Shankar Mahadevan is an Indian singer and music composer. An accomplished musician in Tamil cinema, he is a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio team that provides music to Bollywood films.
Background information
Born
Chembur, Mumbai, India[1]
Genres Pop, playback singing, composer
Occupations Singer, composer
Years active 1998–present

Early life
Shankar Mahadevan was born in Chembur, Mumbai to a Tamil family.[1] He learned Indian classical music and Carnatic music in his childhood and started playing Veena at the age of five. He played Veena in the first song of Bhimsen Joshi and Lata Mangeshkar together composed by Shrinivas Khale. He went to OLPS High School in Chembur. He graduated in 1988 with a degree in Computer Science Engineering from R.A.I.T (D Y Patil, Navi Mumbai), under the auspices of Mumbai University. As of now he sings songs in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, and Marathi.

[edit] Career
Though a software engineer by education and having earlier worked with the Oracle Corporation, Shankar's interest in music made him venture into the field of music.[2] He earned his first award as a playback singer in a Tamil movie, collaborating with A. R. Rahman and winning a National Film Award for his song in Kandukondain Kandukondain. A prominent star in the Kodambakkam film industry, he later gained more recognition by releasing his first music album called Breathless in 1998. He later got into music direction and became a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio, composing music for Hindi films.

He enjoys a successful run with Fusion-Jazz band SILK with Louis Banks on Keyboards, Sivamani on percussion, Sridhar Parthasarathy on Mridangam and Karl Peters on Bass Guitar.

Shankar Mahadevan has also provided vocals for several compositions of Remember Shakti which features maestros like Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin, U. Srinivas and Selvaganesh Vinayakram. He was music director and singer for the famous "School chale hum" song that used to come on Doordarshan.

He is also a mentor on Zee TV's musical reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2009.

[edit] Awards
[edit] Swaralaya-Kairali-Yesudas Award
2007: Yesudas Award for his outstanding contribution to Indian film music.

[edit] National Film Awards
2000: National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer: Yenna Solla Pogirai, Kandukondain Kandukondain
2004: National Film Award for Best Music Direction: Kal Ho Naa Ho (as part of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy)
2008: National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer: song Maa (film Taare Zameen Par)
[edit] Kerala State Film Award
2009: Best Playback Singer (Male) for the song "Kalyaana Kacheri " from the movie Madampi

[edit] Filmfare Awards
2003: Best Music Direction win for Kal Ho Naa Ho

2005: Best Music Direction win for Bunty Aur Babli

[edit] Star Screen Awards
2000: Best Background Music nomination for Mission Kashmir

2001: Best Music Direction win for Dil Chahta Hai

2005: Best Music Direction win for Bunty aur Babli

2009: Best Music Direction win for Rock On!!

[edit] Other Awards
2009: Annual Malayalam Movie Awards (Dubai) - Best Male Singer for Pichavecha Naal from Puthiya Mukham

[edit] Music Composing Filmography
London Dreams (2009)
Kismat Talkies (2009) ... (announced)
My Name is Khan (Releasing in 2009)
Wake Up Sid (2009)
Puthiya Mukham(malayalam)
Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam (Telugu) (2009)
Luck By Chance (2009)
Yavarum Nalam (Tamil) (2009)
Chandni Chowk to China (2009)
madambi(malayalam)
Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008)
Rock On (2008)
High School Musical 2 Soundtrack (Hindi Version)
Taare Zameen Par (2007)
Johnny Gaddaar (2007)
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007)
Heyy Babyy (2007)
Marigold: An Adventure in India (2007)
Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love (2007)
Don - The Chase Begins Again (2006)
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)
Dil Jo Bhi Kahey... (2005)
Bunty Aur Babli (2005)
Vanity Fair (2004)
Phir Milenge (2004)
Lakshya (2004)
Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na (2004)
Rudraksh (2004)
Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
Kuch Naa Kaho (2003)
Nayee Padosan (2003)
Armaan (2003)
Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003)
Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai" (2002)
Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Aalavandhan (2001) (Tamil)
Mission Kashmir (2000)
Dillagi (1999)
Shool (1999)
Rockford (1999)
Dus (1997)
No entry