Hariharan Biography 
Hariharan is an Indian playback singer. He has sung in many languages like Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Bhojpuri. He is a popular ghazal singer and was honored with Padma Shri Award by Government of India for his talents in 2004.
He was born on 3rd April 1955 in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala in a Tamil speaking family. His parents are Shrimati Alamelu and H. Anantha Subramani Iyer. Both of them were Carnatic vocalists. He was brought up in Mumbai. He finished his bachelor’s degree in science and law from S. I. E. S. College. He was inspired by Mehdi Hassan and Jagjit Singh in his young days.
He started his career by singing for TV serials. He received first prize in All India Sur Singaar Competition. Then he entered the Hindi film industry through the film Gaman in 1978. His first song was Ajeeb Saane He Mujh Par Qarar. This was a big hit and won him Uttar Pradesh State Film Award and was nominated for National Award.
He started to sing for Tamil films in 1992. A. R. Rahman gave him a chance to sing the song, Thamizha Thamizha in the film Roja. He got Tamil Nadu State Best Male Playback Singer Award for his song Uyire Uyire Vandhu Ennodu Kalandhuvidu in the year 1995 in the film Bombay by Maniratnam. He became one of the trusted singers of Rahman and his song list includes many films like Muthu, Jeans, Indian, Rangeela, Indira, Minsara Kanavu, Mudhalvan, Sivaji, Alaipayuthey, Kannathil Muthamittaal, Enthiran, Kangalal Kaithu Sei, etc.
He won National award in the year 1998 for the song Mere Dushman Mera Bhai in the film Border. He again bagged this award for the Marathi song Jiv Rangla in 2009. He had sung over 500 Tamil songs and more than thousand Hindi songs together with numerous songs of other languages. He also acted in few films.
He had released many ghazal albums like Hazir, Jashn, Halka Nasha, Paogham, Kaash, Lahore Ke Rang Hari Ke Sang, etc. He received Padma Shri award and Yesudas Award for his performance.
Published: N/A
Updated: September 22, 2011
