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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.
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Sunitha Sarathy | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sunitha Sarathy |
| Born | Chennai, Tamilnadu, India |
| Genres | Western Classical, Gospel, R&B |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Instrument | 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]
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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.
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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.
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Tamil
| Year | Film Title | Song | Composer | Co-singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Hey! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke | "Ini Naanum Naanillai" | Srinivas | Srinivas, Sujatha Mohan |
| 2003 | Kaakha Kaakha | "Thoodu Varumaa" | Harris Jayaraj | Febi Mani |
| Boys | "Maaro Maaro" | A. R. Rahman | Karthik, George, Kunal Ganjawala, Annupamaa | |
| Kurumbu | "Adichchi Pudichchi" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Devan Ekambaram | |
| 2004 | Aaytha Ezhuthu | "Yaakai Thiri" | A. R. Rahman | A. R. Rahman, Pop Shalini, Tanvi Shah |
| "Hey Goodbye Nanba" | Shankar Mahadevan, Lucky Ali, Karthik | |||
| Arasatchi | "Arakonathil" | Harris Jayaraj | ||
| Kaadhal | "Ivanthaana" | Joshua Sridhar | ||
| New | "New New" | A. R. Rahman | Blaaze, Karthik, Vijay Prakash, Tanvi Shah | |
| Jana | "Poochandi Vanthutta" | Dhina | ||
| 2005 | Kana Kandaen | "Chinna Chinna" | Vidyasagar | Tippu |
| Sachien | "Dai Dai Kattikoda" | Devi Sri Prasad | Karthik | |
| Anniyan | "Stranger in Black" | Harris Jayaraj | Chennai Chorale | |
| Kadhal FM | "Un Udal" | Aravind-Shankar | Sandeep | |
| Jithan | "Ennai Thedi" | Srikanth Deva | Karthik | |
| Englishkaran | "Yeh Thiruda" | Deva | Srikanth Deva | |
| Chinna | "Bailare Bailare" | D. Imman | ||
| Bambara Kannaley | "Thakadhimi Thakadimi" | Srikanth Deva | ||
| Aaru | "Thottutae" | Devi Sri Prasad | Karthik | |
| 2006 | Sivappathigaram | "Kalloori Saalaikkul" | Vidyasagar | Karthik, Jack Smelly |
| Vallavan | "Hip Hip Hurray" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Nakul, Ranjith, Karthik | |
| Saravana | "Gori Thera" | Srikanth Deva | Silambarasan | |
| Madrasi | "Adho Andha Paravai" (remix) | D. Imman | D. Imman | |
| Kedi | "Chumma Chumma" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | ||
| Chennai Kadhal | "Angel Angel" | Joshua Sridhar | Karthik | |
| 2007 | Polladhavan | "Engeyum Eppodhum" | Yogi B | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Yogi B |
| "Neeye Sol" | G. V. Prakash Kumar | Benny Dayal | ||
| Oram Po | "Yaar Iraivanai" | George Peter | ||
| Achacho | "Eaye Eaye" | M. K. S. Narula Khan | ||
| "Thottu Vidu" | ||||
| Sivi | "Neruppum" | Dharan | Ranjith | |
| 2008 | Satyam | "Chellame Chellame" | Harris Jayaraj | Balram, Bombay Jayashree |
| Nenjathai Killadhe | "Hello Hello" | Premgi Amaren | Ranjith | |
| Nepali | "Wanna Become A Lady Bomb" | Srikanth Deva | Megha | |
| Dhanam | "Ulagam Kidakkuthu" | Ilaiyaraaja | ||
| 2009 | Modhi Vilayadu | "Paathi Kaadhal" | Colonial Cousins | Bombay Jayashree |
| Kudiyarasu | "Ayndharai Adiyil" | Karthik Raja | Malgudi Subha | |
| 1977 | "Arabi Kadal" | Vidyasagar | ||
| Newtonin Moondram Vidhi | "Mudhal Murai" | F. S. Faizal | S. J. Suryah, Sam P. Keerthan | |
| 2010 | Jaggubhai | "Thuru Thuru" | Rafee | |
| Paiyaa | "Suthude Suthude" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Karthik | |
| Naanayam | "Kooda Kooda" | James Vasanthan | ||
| Kanimozhi | "Penne Pogathey" | Satish Chakravarthy | Clinton Cerejo, Sam P. Keerthan, Timmy | |
| 2011 | 7aam Arivu | "The Rise of Damo" | Harris Jayaraj | Hao Wang |
| Sadhurangam | "Ennanna" | Vidyasagar | ||
| Vithagan | "Vegamaai" | Joshua Sridhar | Benny Dayal | |
| 2012 | Leelai | "Bubble Gum" | Satish Chakravarthy | Benny Dayal, Suvi Suresh, Leon James |
| Oru Kal Oru Kannadi | "Kaadhal Oru" | Harris Jayaraj | Aalap Raju, Vedala Hemachandra | |
| Mirattal | "Zumba" | Pravin Mani | ||
| 2014 | Kabadam | "Hey Pulla" | Sazzy | Sachin |
| I | "Ennodu Nee Irundhal" | A. R. Rahman | Sid Sriram | |
| Yennai Arindhaal | "Yaen Ennai" | Harris Jayaraj | Kharesma Ravichandran | |
| Yaamirukka Bayamey | "Ennamo Edho" | S. N. Prasad | Benny Dayal | |
| Vingyani | "X Chromosome Y Chromosome" | Maris Vijay | ||
| 2015 | Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai | "Orea Oru Murai" | Varshan | Vijay Prakash, Ranjana |
| Iruvar Ondranal | "Eno Unnai" | Guru Krishnan | ||
| Romeo Juliet | "Thoovanam" | D. Imman | Vishal Dadlani | |
| 2016 | Navarasa Thilagam | "Ayyayyo Vasama" | Siddharth Vipin | Karthik |
| Meen Kuzhambum Mann Paanaiyum | "Hey Puthrajaya Poove" | D. Imman | Jithin Raj | |
| 2018 | Tik Tik Tik | "Tik Tik Tik" | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Yogi B | |
| Chekka Chivantha Vaanam | "Sevandhu Pochu Nenju" | A. R. Rahman | Arjun Chandy, D. Sathyaprakash | |
| NOTA | "Yethikka Yethikka" | Sam C. S. | Benny Dayal | |
| 2019 | Saaho | "Bad Boy" | Badshah | Badshah, Benny Dayal |
| Bigil | "Idharkuthaan" | A. R. Rahman | Dhee, Arjun Chandy | |
| Aladdin | "Speechless" | Alan Menken | ||
| 2020 | Mafia: Chapter 1 | "Beast in the House" | Jakes Bejoy | Travis A. King |
| 2021 | Iruvar Ullam | "Aadum Nenje" | Vijay Antony | |
| 2022 | Ward 126 | "Vazhi Nadathidum" | Varun Sunil | Varun Sunil, Senthuzhan |
| Ponniyin Selvan: I | "Climax Lament" (BGM) | A. R. Rahman | ||
| Vaadi Vaadi (single) | "Vaadi Vaadi" | Harris Jayaraj | Ravi G, Nicholas Samuel | |
| 2024 | Brother | "Badugas Night" | Yogi Sekar | |
| Teenz | "Ikky Pikky" | D. Imman | Christopher Stanley | |
| Had Enough | Had Enough | Sunitha Sarathy | Saindhavi, Soundarya Bala Nandakumar, Nithyashree |
Other Languages
| Year | Song | Film Title | Language | Composer | Co-singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "Give me Hugs" | Mitr, My Friend | English | Vikesh Mehta | |
| 2003 | "Warriors in Peace" | Warriors of Heaven and Earth | English/ Mandarin | A. R. Rahman | |
| "Seduction Saawariya" | Boom | Hindi | Sandeep Chowta | Sonu Kakkar | |
| "Maaro Maaro" | Boys | Telugu | A. R. Rahman | Karthik, George, Kunal Ganjawala, Annupamaa | |
| "Habibi" | Tehzeeb | Hindi | |||
| 2004 | "My Heart Beats" | Prana | Kannada | ||
| "Shaaba Shaaba" | Runway | Malayalam | Suresh Peters | Afsal | |
| "Fanaa" | Yuva | Hindi | A. R. Rahman | A. R. Rahman, Tanvi Shah | |
| "Hey Khuda Hafiz" | Lucky Ali, Karthik | ||||
| "Andathanama" | Gharshana | Telugu | Harris Jayaraj | Febi Mani | |
| "La La Lahiri" | Mass | Devi Sri Prasad | Venu | ||
| 2005 | "My Wish comes true" | Kisna | Hindi | A. R. Rahman | |
| "F TV Chiranjeevi" | Andarivaadu | Telugu | Devi Sri Prasad | KK | |
| 2006 | "Bangaranni" | Nuvvu Nenu Prema | Telugu | ||
| "Byla Bylamo" | Sainikudu | Telugu | Harris Jayaraj | Lesle Lewis, Anushka Manchanda | |
| 2007 | "Ye Cheekati" | Happy Days | Telugu | Mickey J Meyer | Ranjith |
| 2008 | "He Dil Deewana" | Twenty 20 | Malayalam | Suresh Peters | George Peter, Suresh Peters |
| 2009 | "Saregama Saregama" | Jolly Days | Kannada | Mickey J Meyer | Ranjith |
| 2010 | "Hey CM" | Leader | Telugu | ||
| "Non Stop" | Namo Venkatesa | Devi Sri Prasad | Karthik | ||
| 2011 | "Dushman Mera" | Don 2 | Hindi | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | Shankar Mahadevan |
| "The Rise of Damo" | 7aam Arivu | Telugu | Harris Jayaraj | Hao Wang | |
| "Its a Game" | Game | Hindi | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | ||
| "Nuvvante Naaku" | Mogudu | Telugu | Babu Shankar | ||
| 2012 | "Ellinda Banthu" | Toofan | Kannada | Elvin Josuha | Kunal Ganjawala |
| 2019 | "Bad Boy" | Saaho | Malayalam | Badshah | Badshah, Benny Dayal |
| "Breaking My Heart" | Suryakantham | Telugu | Mark K Robin | ||
| "Speechless" | Aladdin | Telugu | Alan Menken |
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