Manjari is an Indian playback singer and Hindustani vocalist. Her first stage performance was with ''Shiva'', the Kolkata - based rock band, when she was in class eight.

Career

Manjari was introduced into the world of film music by Ilaiyaraaja in the Sathyan Anthikad movie,

Achuvinte Amma ''Achuvinte Amma'' () is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Ranjan Pramod from a story by Rajesh Jayaraman. It stars Urvashi, Meera Jasmine and Narain. The music is composed by Ilaiyaraaja. ...

. She sang two songs in the movie, a duet 'Swasathin Thalam' with Dr. K.J. Yesudas and a solo 'Tamarakuruvikku' in the movie. Since her début, she has worked with the likes of Ramesh Narayan,

Ilayaraaja Ilaiyaraaja (born R. Gnanathesikan) is an Indian musician, composer, arranger, conductor, orchestrator, multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and playback singer popular for his works in Indian cinema, predominately in Tamil in addition to Telugu, M ...

, M. G. Radhakrishnan, Kaithapram Vishwanathan,

Vidyasagar Vidyasagar or Vidya Sagar may refer to: People *Acharya Vidyasagar (born 1946), prominent Digambar Jain Acharya (1946-) *Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820–1891), Bengali scholar *Vidyasagar (composer) (born 1963), South Indian music director * C ...

, M. Jayachandran,

Ouseppachan Mechery Louis Ouseppachan (born 13 September 1955), known mononymously as Ouseppachan, is an Indian film composer and singer who primarily works in Malayalam films. He is a recipient of National Film Award, Filmfare Award and Kerala State Fil ...

Mohan Sithara Mohan Sithara (born 30 May 1959) is an Indian music composer. He received the Kerala State Film Award for the Best Music Director (2009) for the songs in Priyanandan's ''Soofi Paranja Kadha''. Since 1986 he has been an active musician in the Mal ...

and the late Raveendran Master and Johnson master She has also sung for albums such as Balabhaskar's ''Mazhayil Aaro Oral''. She has sung over 300+ songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu films and several devotional/Melody/Solo albums to her credit. Manjari also runs her own YouTube channel. Since 2003, Manjari has performed Hindustani Classical concerts in India and the world over under the banner of "Soorya". Manjari also gained popularity as a Ghazal singer. She performed an exclusive Ghazal show titled 'Khayal' in '

Media One TV MediaOne TV is an Indian Malayalam-language television channel operated by Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited. The channel was licensed in September 2011 and was officially launched on 10 February 2013. The main studio is located at Velliparamba, ...

' featuring popular Ghazals of yesteryears. Manjari won the

Kerala State Film Award The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a cinema of kerala, motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs (Kerala), Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and sin ...

for the best female singer twice; first in 2004, for the song ''Mukilin makale'' in the film

Makalkku ''Makalkku'' () is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Jayaraj and written by Madampu Kunjukuttan from a story by Rajan Poduval. It stars Suresh Gopi and Shobana. The film features songs composed by Ramesh Narayan and backg ...

and second in 2008 for the song ''Mullulla Murikkinmel'' in '' Vilapangalkappuram''. Manjari is a playback singer and Live performer. She has set up her own band for Ghazal Concerts and performs at various venues in India and abroad. Manjari continues to pursue her studies in Hindustani Classical Music under the tutelage of Pandit Ramesh Julé of Kirana Gharana. In 2016 she won the Sahir and Adeeb International Award for her contribution to Urdu and the genre of ghazals. Among the four recipients, she was the only Indian to receive the award in 2016. She is also the youngest Indian to receive the award. In the past Adeeb International has awarded the Sahir and Adeeb awards to almost 60 eminent personalities and legends like Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, Kaifi Azmi, B R Chopra, Shabana Azmi, Sharmila Tagore, Begum Bushra Rehman amongst others.

Films

Discography

Singles

In 2014, Manjari released her first Hindi Single titled 'Aiy Aiy Yaa' with Crescendo Music. The Lyrics of Alok Jha is composed by Santosh Nair. The video was shot in exotic locations of Dubai. In 2015, Manjari released a Malayalam single titled 'Anuragam' which was composed and sung by the artist. She also featured in the video shot in Munnar under the direction of VK Prakash. She has also sung title songs for several Malayalam television series like Swami Ayyapan,

Ente Manasaputhri ''Ente Manasaputhri'' ( ''The Daughter of My Mind'') was a 2007 Malayalam television soap opera telecast on Asianet TV from Monday to Friday at 7:00PM IST. It was a sequel to ''Punarjanmam'', which aired on Surya TV and telecast 95 episodes. I ...

, Krishnakripasagaram, Jalam ,Sreekrishnaleela ,Ammakkilikkoodu and Amme Bhagavathy. Manjari released her very first original Ghazal titled “Ab Etbaar Nahi” on 22 September 2020. This musical which is her own composition penned by Moid Rasheedi, won millions of hearts within the first day of release. Manjari has composed her own ghazals and released it on her YouTube channel (Manjari Official Channel - Singer). The two ghazals penned by Moid Rasheedi has been sung and composed by Manjari. The ghazals "Chale Aaoo" and "Mujhe Yaad Hai Vo Mausam" has reached the hearts of many and received lots of accolades from across the world. ; Television *''Smart Singer'' as Judge *''Pathinalam Raavu'' as Judge *''Khayal'' as Host and concept creator (Media One) *''Surya Super Singer'' as Judge (

Surya TV Surya TV is an Indian Malayalam language Indian general entertainment pay television channel owned by Sun TV Network. which is headquartered at Kochi. Surya TV HD became the third Malayalam language high-definition channel. Current broadcas ...

) *''

Star Singer ''Star Singer'' is an Indian music reality television competition, broadcast on Asianet and the show, which selected contestants in the age group of 15–35 years compete based on their skill in singing and entertainment. From season 1 to 7, t ...

'' Season 8 as Judge (

Asianet Asianet may refer to: JioStar channels * JioStar, is an Indian media conglomerate wholly owned by Disney India. ** Asianet, a Malayalam language general entertainment channel ** Asianet Plus, a Malayalam language general entertainment channel ** As ...

) *'' Star Singer Junior'' Season 3 as Judge (

) *''

Start Music Aaradhyam Paadum ''Start Music Aaradhyam Paadum'' is an Indian Malayalam-language musical game show. It aired from 10 August 2019 to 2 November 2023 in Asianet and also streams digitally on Disney+ Hotstar Disney+ Hotstar, also known as JioHotstar or simpl ...

'' season 5 as Guest (

) *Musical Wife (

Flowers TV Flowers TV is an Indian Malayalam-language, general-entertainment, pay television channel owned by Insight Media City. The channel was launched on 12 April 2015. Flowers TV HD feed is only available through their YouTube channel. History ...

) ; Appeared Films * Positive 2008 * Rock Star 2015 * Varthamanam 2019 ; Others *

Kerala Government The Government of Kerala (abbreviated as GoK), also known as the Kerala Government, is the administrative body responsible for governing the Indian state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who selects all the other ministers. ...

Initiative - Praveshanolsavam (2023) ; Appeared TV Serials * Aa Amma *Amme Bhagavathy

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and since 1998 the awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Cha ...

: * 2004 – Best Playback Singer – ''

'' ('Mukilin Makale') * 2008 – Best Playback Singer – '' Vilapangalkappuram'' ('Mullulla Murikkinmel')

Asianet Film Awards The Asianet Film Awards is an award ceremony for films presented annually by Asianet, a Malayalam-language television network from the south-Indian state of Kerala. Asianet says an awards ceremony has been instituted to honour artistic and ...

: * 2006 – Best Female Playback – ''

Rasathanthram ''Rasathanthram'' () is a 2006 Indian Malayalam-language family drama film written and directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and starring Mohanlal and Meera Jasmine, with Bharath Gopi, Innocent, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, and Mamukkoya in prominent roles. ...

'' ('Attinkara')

Mathrubhumi ''Mathrubhumi'' is a Malayalam newspaper that is published from Kerala, India. It was founded by K. P. Kesava Menon, an active volunteer in the Indian freedom struggle against the British. The word "Mathrubhumi" translates to 'mother land'. ...

Film Awards: * 2006 – Best Female Playback – '' Karuthapakshikal'' ('Mazhayil Ratrimazhayil') * 2012 – Mathrubhumi Film Awards – Popular Singer of the Year -''

Urumi An urumi is an Indian sword with a flexible, whip-like blade, secretly worn around the waist. Originating in modern-day Kerala, a state in southwestern India, it is thought to have existed from as early as the Sangam period. It is treated as ...

'' ('Chinni Chinni')

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards The Kerala Film Critics Association Awards are presented annually by the Kerala Film Critics Association to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Malayalam language film industry of India. The awards were instit ...

: * 2012– Best Playback Singer (Female) -''

'' ('Chinni Chinni') * 2019– Best Playback Singer (Female) -'' March Randam Vyazham'' ('Tharapadham paadum') Film Awards: * 2012 –

Vanitha Film Awards The Vanitha Film Awards are presented annually by ''Vanitha'', an Indian magazine from the ''Malayala Manorama'' group in the south Indian state of Kerala. The awards ceremony has been instituted to honour both artistic and technical excellence ...

– Best Female Playback -''

'' ('Chinni Chinni') * 2012 – Ramu Kariat Film Awards – Best Female Playback- ''

'' ('Chinni Chinni') * 2012 – Surya/Film Producers Awards- Best Female Playback – ''

'' ('Chinni Chinni') * 2012 – Amrita Film Awards- Best Female Playback – ''

'' ('Chinni Chinni') * 2012 – Jaihind Film Awards- Best Female Playback – ''

'' ('Chinni Chinni') * 2012 – Kerala Film Critics Award- Best Female Playback * Nominated : 2009 – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback for "Kadaloram Vatsa" from

Minnaminnikoottam ''Minnaminnikootam'' is a 2008 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Kamal. It stars Meera Jasmine, Narain, Jayasurya, Indrajith Sukumaran, Roma Asrani, Samvrutha Sunil, Radhika and Anoop Chandran in the title lead roles. The score and ...

* Nominated : 2011 – Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback for "Chimmi Chimmi" from

Sahir and Adeeb International Award: * 2016 – Sahir and Adeeb International Award for her contribution to Urdu language and ghazals

References

External links

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Spotify
Interview: Manjari on a winning noteComplete Listing of Manjari's songs for Malayalam MoviesInterview: Manjari Songs from the Heart
{{DEFAULTSORT:Manjari Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Kerala State Film Award winners Tamil playback singers Indian women playback singers Singers from Thiruvananthapuram Malayalam playback singers 21st-century Indian singers Film musicians from Kerala Hindustani singers Indian women classical singers Women Hindustani musicians 21st-century Indian women singers Indian expatriates in Oman Women musicians from Kerala Actresses in Malayalam television Actresses in Malayalam cinema