Her introduction to playback singing came when A.R. Rahman called her to Panchathan Recording Inn, in Chennai, for a voice test sometime in 1996-97.
This ‘voice test output’ was stored within the mind and heart of Rahman.
And he used this composition within the movie ‘Jeans’ in 1998.
And it became instant hit.
This opened all doors of playback singing in films and drama serials for her.
As on today, she has released quite 750 albums.
But she is best known for her debut rendition of the A. R. Rahman composition, ‘Kannodu Kaanbadhellam’.
Nithyasree Mahadevan was born on August 25, 1973. She is additionally mentioned as S. Nithyashri. She may be a Carnatic musician and a playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. She has performed altogether major sabha's in India.
She was born to Lalitha Sivakumar and Iswaran Sivakumar. Her paternal grandmother, D. K. Pattammal, and her grand-uncle, D. K. Jayaraman, were prominent Carnatic vocalists. Her maternal grandfather was the mridangam maestro, Palghat Mani Iyer.
She first learnt music from her mother, Lalitha Sivakumar. Like her mother, she was also the disciple of D. K. Pattammal. and she or he would accompany her united. Her father was also an accomplished mridangist and disciple of his father-in-law Palghat Mani Iyer. His father constantly shows his support and accompanies her when she performs.
Her first public Carnatic performance was at the age of 14.
She was married to V. Mahadevan, a applied scientist. Before his death in 2012, Tanujasree and Tejasree, their two daughters, have also accompanied their mother on stage mutually. They gave their first performance on television during a guest appearance on Airtel Super Singer Junior, a musical talent TV program telecast by Vijay TV.
She could be a ‘Top Rank’ graded artist of Akashvani, and every one India Radio, Chennai. She received the ‘Best Concert Award’ for six years from the Madras Music Academy. She also won the Kalaimamani award from the govt. of state. And subsequently appointed her as a member within the Expert Committee panel within the ‘IYAL ISAI NATAKA MANDRAM’. During her career, Nithyasree has been bestowed with numerous other titles, and won numerous other awards and prizes.
Today, life as one parent may revolve around her daughters Tejashree and Tanujashree. She has hamper on the amount of out-station concerts to confirm she is there for the women. It doesn't mean Carnatic music has taken a back seat. On the contrary, she has derived great strength and peace from music, especially during moments of crisis and depression. She also acknowledges the nice support and encouragement she got from her late husband, V. Mahadevan.
