Birthday Special: Hariharan Says, 'Music is the Rhythm of My Breath'

Renowned Indian playback singer Hariharan was born on April 3, 1955. His full name is Hariharan Anantha Subramani. He is widely known for his expertise in Bhajans and Ghazals. While primarily singing in Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu, he has also recorded over 15,000 songs in more than 10 languages, including Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Sinhala, and Bhojpuri. His contribution to fusion music has made him a prominent name in the industry.

Awards and Achievements

In 2004, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian awards. He has also won the National Film Award twice. Hariharan collaborated with Leslie Lewis to form the Colonial Cousins, a musical duo that created some iconic fusion music. Additionally, he has composed music for several Tamil and Hindi feature films.

Musical Milestones

On October 9, 2021, Hariharan’s rendition of Hanuman Chalisa, recorded under the T-Series label, became the first song in the world to surpass 2 million views on YouTube.

Hariharan began his career performing in concerts and later ventured into television music. He also sang for the popular TV series Junoon. In 1977, he won the All India Sur Singar Competition, which led to his big break in 1978 when composer Jaidev signed him for the Hindi film Gaman. His debut song, "Ajeeb Sa Neha Mujh Par Guzar Gaya Yaaro", became a massive hit, earning him a nomination for the National Award and the Uttar Pradesh State Film Award.

Collaboration with A.R. Rahman and Tamil Film Industry

In 1992, Hariharan made his Tamil film industry debut with A.R. Rahman by singing the patriotic song "Thamizha Thamizha" for Mani Ratnam's Roja. Later, in 1995, he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for his song "Uyire Uyire" from Mani Ratnam’s Bombay, which he sang alongside K.S. Chithra.

With over 500 Tamil songs and 200 Hindi songs, Hariharan has also contributed to Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, and Odia film industries. He even tried his hand at acting in the 2005 Tamil film Power of Women and made cameo appearances in Boys (Tamil) and Millennium Stars (Malayalam).

A Unique Place in the World of Ghazals

Hariharan is one of India's finest Ghazal singers and composers. In the early days of his career, he composed and wrote over 30 Ghazal albums. His first Ghazal, "Aabshar-e-Ghazal", a collaboration with Asha Bhosle, became immensely popular. Later, his album "Gulfam" was a double platinum hit and won the 1995 Diva Award for Best Album.

He continued to release hit Ghazal albums, including:

• Hazar (1992)

• Jashn (1996)

• Halka Nasha (1996)

• Swar Utsav (2001)

• Lafz (2008)

Hariharan also collaborated with tabla maestro Zakir Hussain for the album "Hazar". His album "Lahore Ke Rang Hari Ke Sang" received immense appreciation both in India and internationally.

Still Reigning Supreme

In an interview with BBC, when asked about the significance of music in his life, Hariharan responded, "Music is as essential to me as breathing." This simple yet profound statement perfectly encapsulates his passion for music.

Most recently, on March 18, 2025, he released the song "Samjha Toh Kar", produced by Ved Gupta and launched on the Bazm-e-Khaas YouTube channel. The song features actress Aksha Pardasany, with lyrics by Alok Srivastava and music composed by Kshitij Tarey. "Samjha Toh Kar" is an emotional and romantic melody that has been well-received by fans.

Hariharan's voice continues to captivate audiences across generations, proving that no matter the era, his music remains timeless and deeply cherished.

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