MK Balaji
MK Balaji is an Indian playback singer, song writer and a television host from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. As a playback singer he has sung more than 100 songs in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. His first song a lyricist was for the movie Sethupathi. He has hosted popular TV shows in Star Vijay and Zee Tamil
MK Balaji | |
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Genres | Playback singing, Indi-pop |
Occupation(s) | Singer, lyricist, television presenter, performer |
Biography
MK Balaji is the voice behind many South Indian film songs including "Rettai Kathire" from the Tamil movie Maattrraan directed by K. V. Anand starring Surya Sivakumar. He has delivered many successful songs in Tamil and Telugu. He started his career as a playback singer for the Tamil film Pandhayam, directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar. He went on to sing hits like "Sexy Lady" from Ninaithale Inikkum in the music of Vijay Antony, "Vellaikari Nee" for the film Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam in the music of G. V. Prakash Kumar, "Enge Poveno" for the film Angadi Theru directed by Vasanthabalan, and "Hey Mama" from Sethupathi. His first breakthrough in Telugu was "Dailamo Dailamo" for the movie Mahatma directed by Krishna Vamsi.
He has also collaborated with music directors like D Imman, Karthik Raja, Sundar C babu, Taj Noor, James Vasanthan, Sirpy, Sabesh Murali and Srikanth Deva.
Live shows and tours
MK Balaji, a prominent stage performer has performed for over 300 shows including award functions, television shows, college pro shows and corporate events. He was one of the very few South Indian singers to perform for the Indian Premier League edition 1 and 3. His unplugged performance in the Isai Aruvi awards garnered him special praise from the actor Vijay. His multilingual performance in the finale of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee Tamil was appreciated by legendary singer P.B .Srinivas. His tours overseas include shows in Paris, Japan, Dubai, Kuwait, Seychelles, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka to name a few. He has also toured with music directors Harris Jayaraj and Vijay Antony on their music shows.
TV host
As a television host he has hosted television shows like Paadum Office on STAR Vijay, a Tamil version of the popular Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee Tamil and many other shows.
Early music
He started his singing career with reality shows on television. His band V3, of which he was the lead singer, presented a sound track in the Oohlalala album which consists of original compositions by the winners of the show Oohlalala aired on the Tamil channel Sun TV. It was judged by the Oscar winner AR Rahman. His band was judged the winning band and he eventually got the breakthrough as a playback singer.
Discography
Below is the partial discography of the songs sung by MK Balaji.
Song title | Film/album | Music director | co singers |
---|---|---|---|
Hey Mama | Sethupathi | Nivas K. Prasanna | Anirudh Ravichandar |
Rettai Kathirae | Maattrraan | Harris Jayaraj | Krish |
Oru Oorla Rendu Raja | Oru Oorla Rendu Raja | D. Imman | Anthony Daasan |
Sara Sara Saravedi | Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal | Harris Jayaraj | KK , Srilekha |
Kadal Naan Thaan | Endrendrum Punnagai | Harris Jayaraj | Andreah Jerimiah , Bombay Jayashree |
Vellaikari | Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam | G. V. Prakash Kumar | NSK Ramya |
Enge poveno | Angadi Theru | Vijay Antony | Benny Dayal |
Dhool Tucker | Dhool Tucker Single | L.V Ganesan | feat Prabhu Deva |
Unnai Enni | Aayirathil Iruvar | Bharathwaj | |
Sexy Lady | Ninaithale Inikkum | Vijay Antony | NSK Ramya , Maya |
Suda Sudathan | Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA | James Vasanthan | |
Poi Poi | Adhibar | "Vikram Selva" | "Gaana Bala" |
Eecham pazham | Puriyadha Anandham Pudhidhaga Arambam" | A. R. Reihana | A. R. Reihana |
Un Tholil | Sonna Puriyathu | Yateesh Mahadev | |
Ayyao Poche | Sonna Puriyathu | Yateesh Mahadev | |
Thulle Rani | Super Cowboy(Telugu) | G. V. Prakash Kumar | NSK Ramya |
Dilamo Dilamo | Mahatma (Telugu) | Vijay Antony | Sangeetha |
Siru Siru | Markandeyan | Sundar C Babu | Swetha Mohan |
Tuneega Tuneega | Tuneega Tuneega | Karthik Raja | |
Ready Ready | Shiva poojayil Karadi | Sundar C Babu | Suchithra |
Indha kadhal | Kanagavel Kakka | Vijay Antony | Divya Vijay |
Sirisiri Viri | Mark | Sundar C Babu | Chinmayee |
O Rabbaya | Manchivadu | Sirpy | Anitha |
Thavaniyellam | Milaga | Sabesh Murali | |
Marudhani poo | Vamsam | Taj Noor | Chinmayee |
Pallanguzhi | Bayam Ariyan | P.C.Shivan | Rita |
Dhara Dhiri | Bayam Ariyan | P.C.Shivan | Vijaynarain, PC sivan |
Pudhusa Pudhusa | Madurai to theni | Xavi | |
Oru Kinnathai | Indira Vizha | Yateesh Madhav | |
Surangani | Pandhayam | Vijay Antony | Megha, Maya |
Rasikkum Seemane | Rasikkum Seemane | Vijay Antony | Sangeetha |
Mittai Penne | Mittai | Sabesh Murali | |
Penillame | Pugaippadam | Gangai Amaran | Krish |
Un Kangal | Pandi | Srikanth Deva | Karthik |
Edhuvum Seivom | Oohlalala Album | "V3" | |
"Ramaiya Osthavaiya" | Kadhal Solla Aasai | M. M. Srilekha | Velmurugan, Senthil Das, Krishnamurthy |
- As lyricist
Song title | Film/album | Music director |
---|---|---|
"Hawa hawa" | Sethupathi | "Nivas K. Prasanna" |
- As TV Host
TV Show | for TV Channel |
---|---|
Paadum Office | Star Vijay |
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa | Zee Tamil |
References
- MK Balaji on IMDb
- MK Balaji's official YouTube channel
- MK Balaji on his Musical Journey in IndiaGlitz
- Singer MK Balaji Exclusive Interview for IndiaInteracts
- MK Balaji back in business – Times of India
- Dr.PB Srinivas on MK Balaji
- MK Balaji's Songs in Raaga
- Silence is a source of power – MK Balaji
- MK Balaji – on twitter
- MK Balaji – on Facebook
- MK Balaji – on Instagram