “Tum Nahi Jaana” from “Duplicate” (1998).
He has sung countless hit songs, including “Chamma Chamma,” “Bhumbro Bhumbro,” “Ghanan Ghanan,” “Maahi Ve,” “Kajra Re,” “Mitwa,” and “Sau Aasoon.” His debut album, “Breathless” (1998), propelled him to fame, with the songs composed by Javed Akhtar. The album’s title track, despite popular belief, was not actually sung in one breath.
He also has a significant presence in various regional cinema, making his debut in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam films.
Controversy
While judging “Rising Star: Season 3 (2019)” with Neeti Mohan and Diljit Dosanjh, a prank involving contestants making sexist comments towards Neeti Mohan sparked controversy and criticism from gender activists.
Awards
Shankar Mahadevan has received numerous prestigious awards, including:
- Padma Shri (2019)
- Lata Mangeshkar Award (2011)
- Several Filmfare Awards
- Multiple Nandi Awards
- National Awards for Best Male Playback Singer and Best Music Direction (as Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy)
Favourite Things
Here are some of Shankar Mahadevan’s preferences:
| Category | Preference |
|---|---|
| Food | Chicken with Jasmine Rice, Spicy Green Thai Curry, South Indian Food, Chocolate-based sweets |
| Restaurants | Royal China, Chenab, Hotel Supreme Heritage (Mumbai) |
| Singers | Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Balamurli |
| Musician | Zakir Hussain |
| Poet/Lyricist | Javed Akhtar |
| Bands | Pink Floyd, U2, Yes |
| Travel Destinations | Dubai, Orlando, Mauritius, San Francisco, California, Miami |
Facts
- Shankar enjoys cooking and drawing caricatures.
- He co-founded the Shankar Mahadevan Academy with Sridhar Ranganathan in 2011, offering online Indian music training.
- He is a member of the quintet “Remember Shakti,” which won a Grammy Award.
- He has performed at the UN General Assembly.
- He is part of several fusion bands like Mynta and Silk.
- He is known to be a dog lover.
