Sangeetha Rajeev
Sangeetha Rajeev, also known professionally as SaRa, is an Indian playback singer, composer and independent music artist. She is known for her contributions to Kannada pop music and is regarded as one of the first female independent artists in the Kannada music scene. In 2019, she received the Best International Pop Singer award at the VIMA Music Awards in Malaysia.
Sangeetha has collaborated with several notable artists, including Sonu Nigam for the Kannada track "Neene Neene", which was later released in Hindi as "Tuhi Tuhi". Her single "Nee Hinga Nodabyada", which she wrote, composed and performed, gained widespread popularity and became one of the most recognisable tracks in the Kannada independent music space.
She has since expanded into other regional music industries, debuting in Telugu with the single "Naa Raju" and in Punjabi with the EP Rise. In 2022, she was featured by YouTube as part of its "Creating for India" campaign, becoming the first artist from Karnataka to receive front-page coverage in major newspapers through the initiative.
Sangeetha is also pursuing a career in acting, with upcoming roles in the Hindi film Red Collar and the 2025 released Kannada feature film Nimitta Matra. She also received positive reviews for her performance in the film from both critics and audiences.
Early life
Sangeetha Rajeev was born Bangalore to a musical family. Her father S Rajeev was a bank manager, who had to move to Mumbai on an official transfer. She along with her family moved to Mumbai at the age of 6 where she spent most of her childhood. In Mumbai she was trained in Bharatnatyam and Carnatic classical music. She is also trained in Hindustani classical music.Sangeetha did most of her schooling in Mumbai. Sangeetha graduated in information science engineering. She then moved to England to work before returning to India to pursue music.
Career
Sangeetha started her career from Kannada films. She was introduced to this industry by the music composer Dharma Vish. She sang a song in the film Aane Pataaki for which she also won the best playback singer award the same year. She was then introduced to the Tollywood industry by the Kshanam music composer Sricharan Pakala and director Shreeranjani through actor/producer Nagarjuna's home production Annapurna Studios. She started her Telugu film career with the film Rangula Ratnam where she sang the Birthday song and became the voice of Sithara (actress). She has also sung in the Hindi film Simply Ek Love Story.She has also produced and composed many independent singles in the Kannada and Hindi languages, including "Nee Hinga Nodabyada". Her single "Neene Neene" was a collaboration with Sonu Nigam
Influences
One of SaRa's early musical influences was her mother herself, M K Sharadamba, who is a Carnatic classical musician. SaRa is highly influenced by western music and considers the late great Michael Jackson to be her western influences.Discography
As a playback singer
| Year | Song | Film / Album | Composer | Language | Ref. |
| 2013 | "Yentane taragathi" | Aane Pataaki | Dharma Vish | Kannada | |
| 2013 | "Thinbedakami 2" | Lucia | Poornachandra Tejaswi | Kannada | |
| 2014 | "Haule Haule" | Simply Ek Love Story | Karthik Vijay | Hindi | |
| 2015 | "Ali Baba" | Rebel | Jassie Gift | Kannada | |
| 2015 | "Namma ee aata" | Aadhya | Jeevan Reddy | Kannada | |
| 2016 | "Bijili Krishna" | I Dash You | Adil Nadaf | Kannada | |
| 2016 | "Hero cylce nalli nanu" | Bhujanga | Poornachandra Tejaswi (composer) | Kannada | |
| 2016 | "Khushi" | Looty | Dharma Vish | Tulu | |
| 2017 | "Dhool Yebbussro" | Raj Vishnu | Arjun Janya | Kannada | |
| 2018 | "Birthday" | Rangula Ratnam | Sricharan Pakala | Telugu | |
| 2018 | "Namde Lifu" | Edakallu Guddada Mele | Ashic Arun | Kannada | |
| 2019 | "Rum Rum Rurum " | Mataash | S.D. Aravinda | Kannada | |
| 2019 | "Heartalli" | Chanaksha | Abhimann Roy | Kannada | |
| 2019 | "Nadu Naachide" | Naguva Nayana | Karthik Pai | Kannada | |
| 2019 | "Payanava" | Premier Padmini | Arjun Janya | Kannada | |
| 2019 | "Taasha" | Kushka | Abhilash Gupta | Kannada | |
| 2019 | "Shaane Top Agavne" | Sinnga | Dharma Vish | Kannada | |
| 2019 | "Mussanje-EDM" | Paaravvana Kanasu | Tharun Symonds | Kannada | |
| 2020 | "Moodanada Surya" | Gule | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada | |
| 2020 | "Oora Bittu" | Gule | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada | |
| 2021 | "I Love You" Feat Puneeth Rajkumar | Namma Hudugaru | Abhimann Roy | Kannada | |
| 2021 | "Late Late" | Puncture | Manasa Holla | Kannada | |
| 2022 | "Coka 2.0" | Liger | Jaani, Lijo George-DJ Chetas | Kannada | |
| 2023 | "Yaaro Yaaro" | Yadha Yadha Hi | Sricharan Pakala | - | |
| 2025 | "Jawari Swag" | Nimitta Matra | Sangeetha Rajeev | - | |
| 2025 | "Mouna" | Nimitta Matra | Sangeetha Rajeev | - |
Independent Music
| Year | Work | Composer | Language |
| 2013 | "Sarvasva" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2016 | "Chan Se Udi" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Hindi |
| 2017 | "Kare" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2018 | "Tu Hi" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Hindi |
| 2018 | "Ee Sala Cup Namde " | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2018 | "Zindagi" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Hindi |
| 2018 | "Nan E Life" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2019 | "Hai Salaam" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Hindi |
| 2020 | "YML" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2020 | "Thank You Maa" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2020 | "Wedlock Down" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2020 | "Nee Hinga Nodabyada" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2020 | "Neene Neene" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2020 | "Tuhi Tuhi" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Hindi |
| 2020 | "Ena Maadali" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2021 | "Noda Noda" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2021 | "Appa" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2021 | "Nee Hinga Nodabyada 2" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2021 | "Nannatta Soodamaku" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Telugu |
| 2021 | "Nannatta Soodamaku 2" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Telugu |
| 2021 | "Naa Muttidella Chinna" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2022 | "Lovvu Lovvu" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2022 | "Naa Raju" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Telugu |
| 2022 | "Nan Raja" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2022 | "Neene Illade" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2022 | "Tanha" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Hindi |
| 2023 | "Aigiri Nandini" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2023 | "Innu Yaaka Baralilla" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Kannada |
| 2023 | "Rise" | Sangeetha Rajeev | Punjabi |
| 2025 | "Rudra " | Sangeetha Rajeev | Sanskrit |
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| Year | Song | Film | Language |
| 2020 | Oora Bittu | Gule | Kannada |
| 2020 | Moodanada Surya | Gule | Kannada |
| 2025 | Jawari Swag | Nimitta Matra | Kannada |
| 2025 | Mouna | Nimitta Matra | Kannada |
| 2025 | Mouna Sad Reprise | Nimitta Matra | Kannada |
| 2025 | Jo Jo | Nimitta Matra | Kannada |
Filmography
| Year | Film | Language | Ref. |
| 2024 | Red Collar | Hindi | |
| 2025 | Nimitta Matra | Kannada |