Vasundhara Das
Encyclopedia
Vasundhara Das born 1977, is an India
n singer and actress. She has acted in Hindi, Tamil
, Kannada and Malayalam films. She is the co-founder of world music band Arya. As a playback singer, she is best remembered for singing "Shakalaka Baby
" from the Tamil film Mudhalvan
, which was also her debut song. She has performed many hit songs in Hindi and Tamil films thereafter.
Hebbar Iyengar Brahmin family from Bangalore. She studied at Cluny Convent High School, Bangalore
, and Mount Carmel College
, Bangalore, graduating in Economics and Mathematics.
She began training in Hindustani Classical music at the age of six. She used to run away from home to avoid taking music lessons. In her college days she was part of an all-girl band. She can play some Flamenco strums
on her guitar.
She speaks Tamil
, Kannada, Hindi
and English
.
film Hey Ram
(1999) and started her playback singing career with A. R. Rahman
's Tamil
film Mudhalvan
. She was considered for the role of heroine by Mani Ratnam
in his movie Alaipayuthey
opposite R. Madhavan
. She played heroine alongside Mohanlal
in the blockbuster Malayalam movie Ravanaprabhu
, the female lead role opposite Ajith in the Tamil
movie Citizen
, and heroine opposite Dharshan Tugdeep in the Kannada movie Lankesh Pathrike. She also appeared in the Hindi
T.V. serial Rab Ne Banadi Jodi and a popular Hindi movie "Monsoon Wedding".
Her breakthrough as a playback singer came with "Shakalaka Baby
", the song for which she is best known for. She sang it for the 1999 Tamil film Mudhalvan
, under composer A. R. Rahman
. She later recorded most of her hit songs with Rahman in Tamil as well as in Hindi. Her breakthrough in Bollywood came in the 2001 film Aks
with songs like "Rabba Rabba" for which she was nominated for the 2002 Filmfare Best Female Playback Award
.
She has sung one song "Pattu viral thottu vittadhaal" for Ilaiyaraaja
in the Tamil
movie Dhanush directed by A.M. Gurumani. She has sung an English
song in the Hindi
film Lagaan
for the British character played by Rachel Shelley
, again under A. R. Rahman. Her most famous Hindi
song is "It's the time to Disco" in the film Kal Ho Na Ho sung for Preity Zinta
. She is also well known for the song "Kattipudi Kattipudi Da" in the movie Kushi. She often sings for the actress Preity Zinta
among others. She has also sung for the hit movie Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa.
She has recorded her own album of non-film songs. She has sung in French
, English
, Kannada, Tamil
, Hindi
, and Telugu
.
She has also sung a song called "Tide" with Ashu and Dhruv for the show Channel V Jammin'; the song is included in the Jammin' album.She performed in Yuva Dasara 2011 at Mysore, Karnataka. Her latest performance happened in Vibranz organised by EMC at Bangalore.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n singer and actress. She has acted in Hindi, Tamil
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
, Kannada and Malayalam films. She is the co-founder of world music band Arya. As a playback singer, she is best remembered for singing "Shakalaka Baby
Shakalaka Baby
"Shakalaka Baby" is a 2002 single by Preeya Kalidas. The song was composed by A. R. Rahman and was initially featured in his 2002 musical Bombay Dreams. It is a reworked version of the track "Shakalaka Baby" from 1999 Tamil film Mudhalvan, a version of which was also featured in the 2001 Bollywood...
" from the Tamil film Mudhalvan
Mudhalvan
Mudhalvan is a 1999 Tamil political thriller film co-written and directed by S. Shankar. The film features Arjun, Manisha Koirala and Raghuvaran in the lead roles with Manivannan, Vijayakumar and Hanifa portraying other significant roles. The film featured an award-winning soundtrack composed by...
, which was also her debut song. She has performed many hit songs in Hindi and Tamil films thereafter.
Early life
Vasundhara Das was born in a TamilTamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
Hebbar Iyengar Brahmin family from Bangalore. She studied at Cluny Convent High School, Bangalore
Cluny Convent High School, Malleswaram
Cluny Convent High School, Malleswaram, India, has been in existence since the year 1948. It is a recognized private unaided institution run by the Bangalore branch of the Sisters of St...
, and Mount Carmel College
Mount Carmel College
Mount Carmel College is a Catholic secondary school located in Rosewater, South Australia. Established in 1927 by the Marist Brothers, it was an all boys school until December 1966...
, Bangalore, graduating in Economics and Mathematics.
She began training in Hindustani Classical music at the age of six. She used to run away from home to avoid taking music lessons. In her college days she was part of an all-girl band. She can play some Flamenco strums
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
on her guitar.
She speaks Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, Kannada, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Actor
Vasundhara began acting with the Kamal HaasanKamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
film Hey Ram
Hey Ram
Hey Ram is a controversial Indian film released both in Tamil and Hindi in 2000 and written, directed, produced by and starring Kamal Haasan...
(1999) and started her playback singing career with A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman
Allah Rakha Rahman is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and philanthropist. Described as the world's most prominent and prolific film composer by Time, his works are notable for integrating eastern classical music with electronic music sounds, world music genres and...
's Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
film Mudhalvan
Mudhalvan
Mudhalvan is a 1999 Tamil political thriller film co-written and directed by S. Shankar. The film features Arjun, Manisha Koirala and Raghuvaran in the lead roles with Manivannan, Vijayakumar and Hanifa portraying other significant roles. The film featured an award-winning soundtrack composed by...
. She was considered for the role of heroine by Mani Ratnam
Mani Ratnam
Mani Ratnam is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter and producer. He made his directorial debut with the Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi starring Anil Kapoor in 1983...
in his movie Alaipayuthey
Alaipayuthey
Alaipayuthey is a 2000 Tamil romantic drama film directed by Mani Ratnam, starring Madhavan and Shalini, the film explores the tensions of married life and the maturing of love. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by A. R...
opposite R. Madhavan
R. Madhavan
R. Madhavan is an Indian actor, writer, film producer and television host. Madhavan has received a Filmfare Award, an award from the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards alongside recognition and nominations from other organisations...
. She played heroine alongside Mohanlal
Mohanlal
Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...
in the blockbuster Malayalam movie Ravanaprabhu
Ravanaprabhu
Raavanaprabhu is a 2001 Malayalam musical action-drama film written and directed by Ranjith. It is a sequel to the 1993 film Devaasuram which was scripted by Ranjith. The film is the directorial debut of Ranjith, who had previously worked as a screenwriter...
, the female lead role opposite Ajith in the Tamil
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
movie Citizen
Citizen (film)
Citizen is a 2001 Tamil action film directed by Sharavanan Subbaiya and produced by S. S. Chakravarthy. The film features Ajith Kumar in the lead role as a social activist with Vasundhara Das, Meena and Nagma playing supporting roles. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Deva, whilst...
, and heroine opposite Dharshan Tugdeep in the Kannada movie Lankesh Pathrike. She also appeared in the Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
T.V. serial Rab Ne Banadi Jodi and a popular Hindi movie "Monsoon Wedding".
Singer
She moved her base from Bangalore to Mumbai and founded a musical band named Arya with Roberto Narain. The band comprises musicians from various backgrounds in world music ranging from Hindustani and Carnatic classical music to Jazz, Latin, rock and pop. Roberto Narain plays the drums and Vasundhara provides Western and Indian vocals. Arya’s music can be broadly classified as World Music. Arya’s first performance was at the prestigious festival La Mar de Musicas in Spain in 2003. The band toured the United States in September 2004.Her breakthrough as a playback singer came with "Shakalaka Baby
Shakalaka Baby
"Shakalaka Baby" is a 2002 single by Preeya Kalidas. The song was composed by A. R. Rahman and was initially featured in his 2002 musical Bombay Dreams. It is a reworked version of the track "Shakalaka Baby" from 1999 Tamil film Mudhalvan, a version of which was also featured in the 2001 Bollywood...
", the song for which she is best known for. She sang it for the 1999 Tamil film Mudhalvan
Mudhalvan
Mudhalvan is a 1999 Tamil political thriller film co-written and directed by S. Shankar. The film features Arjun, Manisha Koirala and Raghuvaran in the lead roles with Manivannan, Vijayakumar and Hanifa portraying other significant roles. The film featured an award-winning soundtrack composed by...
, under composer A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman
Allah Rakha Rahman is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and philanthropist. Described as the world's most prominent and prolific film composer by Time, his works are notable for integrating eastern classical music with electronic music sounds, world music genres and...
. She later recorded most of her hit songs with Rahman in Tamil as well as in Hindi. Her breakthrough in Bollywood came in the 2001 film Aks
Aks
Aks is a 2001 Hindi film directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.-Synopsis:Aks is a supernatural thriller centering on two main characters - Manu Verma, the cop and Raghavan, the shadowy killer....
with songs like "Rabba Rabba" for which she was nominated for the 2002 Filmfare Best Female Playback Award
Filmfare Best Female Playback Award
The Filmfare Best Female Playback Award is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female playback singer who has delivered an outstanding performance in a film song....
.
She has sung one song "Pattu viral thottu vittadhaal" for Ilaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja is an Indian film composer, singer, and lyricist mainly in the Tamil film Industry. He is regarded as one of the finest music composers in India. Ilaiyaraaja is also an instrumentalist, conductor, and a songwriter...
in the Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
movie Dhanush directed by A.M. Gurumani. She has sung an English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
song in the Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
film Lagaan
Lagaan
Lagaan is a 2001 Bollywood sports film written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. Aamir Khan, who was also the producer for the film, stars with Gracy Singh in the lead roles; British actors Rachel Shelley and Paul Blackthorne play the supporting roles...
for the British character played by Rachel Shelley
Rachel Shelley
Rachel Shelley is an English actress and model. She was born in Swindon. , Los Angeles Daily News and graduated from Sheffield University with a B.A...
, again under A. R. Rahman. Her most famous Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
song is "It's the time to Disco" in the film Kal Ho Na Ho sung for Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi films of Bollywood, as well as Telugu, Punjabi and English language films. After graduating with a degree in criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in Dil Se in 1998 followed by a role in Soldier the same year...
. She is also well known for the song "Kattipudi Kattipudi Da" in the movie Kushi. She often sings for the actress Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi films of Bollywood, as well as Telugu, Punjabi and English language films. After graduating with a degree in criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in Dil Se in 1998 followed by a role in Soldier the same year...
among others. She has also sung for the hit movie Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa.
She has recorded her own album of non-film songs. She has sung in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Kannada, Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, and Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
.
She has also sung a song called "Tide" with Ashu and Dhruv for the show Channel V Jammin'; the song is included in the Jammin' album.She performed in Yuva Dasara 2011 at Mysore, Karnataka. Her latest performance happened in Vibranz organised by EMC at Bangalore.
Discography
- Ugly Aur PagliUgly Aur PagliUgly Aur Pagli is a 2008 Bollywood film starring Ranvir Shorey and Mallika Sherawat. It is directed by Sachin Khot and produced by Pritish Nandy...
[2008] Hindi. - Sillunu Oru Kadhal [2007] Tamil.
- Corporate [2006] Hindi
- Kabhi Alvida Naa KehnaKabhi Alvida Naa KehnaKabhi Alvida Naa Kehna commonly known as KANK is a 2006 Bollywood film directed by Karan Johar and produced under the Dharma Productions banner...
[2006] Hindi - Ek Dastak [2005] Hindi.
- AeganAeganAegan is a 2008 Tamil action and comedy film directed and co-written by Raju Sundaram and produced by Ayngaran International based on the 2004 Shahrukh Khan starrer Main Hoon Na...
[?] Tamil. - KushiKushiare skewers used in Japanese cuisine to hold and pierce food for grilling and frying, such as yakitori. They range in length from about 15 to 30 cm. Kushi may be made of steel, bamboo, or wood. The steel and wooden varieties are reusable, while those made from bamboo are usually only used...
[?] Tamil. - Kal Ho Naa HoKal Ho Naa HoKal Ho Naa Ho is a 2003 Hindi film set in New York City. It stars Shahrukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan and Jaya Bachchan. The film was directed by first-timer Nikhil Advani, it was produced by Yash Johar and co-written by Karan Johar, better known as the director of the hit films Kuch Kuch...
[2003] Hindi - Boys [2003] Tamil.
- Kanda Naal MudhalKanda Naal MudhalKanda Naal Mudhal is a 2005 Indian Tamil romance film written and directed by newcomer V. Priya, who had earlier assisted Mani Ratnam. Produced by Prakash Raj under the Duet Films banner, the film stars Prasanna, Laila and Karthik Kumar in the lead roles and Revathi Menon, and Lakshmi all play in...
[?] Tamil. - AnniyanAnniyanAnniyan is a 2005 Tamil psychological thriller film directed by S. Shankar. The film stars Vikram, Sadha, Prakash Raj, and Vivek, while featuring background score and soundtrack composed by Harris Jayaraj. The film was released worldwide on 10 June 2005....
[?] Tamil. - ManmadhanManmadhanManmadhan is a 2004 blockbuster Indian Tamil thriller film written and Directed by A.J. Murugan, STR plays the lead title role. The film has Jyothika enacting the lead female role, Goundamani, Sindhu Tolani, Atul Kulkarni and Santhanam playing supporting roles and guest appearances by Mandira...
[?] Tamil. - Kudiyon Ka Hai ZamanaKudiyon Ka Hai ZamanaKudiyon Ka Hai Zamana is a Bollywood comedy film directed by Amur Batula. Released in 2006 it stars Mahima Chaudhary, Rekha and Ashmit Patel. Its central set up is of four female friends and their problems with boyfriends and husbands, and it has been compared to Sex and the City....
[2005] Hindi. - Pathar Bezubaan [2004] Hindi.
- VajramVajramVajram is a 2004 Malayalam drama film written by Dennis Joseph and directed by Pramod Pappan. It starred Mammootty in the lead role and Master Mithun played another important role.-Plot:...
[2004] Malayalam. - Filmstar [2003] Hindi.
- Lankesh Patrike [2002] Kannada.
- Citizen [2001] Tamil.
- RavanaprabhuRavanaprabhuRaavanaprabhu is a 2001 Malayalam musical action-drama film written and directed by Ranjith. It is a sequel to the 1993 film Devaasuram which was scripted by Ranjith. The film is the directorial debut of Ranjith, who had previously worked as a screenwriter...
[2001] Malayalam. - Monsoon WeddingMonsoon Wedding* Originally featured in the Hindi film Loafer * Originally featured in the Hindi film Biwi No.1 -Awards:The movie won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival...
[2000] Hindi. - Hey RamHey RamHey Ram is a controversial Indian film released both in Tamil and Hindi in 2000 and written, directed, produced by and starring Kamal Haasan...
[1999] Tamil & Hindi.
External links
- * http://www.littleindia.com/news/153/ARTICLE/1290/2006-09-14.html
- http://www.hamaraphotos.com/photo_-34804.html