Shashaa Tirupati

Shashaa Tirupati
Shashaa Tirupati in March 2017
Born	(1987-12-21) 21 December 1987 Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India [1]
Residence	Mumbai, India
Nationality	Canadian
Other names	Sasha, Reecha, Shashaa Kiran Tirupati
Occupation	Singer, Songwriter, Performer, Voice-Over Artist, Humanitarian
Years active	1997 - present
Known for	The Humma Song (OK Jaanu), Phir Bhi Tumko Chaahunga, Baarish (Half Girlfriend), O Sona, Chal Kahin Door (MOM)[2], TEDx Talks (Vancouver) with AR Rahman, Mani Ratnam's OK Kanmani, Kaatru Veliyidai, Coke Studio (S3), MTV Unplugged (S6), Mirchi Jubilee Award, Mirchi Music Award Recipient
Website	www.facebook.com/sashasmusic

Shashaa Tirupati is a playback singer, songwriter and voice over artist of Indo-Canadian origin, with family roots in Kashmir, predominantly active in the Bollywood and South Indian music industries.^[3] She is the voice behind Bollywood hits such as: "The Humma Song" (OK Jaanu),^[4], "Phir Bhi Tumko Chahunga" (with Arijit Singh) (Half Girlfriend), "Baarish" (Half Girlfriend),^[5], "Kanha"^[6] (Shubh Mangal Saavdhan), "O Sona Tere Liye" (with A.R. Rahman) and "Chal Kahin Door", both from the Sridevi starrer MOM.^[7] The Humma Song is one of the highest ranking songs of 2016 on YouTube and on the Radio. As of July 2017, it has 209 million views on YouTube.

She is the recipient of the Mirchi Jubilee Awards 2017 Platinum and Gold Discs, the Mirchi Music Award 2015 for Best Upcoming Female Singer for the song "Aye Mr. Minor" composed by A.R. Rahman and Vikatan Awards 2015 for Best Upcoming Female Singer for the song "Naane Varugiren" also composed by A.R. Rahman.

She has toured extensively with A.R Rahman around the world (Infinite Love Tour, Rahmanishq Tour, T 20 Opening Concert, Greatest Hits Concert at the O2, Vadodara Festival, NH7 Weekender, TEDx Talks).^[8] She was also part of his Coke Studio Episode (Season 3) and has sung more than 30 songs (including languages) for him. She was also a part of MTV Unplugged Season 4 alongside Hindi music director Mithoon.^[9]

Shashaa has sung in various languages, such as Hindi, Telugu, Punjabi, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Konkani, Arabic and English numbers.^[10][11] Apart from singing, she also plays the Kazoo (African instrument), western classical guitar, keyboards and harmonium.^[12]

Early life and education

Tirupati was born in Srinagar, India and split her time between Canada and India while growing up.^[13]Tirupati began singing on local radio channels in Vancouver at the age of six, gave her first stage performance at eight, and began studying Hindustani Classical music at ten. She received most of her initial musical training from the Late Mrs. Kamala Bose in Allahabad. She further trained under 'Padmashri' and 'Padmabhushan' Girija Devi of the Benaras Gharana. Tirupati was the first RedFM Idol, a talent hunt held by one of Vancouver's leading radio channels, REDFM 93.1 in 2005. She went on to judge the competition in July 2016.

She attended LA Matheson Secondary School in Surrey, BC, Canada. She graduated in 2005, earning a Gordon M. Shrum Major Entrance Scholarship for Undergraduate Studies at Simon Fraser University, the Matheson Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, The Surrey Administrator's Scholarship, The UBC President's Entrance Scholarship, and the Governor General's Medallion for the topmost achiever of the graduation class of 2005 in the province.^[14] She is an MBA in marketing and is pursuing her second Masters from the Symbiosis College, Pune.

Career

While pursuing her undergraduate studies, Tirupati continued to perform at festivals and her solo concerts, and later left school to pursue a career in Bollywood playback singing in Mumbai, India.

Tirupati was noticed by Rahman during Coke Studio Season 3, shortly after which she sang a solo for Rahman, "Vaada Vaada" from the Rajnikanth, Deepika Padukone starrer, 'Kochadaiiyaan'.^[15] It is, however, with her second song, "Aye Mr. Minor" from Rahman's musical, 'Kaaviyathalaivan', that she gained immediate recognition in the Tamil music industry, followed by songs like "Naane Varugiren", "Vaan", "Silikku Marame", "Oday Oday", "Kaara Aatakaara", "Un Kadhal Irundhaal", "Thaen Kaatru" and the recent "Kaadhalaada" for Anirudh Ravichander to her credit.^[16]

She was featured in three tracks in the 2015 Mani Ratnam - A. R. Rahman film OK Kanmani,:^[17] 'Kaara Attaakaara', 'Parandhu Sella Vaa', and 'Naane Varugiren' (corresponding three in the Telugu version "OK Bangaram" as well) starring Nithya Menen and Dulquer Salmaan. She rendered backing vocals in "Laadli" in A. R. Rahman's album RAUNAQ, alongside Rahman himself and Lata Mangeshkar as well as in internationally acclaimed Iranian Film Director, Majid Majidi's film "Mohammed".

Tirupati recently performed at the BRICS SUMMIT held in Goa with Clinton Cerejo.

Jingles/ voice-overs

Filmography

Covers

Film awards

Awards

References

External links

• Shashaa Tirupati on Facebook
• Shashaa Tirupati on Twitter
• Shashaa Tirupati on YouTube