Devan Ekambaram

Devan Ekambaram
தேவன் ஏகாம்பரம்
Born (1975-12-25) 25 December 1975 (age 48)
Freehold Township, New Jersey, United States
Occupation(s)Playback Singer,Film Composer, Actor
Instrument(s)Vocals, Guitar
Years active1999–present

Devan Ekambaram (born 25 December 1975) is an Indian American film playback singer, actor and composer. He began his career as a playback singer in Tamil films, and later branched out to many other south Indian languages, such as Telugu and Kannada. Ekambaram has sung for over 500 films.

Education

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Devan studied at Freehold Township High School, New Jersey. He enrolled in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he dropped out in his second year.[1]

Singing career

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Devan started his singing career in 1999 when he received an unexpected call from the assistants of Academy Award-winning composer A. R. Rahman, inviting him for a voice audition. He went on to record his first song, "O Maria," for the film Kadhalar Dhinam, collaborating with Yugendran. The song leads to numerous offers from various Southern music directors.[2]

Devan's second hit came in his short rendition of "Ore Nyabagam" from the film Minnale (2001), composed by Harris Jayaraj. Following that, he sang numerous popular tracks in Tamil and Telugu films, collaborating with composers such as Ilayaraja, Vidhyasagar, Deva, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Karthik Raja, and others. The song "Anbil Avan" from the film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa is composed by A. R. Rahman.[3]

Recently, he sang "Nahna na Na" for Director Venkat Prabhu's Biriyani, composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Two different remix versions of the song include "New Jack Swing Mix" and "The Extended Mix".

His latest song is "Yennai Arindhaal" from the movie Yennai Arindhaal in collaboration with Harris Jayaraj. Lyricist Thamarai wrote this song.[4]

Music direction

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Devan debuted as a music director in the 2010 film Bale Pandiya. The music album was received with a mixed response. Besides this film, Devan has composed for several short Tamil album songs and has also sung for them.[5]

Acting

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Devan has performed in a few Tamil films as a character artist. Prominent ones include Parthiban Kanavu (debut film), Unnale Unnale and Jayam Kondaan. He also dubbed for various characters in films like Little John for the main character, John McKenzie, Suresh in Dasavathaaram, Dong Lee and other Chinese characters in 7aum Arivu.

Discography

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Tamil

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Year Film Song Composer Co-singer(s)
2024 Unarvugal Thodarkadhai "Thodarum Kadhaiyaaga" Ajmal Khan Niharika Patro
2019 Kee "Pathikichu Paatheeya" Vishal Chandrasekhar
2018 Pyaar Prema Kaadhal "I Will Never Let You Go" Yuvan Shankar Raja
2016 Hello Naan Pei Pesuren "Kozhi Kuruda" Siddharth Vipin Shweta Mohan
2015 Om Shanthi Om "Mazhai Thuli Azhaga" Vijay Ebenezer Aalap Raju, Dr. Burn
Yennai Arindhaal "Yennai Arindhaal" Harris Jayaraj Mark Thomas, Abhishek
Idhu Enna Maayam "Machi Machi" G. V. Prakash Kumar Udit Narayan, Navin Iyer
2014 Yaan "Hey Lamba Lamba" Harris Jayaraj Krishna Iyer, Divya Vijay
2013 Endrendrum Punnagai "Vaan Engum Nee Minna" Aalap Raju, Harini, Praveen
Biriyani "Nahna Nah Na" Yuvan Shankar Raja
"Nahna Na Nah (New Jack Swing Mix)" Yuvan Shankar Raja Yuvan Shankar Raja, Premgi Amaren
"Nahna Na Nah (Extended Dance Mix)"
Settai "Theme Music of Settai" S. Thaman
2012 Kalakalappu "Unnaipattri Unnidame" Vijay Ebenezer Prashanthini
2011 Vandhaan Vendraan "Anjo" S. Thaman Rahul Nambiar, Haricharan
Kandaen "Ninaivugal" Vijay Ebenezer
Engeyum Kadhal "Engeyum Kadhal" Harris Jayaraj Aalap Raju, Ranina Reddy
2010 Bale Pandiya "Happy" Devan Ekambaram Haricharan, Naresh Iyer, Naveen, Ranjith, Rahul Nambiar, Paravai Muniyamma, Manikka Vinayagam, Anuradha Sriram, Srinivas, Mukesh, Divya, Suchitra, Velmurugan, Malgudi Subha, Vijay Yesudas, Aalap Raju
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa "Anbil Avan" A. R. Rahman Chinmayi
2009 Ayan "Honey Honey" Harris Jayaraj Sayanora Philip
2008 Vaaranam Aayiram "Nenjukkul Peidhidum" Hariharan, Krish, Prasanna
Azhaipithazh "Ley Ley" Hitesh
2007 Kasu Irukkanum "Kadhal Sammatham" Kavin Saradha, Raj Shankar Anuradha Sriram
2006 Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu "Karka Karka" Harris Jayaraj Tippu, Andrea Jeremiah, Nakul
Thalai Nagaram "Yedho Ninaikiren" D. Imman
2004 Bose "Enna Enna Aachu" Yuvan Shankar Raja Mathangi Jagdish
Machi "Holiday" A. R. Reihana
Maha Nadigan "Pillaiyara Vendiko" Deva
Giri "Dei Kaiya Vechikitu Summa Iruda" D. Imman Anuradha Sriram
2003 Kurumbu "Adichchi Pudichchi" Yuvan Shankar Raja Sunitha Sarathy
"Aasai Nooru Vagai" Malaysia Vasudevan
Winner "Eye Um Eye Um"
Thiruda Thirudi "Azhaga Irukanga" Dhina Timmy, Master Karan
Well Done "Indhiya Mappai" Vidyasagar
Parthiban Kanavu "Theeradha Dum" Vidyasagar Tippu, Manikka Vinayagam
Pudhiya Geethai "Vasiyakaara - I" Yuvan Shankar Raja Chitra Sivaraman
Punnagai Poove "Venus Venus Pennae" Harini
2002 Majunu "Mercury Mele" Harris Jayaraj P. Unnikrishnan
"Hari Gori" Tippu, Karthik, Ganga, Febi Mani
King "Sagiye Pogathe" Dhina Febi Mani
Vetri "Kanavil Kandene" Harris Jayaraj
Run "Ichutha Ichutha" Vidyasagar Sowmya Raoh, Naveen, Pop Shalini
Panchathanthiram "Manmatha Leelai" Dhina Timothy, Mathangi Jagdish
2001 Shahjahan "May Madham" Mani Sharma Sujatha Mohan
Ullam Kollai Poguthae "Anjala Anjala" Karthik Raja Harini
Chocklet "Hosima" Deva Anupama
Poovellam Un Vaasam "Yukthaamukhi" Vidyasagar Clinton Cerejo
Badri "Salaam Maharasa" Ramana Gogula Priya Himesh
Minnale "Ore Nyabagam" Harris Jayaraj
Friends "Manjal Poosum" Ilayaraja Sujatha Mohan
2000 Pennin Manathai Thottu "Udhadukkum" S. A. Rajkumar Srividya, Febi Mani
"Kalloori Vaanil" Anuradha Sriram
Kushi "Macarena Macarena" Mani Sharma Sowmya Raoh
Kandukondain Kandukondain "Smayiyai" A. R. Rahman Clinton Cerejo, Dominique Cerejo
James Pandu "Kannenna Minsarama" S. A. Rajkumar
1999 Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga "Monalisa" Yuvan Shankar Raja Anuradha Sriram
Time "Nenachapadi" Ilaiyaraaja Unni Menon, Malgudi Subha
Kadhalar Dhinam "Oh Mariya" A. R. Rahman Yugendran, Febi Mani

Telugu

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Year Film Song Composer Co-singer(s)
2018 Tholi Prema "Vinnane Vinnane" S. Thaman Armaan Malik
2013 Sahasam "Sahasam" Sri
2010 Ye Maaya Chesave "Manasaa" A.R. Rahman Chinmayi
2006 Ashok "Mumtaju Mahalu" Mani Sharma Tanvi Shah
2005 Vennela "Preyasikaavu" Mahesh Shankar Saindhavi, Shudip, Rajani
"Bhagyam Podduna" Aravind, Shudip
2003 Naaga "Macarina" Deva
2002 Vasu "O Prema" Harris Jayaraj
2001 Kushi "Premante" Mani Sharma Kalpana
2000 Suri "Monnatidaka" Vidyasagar
1999 Kadhalar Dhinam - Telugu (D) "Oh Mariya" A. R. Rahman Yugendran, Febi Mani

Kannada

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Year Film Song Composer Co-singer(s)
2000 Yajamana "Navile Pancharangi Navile" Rajesh Ramnath Nanditha
2001 Bahala Chennagide "Chori Chori" Koti
2003 Pakka Chukka "Odu Odu" S. Narayan
2008 Accident "Friendship Andre" Ricky Kej
2017 Toss "Nidde Madi" Gautham Srivatsa

References

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  1. ^ "Devan Ekambaram". Facebook. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  2. ^ According to Who?
  3. ^ What Chart? What Country?
  4. ^ According to Who?
  5. ^ "Bale Pandiya Music by Devan Ekambaram". Chennai365. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
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