Vijay Prakash


Vijay Prakash is an Indian playback singer and music director from Karnataka. He has given his voice for predominantly Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu language films, in addition to Hindi, Malayalam and Marathi language films. He has also performed shows with Zakir Hussain. Prakash won the Karnataka Government's 'Best Playback Singer' award for the year 2016 for the song "Nammooralli Chaligaladalli" from the film Beautiful Manasugalu.
He is also one of four artists credited for the song "Jai Ho", which won the 2008 Academy Award for Best Original Song. Specifically, he sang the portion with the words "Jai Ho" that takes an extended high pitch at numerous junctures of the song. The song also won a Grammy Award in the category "Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media." He has also won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Artist – Kannada twice for the songs "Gatiya Ilidu" from the Kannada film Ulidavaru Kandanthe and "Belageddu" from Kirik Party.. He is one of the judges for the Kannada and Tamil reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee Kannada and Zee Tamil and the famous Telugu reality show Padutha Theeyaga on ETV, which was synonymous for previously being hosted by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam before his death in 2020.

Early life and education

Vijay Prakash was born in Mysore, India, to Carnatic music artists Lopamudra and Late L. Ramasesha, and is himself trained in Carnatic music. He was trained carnatic classic music by Bellary.M.Raghavendra

Career

After moving to Mumbai in 1996, he became a student of Suresh Wadkar. Prakash was a participant in the program Sa Re Ga Ma on Zee TV, hosted by Sonu Nigam. He made it to the mega-finals in 1999. Later he compered Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee Kannada. He got his first break in Hindi cinema with the film Baaz in 2002, and his first song for A. R. Rahman was in Ashutosh Gowariker's Swades, followed by the same composer's Tamil title track for the movie New. His song "Kavite" in Kannada movie Gaalipata too became famous.
He has done backing vocals for about 25 foreign films, including the film Couples Retreat, with music by A. R. Rahmaan. He has recorded for ads like "Kabhi chatpataa" for Knorr Soups and "Na sar jhuka hain kabhi" for HDFC Life Insurance. In 2008 he sang the "Condom a capella" ringtone composed by Rupert Fernandes and produced by the BBC World Service Trust for an Indian safe sex campaign. In 2009, his song, "Jai Ho", won the 2008 Academy Award for Best Original Song.
He was one of the Judges in Confident Star Singer 2, which aired on Asianet Suvarna in 2009.
He has sung "Om Sivoham", a Sanskrit song penned by Vaali and composed by Ilaiyaraaja which was the main theme song of 2009 Tamil film Naan Kadavul.
In 2010, he became a regular artist under composer A. R. Rahman, as he performed several of his numbers such as "Hosanna", "Beera Beera, Veera Veera ", "Powerstar" and "Kadhal Anukkal".
Prakash has debuted as a music composer for the 2013 Kannada film Andar Bahar starring Shivrajkumar.
He also won the Vijay Music Awards for the Best Male Playback for the song "Hosanna" from Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa.
In 2013, he appeared as one of the artists in Coke Studio @ MTV.
In 2013, his song 'Khaali, written by lyricist Yograj Bhat, went viral on social media. The song 'Hoge' that he has sung for the film 'Nam Life Story' in Kannada is also going viral.
In 2018, the song 'Bombe Helutaite' from the film Raajakumara inspired by the song 'Aadisi nodu bilisi nodu' from the film Kasturi Nivasa became one of the industry evergreen songs. It was written by Santhosh Ananddram.
In 2021, the duo created another magical
song dedicated to the student-teacher relationship named 'Paatashala' in the film Yuvarathnaa .
Prakash was also the brand ambassador of Nissan Evalia 'moves like music' campaign, which featured six young prominent artists of India.
He is one of the very few Indian musicians who have had the honour of performing at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA.

Discography

Telugu films

YearFilmSong nameComposer
2006Shiva "Ye Oohalono Telaanemo"Ilaiyaraaja
2006Shiva "Adaganide Cheppedi Ela"Ilaiyaraaja
2006Shiva "Pourusham Swasaga"Ilaiyaraaja
2008Chintakayala Ravi"Bagunde Bagunde"Vishal–Shekhar
2009Blue "Chintela Makunedu Sardaga Chivinchemu"A. R. Rahman
2009Blue "Blue "A. R. Rahman
2010Ye Maaya Chesave"Ee Hrudayam"A. R. Rahman
2010Komaram Puli"Power Star"A. R. Rahman
2010Robo "Neelo Valupu"A. R. Rahman
2010Orange"Hello Rammante"Harris Jayaraj
2011Gaganam"Gaganam"Pravin Mani
2011Rangam "Aga Naga"Harris Jayaraj
2011Vaadu Veedu "Brathukuna Tholisar"Yuvan Shankar Raja
2011Prema Kavali"Chirunavve Visirave"Anoop Rubens
2011Prema Kavali"Nuvve Nuvve"Anoop Rubens
2011Prema Kavali"Chirunavve Visirave"Anoop Rubens
2011Prema Kavali"Manasantha Mukkalu Chesi"Anoop Rubens
20117th Sense "Yellae Lama"Harris Jayaraj
2011Oosaravelli"Niharika Niharika"Devi Sri Prasad
2012Endhukante PremantaChill OutG. V. Prakash Kumar
2012EegaKonchemu KonchemuM. M. Keeravani
2012Snehitudu Aska LaskaHarris Jayaraj
2012Snehitudu Ileana Chitti BellianaHarris Jayaraj
2012Mr.7Love Lo MiracleMunna Kasi
2012NaayakOka ChupuloS. S. Thaman
2012Brothers Rani NanniHarris Jayaraj
2012RebelOrinayanoRaghava Lawrence
2013MirchiIdhedo BagundeDevi Sri Prasad
2013Priyathama Neevachata KusalamaPreeti PreetiSai Karthik
2013Attarintiki DarediAaradagula BulletuDevi Sri Prasad
2013Raja Rani Oday OdayG. V. Prakash Kumar
2014Autonagar SuryaTime Entha RaaAnoop Rubens
2014LoukyamNinnu ChudaganeAnoop Rubens
2015S/O SatyamurthyCome to the PartyDevi Sri Prasad
2015LionAkasamMani Sharma
2015KancheBhaga BhagamaniChirantan Bhatt
2015KancheRaa MundadugeddamChirantan Bhatt
2015Bengal TigerChupulathoBheems Cecireleo
2016Sardaar Gabbar Singh"O Pilla Shubanalla"Devi Sri Prasad
2016Janatha Garage"Jayaho Janatha"Devi Sri Prasad
2017Gautamiputra SatakarniSaaho saarvabouma saahoChirantan Bhatt
2017Gautamiputra SatakarniSinghamu paiChirantan Bhatt
2017Aaradugula Bullet"Boost Pilla"Mani Sharma
2017Duvvada JagannathamBhaje BhajeDevi Sri Prasad
2018Kirrak Party"Guruvaram"B. Ajaneesh Loknath
2018Idi Naa Love Story"Aa Dhevude"Srinath Vijay
2018K.G.F: Chapter 1 Salaam Rocky BhaiRavi Basrur
2019Maharshi"Idhe Kadha Nee Katha"Devi Sri Prasad
2019Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy"Andam Ankitam"Amit Trivedi
2021Naandhi"Idhe Naandhi"Sricharan Pakala
2021RRR"Raamam Raaghavam"M. M. Keeravani
2022Shekar"Love Gante"Anup Rubens
2022Pakka Commercial"Lehanga Lo Lady Donu"Jakes Bejoy
2025Mahavatar Narsimha"Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya"Sam C. S.

Other films

YearMovieLanguageSongComposer
2003Kahan Ho TumHindi"Tum Ho Kis Haal Mein"Rajat Dholakia
2004SwadesHindi"Pal Pal Hai Bhaari"A. R. Rahman
2004Kyun! Ho Gaya Na...Hindi"Pyar Mein Sau Uljhanne Hai"Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy
2004LakshyaHindi"Kandhon Se Milte Hain Kandhe"Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy
2005Kisna: The Warrior PoetHindi"Mantras 1","Mantras 2"A. R. Rahman
2005Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten HeroHindi"Kadam Kadam"A. R. Rahman
2007Cheeni KumHindi"Sooni Sooni"Ilaiyaraaja
2008YuvvraajHindi"Manamohini"A. R. Rahman
2008Slumdog MillionaireHindi"Jai Ho "A. R. Rahman
2009BlueHindi"Fiqrana"A. R. Rahman
2010RaavanHindi"Beera Beera"A. R. Rahman
2012FatsoHindi"Very Sorry"Sagar Desai
2009Quick Gun MurugunHindi/English/Tamil"Kyun Keeda Hai Aapko"Sagar Desai
2011ForceHindi"Dil Ki Hai Tamanna"Harris Jayaraj
2018K.G.F: Chapter 1 Hindi"Salaam Rocky Bhai"Ravi Basrur
2022RRR Hindi"Raamam Raaghavam"M. M. Keeravani
2004Aga Bai Arrecha!Marathi"Prabhatgeet"Ajay–Atul
2016FriendsMarathi"Premika"Pankaj Padhghan
2016NatsamratMarathi"Mituni Lochane"Ajit Parab
2016GuruMarathi"Filmy Filmy"Pankaj Padhghan
2009Couples RetreatEnglish"Salvadore"A. R. Rahman
2009NeelathaamaraMalayalam"Pakalonnu"Vidyasagar
2013August ClubMalayalam"Kaattu theno"Bennet Veetraag
2013KQMalayalam"Idhuvare njan"Stephen Devassy
2013Pattam PoleMalayalam"Kannil kannilonnu nokki"M. Jayachandran
2015CharlieMalayalam"Oru Kari Mukilinu"Gopi Sunder
2018K.G.F: Chapter 1 Malayalam"Salaam Rocky Bhai"Ravi Basrur
2019Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy Malayalam"Neram Aagatham"Amit Trivedi
2022RRR Malayalam"Raamam Raaghavam"M. M. Keeravani
2017Hai Bas ki Kuch Ghalib SeUrduTimes musicYogesh Rairikar
2022Drishyam 2Hindi"Drishyam 2 Title Track"Devi Sri Prasad