Mahathi

Biography

Mahathi is an Indian Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in Tamil and Telugu languages.

Family

Mahathi is from a family of musicians. Her father, Thiruvaiyaru P. Sekar, is a vocalist and a disciple of M. Balamuralikrishna. Her mother, Vasanthi Sekar, a flautist, is the grand disciple of T. R. Mahalingam, N. Ramani and Kesi. Mahathi is also the great-granddaughter of the violinist Sangeetha Kalanidhi Pazhamaneri Swaminatha Iyer.

Career

A carnatic musician & playback singer, Mahathi is a child prodigy who started Identifying classical ragas when she was 1.5 years old. Undergoing musical training under her parents Thiruvaiyaru Sekar & Smt. Vasanthi Sekar, she underwent musical training from Smt. Lalitha & Gayatri at trivandrum, Underwent advanced musical training from Sangeetha Kala Acharya Late Mangad Natesan & Padma Bhushan Awardee Madurai Shri T N Seshagopalan.
Mahathi is a prominent playback singer in South Indian Languages. She was introduced to playback singing by Isaignani Ilayaraja in the movie Kadhal Jathi in 2001.

Playback singing

Mahathi started playback singing in 2003 with a duet, "Iyyaiyyo Pudichirukku", with Hariharan, under the music direction of Harris Jayaraj in movie, Saamy. In 2008, Mahathi won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Nenje Nenje" from the movie Ayan.

Television works

Mahathi presented the music based quiz program, "Aaha Paadalam" on Doordarshan Podhigai TV with Raaghav. In October 2005 she presented Ilaiyaraja's Live-in Concert organised by Jaya TV, "Andrum Indrum Endrum" with actor Parthiban.

Titles, awards, and other recognition

2008, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback (for "Naeraa Varattuma" from Nenjathai Killadhe)
2009, Isai Aruvi Film Award – “Mudhal Mazhai”
2008, ITFA Best Female Playback Award (for "Mudhal Mazhai" from Bheema)
2011, "The Chord Wizard" (title), WE Magazine, Chennai, India
2009, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback (for "Nenje Nenje" from Ayan)
An “A” grade artist of the All India Radio / Doordarshan in 2020
2023, “Isai Chelvam” conferred by Muthamizh Peravai – from the honourable chief minister of Tamilnadu Thiru M.K Stalin
2006, Innisai Ilayavani
2017, ISAI PEROLI - Kartik Fine Arts
2015, G.Ramanathan Award – Sri Parthsarathy swamy sabha Chennai
2011, Yuva kala Bharathi – Bharath Kalachar
2016, Vani Kala Nipuna – Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha
2018, Madras Music Academy – Best Pallavi Prize
2024, Raga Chathura Bhushani – Rotary Club Chennai