Mahathi

Indian musician and singer

For the rāga, see Mahati.

Mahathi

மஹதி

Mahathi at concert, 2024

Born|

Mahathi Sekar

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Other names|

* Mahathy
* Mahati

Occupations|

* Singer
* musician

Years active| 2003–present
Spouse|

K. Sreekumar

(m. 2008)​

Awards|

* Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback
* ITFA Best Female Playback Award

Musical career
Genres|

* Carnatic
* Indian classical
* Playback singing
* Filmi
* Bhajan

Instrument| Vocals

Musical artist

Mahathi is an Indian Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in Tamil and Telugu languages.

## Family

[edit]

Mahathi is from a family of musicians. Her father, Thiruvaiyaru P. Sekar, is a vocalist and a disciple of M. Balamuralikrishna. Her mother, Vasanthi Sekar, a flautist, is the grand disciple of T. R. Mahalingam, N. Ramani and Kesi. Mahathi is also the great-granddaughter of the violinist Sangeetha Kalanidhi Pazhamaneri Swaminatha Iyer.[1]

## Career

[edit]

A carnatic musician & playback singer , Mahathi is a child prodigy who started Identifying classical ragas when she was 1.5 years old. Undergoing musical training under her parents Thiruvaiyaru Sekar & Smt. Vasanthi Sekar, she underwent musical training from Smt. Lalitha & Gayatri at trivandrum, Underwent advanced musical training from Sangeetha Kala Acharya Late Mangad Natesan & Padma Bhushan Awardee Madurai Shri T N Seshagopalan.[2]

Mahathi is a prominent playback singer in South Indian Languages. She was introduced to playback singing by Isaignani Ilayaraja in the movie Kadhal Jathi in 2001.[3]

## Playback singing

[edit]

Mahathi started playback singing in 2003 with a duet, "Iyyaiyyo Pudichirukku", with Hariharan, under the music direction of Harris Jayaraj in movie, Saamy. In 2008, Mahathi won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Naeraa Varattuma" from the movie "Nenje Nenje".[4]

## Discography

[edit]

All songs in Tamil unless specified otherwise.

Year | Film | Song | Composer | Co-Singer(s)

|
|
|
|

2003  | Saamy | "Pudichirukku" | Harris Jayaraj | Hariharan
Sindhamal Sitharamal | "Vaanavillin"  | Bharani | Unnikrishnan
2004  | Kovil | "Puyalae Puyalae"  | Harris Jayaraj | Karthik
Chellamae | "Kadhalikum Aasai"  | KK, Chinmayi, Timmy
"Vellaikara Mutham"  |
Varnajaalam | "Nee Vendum" | Vidyasagar | Karthik
Jathi | "Vennila Kangalil" | Agni Kalaivani | Srinivas
Oru Murai Sollividu | "Kattunaakka Ivala Kattu"  | Bharadwaj | Karthik
Dreams | "Appa Amma"  | Nithish Gopalan, Ranjith
Jananam | "Pidivadham Pidikathae"  | Ranjith
Meesai Madhavan | "Kottu Kottu"  | Bharani  | Manikka Vinayagam
2005  | Sevvel | "Sutti Penne"  | Aasan  | Karthik
Alaiyadikkuthu | "Chee Chee Poda"  | Bharani  | Harish Raghavendra
"Machi Machi"  |
ABCD | "Yengo Yengo"  | D. Imman | Haricharan
Thirudiya Idhayathai | "Monalisa"  | Bharani  |
Ambuttu Imbuttu Embuttu | "Vaarai Nee Vaarai"  | Dhina | T. L. Maharajan
"Adiyea Ammu"  | Shankar Mahadevan
2006  | Nee Venunda Chellam | "Ennada Athisayam"  | Jassie Gift
"Eppadiyum"  | Silambarasan
Kumaran | "Bayla Baylamo" | Harris Jayaraj | V. V. Prasanna
Suyetchai MLA | "Puli Varuthu Puli Varuthu" | Sabesh–Murali |
Varalaaru | "Innisai" | A. R. Rahman | Saindhavi, Naresh Iyer
Vallavan | "Yammadi Aathadi" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | T. Rajendar, Suchitra, Silambarasan
Parijatham | "Ennil Ennil Nee"  | Dharan |
Uyir | "Aarum Ponnum"  | Joshua Sridhar | Joshua Sridhar, Shalini
"Kann Simittum Nerame"  | Haricharan, Shalini
2007  | Nee Naan Nila | "Oyyalae" | Dhina | Silambarasan
Thoovanam | "SMSla Kadhal" | Isaac Thomas Kottukapally | Naresh Iyer, Vinaya, Sathyan
Maharathi | "Maja Maja" (Telugu) | Gurukiran | Udit Narayan
Mudhal Kanave | "Mudhal Mudhal"  | Srikanth Deva |
Achacho | "Pengal"  | M. K. S. Narula Khan  | Unni Menon
"Paathugoda"  | Tippu
Paali | "Unnai Paathadum"  | Bhagwat  | Karthik
2008  | Bheema | "Mudhal Mazhai" | Harris Jayaraj | Hariharan, R. Prasanna
Homam | "Katti Naaku Gucchadammo" (Telugu) | Nithin Raikwar |
Satyam | "Paal Pappaali" | Harris Jayaraj | Naveen
Vaazhthugal | "Enthan Vaanamum Neethan" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Haricharan
Muniyandi Vilangial Moonramandu | "Potta Kuruviyo" | Vidyasagar
Nenjathai Killadhe | "Naera Varattuma" | Premgi Amaren | V. V. Prasanna
Seval | "Namma Ooru Nallaarukku"  | G. V. Prakash Kumar | Tippu, Manikka Vinayagam, Anuradha Sriram, Shreya Ghoshal, Prashanthini
2009  | Ayan | "Nenje Nenje" | Harris Jayaraj | Harish Raghavendra
Oru Kadhalan Oru Kadhali | "Galagalagalappa" | Bharani | Tippu
Anthony Yaar? | "Kai Thattamal" | Dhina |
Mariyadhai | "Inbamay" | Vijay Antony | Udit Narayan
Pokkisham | "Ulagam Ninaivil Illai"  | Sabesh–Murali  | Prasanna
2010  | Nellu | "Muthu Muthu" | S. S. Kumaran | S. S. Kumaran, Yash Golcha
2011  | Osthe | "Neduvaali" | S. Thaman | Rahul Nambiar
Vellore Maavattam | "Unnai Unnai" | Sundar C Babu | Krish
Engeyum Kadhal | "Thee Illai" | Harris Jayaraj | Naresh Iyer, Mukesh Mohamed, Gopal Rao, Ranina Reddy
Potta Potti | "Iduvarai Iduvarai" | Aruldev | Hariharan, Aruldev
2012  | Kadhal Paathai | "Ennavo Nenjiley"  | S. S. Kumaran  |
Ullam | "Kannai Thiranthu"  | Yuvan Shankar Raja  | Karthik
Kantha | "Uyar Thiru Kadhal"  | Shakthi R. Selva  | Haricharan
2014  | Ra Ra Krishnayya | "Seetha Kalyanam" (Telugu) | Achu Rajamani |
Theriyama Unna Kadhalichitten | "Nelavukum Naanum Perakkum" | P. R. Srinath | Rahul Nambiar
Vetri Selvan | "Enna Enna"  | Mani Sharma | Haricharan
2015  | Yennai Arindhaal | "Unakkenna Venum Sollu" | Harris Jayaraj | Benny Dayal
Killadi | "Nee Rangikkari"  | Srikanth Deva  | Velmurugan
Achaaram | "Perazhagai"  | Sooraj Santhosh
2016  | Angali Pangali | "Nee Nee Neeyanai" | Haricharan
Natpadhigaram 79 | "Penne Nee Kadhal"  | Deepak Nilambar  | Yazin Nizar
2019  | Dev | "She Is My Girl" | Harris Jayaraj | Haricharan, Christopher Stanley
2021  | Vanji Aval Pearazhagi | "Vanji Aval Pearazhagi" (independent song)  | Gersan  | Sam Vishal

## Television works

[edit]

Mahathi presented the music based quiz program, "Aaha Paadalam" on Doordarshan Podhigai TV with Raaghav.[5] In October 2005 she presented Ilaiyaraja's Live-in Concert organised by Jaya TV, "Andrum Indrum Endrum" with actor Parthiban.[6]

## Titles, awards, and other recognition

[edit]

* 2008, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback (for "Naeraa Varattuma" from Nenjathai Killadhe)
* 2009, Isai Aruvi Film Award – “Mudhal Mazhai”[7]
* 2008, ITFA Best Female Playback Award (for "Mudhal Mazhai" from Bheema)[8]
* 2011, "The Chord Wizard" (title), WE Magazine, Chennai, India[9]
* 2009, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback (for "Nenje Nenje" from Ayan)
* An “A” grade artist of the All India Radio / Doordarshan in 2020[10]
* 2023, “Isai Chelvam[11]” conferred by Muthamizh Peravai – from the honourable chief minister of Tamilnadu Thiru M.K Stalin
* 2006, Innisai Ilayavani[citation needed]
* 2017, ISAI PEROLI - Kartik Fine Arts[12]
* 2015, G.Ramanathan Award – Sri Parthsarathy swamy sabha Chennai[13]
* 2011, Yuva kala Bharathi – Bharath Kalachar [14]
* 2016, Vani Kala Nipuna – Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha[15]
* 2018, Madras Music Academy – Best Pallavi Prize[16]
* 2024, Raga Chathura Bhushani – Rotary Club Chennai[17]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Mayakkum Margazhi: I usually don't go past 5 minutes for an RTP, says Mahathi - Times of India". The Times of India. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
2. ^ Sundar, Rema (17 August 2017). "'I cherish the experience of learning from maestros'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
3. ^ "Born to sing". The Hindu. 9 November 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
4. ^ "Front Page : Rajini, Kamal win best actor awards". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 29 September 2009. Archived from the original on 1 October 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
5. ^ "Aaha Paadalam". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 13 February 2004. Archived from the original on 11 July 2004.
6. ^ "The Raja still reigns supreme". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 21 October 2005. Archived from the original on 16 September 2006.
7. ^ "Stars, Songs and an Award". The New Indian Express. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
8. ^ "Mahathi gets fourth time lucky". The Times of India. 27 May 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012.
9. ^ "Women Exclusive Awards - Poornima Bhagyaraj - Mahathi - S Ve Shekar". www.behindwoods.com. 5 May 2011.
10. ^ "Annual list of Casual/ Staff artists All India Radio, Chennai as on 01.01.2020" (PDF). 12 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
11. ^ "Those wearing 'Tamil mask' will not succeed, says Chief Minister Stalin". The Hindu. 22 July 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
12. ^ "December season has not changed, says Gandhi". The Hindu. 1 December 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
13. ^ "Annual Report 2015-2016". Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
14. ^ "Celebrating 25 years of patronising arts". The Hindu. 27 November 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
15. ^ "SRI JAYANTHI MUSIC FESTIVAL – VANI KALA NIPUNA - Vani Mahal". www.vanimahal.com. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
16. ^ "PRIZE WINNERS LIST 2018". Music Academy. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
17. ^ "Bulletin of THE ROTARY CLUB OF Madras T. Nagar" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2025.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mahathi.
*[m.]: married