Hamsika Iyer is an India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n singer based in Mumbai

Mumbai

Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...

—born in Pune

Pune

Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...

 and brought up in Mumbai

Mumbai

Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...

. She studied at the SIES college of Arts and Science in Sion

Sion, India

Sion is a suburb of Mumbai. The Marathi name for Sion is शीव , which means boundary or limit. In the 17th century the village formed the boundary between Mumbai and Salsette Island.- History :...

. She is a regular voice with ad world jingles, Marathi

Marathi language

Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...

 tele-serials, and has sung songs in Tamil

Tamil language

Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...

 and Hindi

Hindi

Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...

 movies.

Biography

Hamsika received her initial training in music from her father - Shri. S Balachander, a Carnatic music

Carnatic music

Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...

ian and musicologist based in Mumbai. In the year 1995, Zee TV

Zee TV

Zee TV is an India-based satellite television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, which broadcasts various programmes in Hindi and other regional languages of India. Broadcasting is also present in various nations of South Asia, Europe, the Middle East,...

 launched the hugely successful Indian film based music show named “Close Up Antakshari” hosted by Annu Kapoor

Annu Kapoor

Annu Kapoor is an Indian film actor and television presenter, best remembered for hosting the singing reality show Antakshari.-Career:Annu Kapoor made his debut in the film Mandi directed by Shyam Benegal in 1979. His career has spanned nearly 31 years including a distinctive presence in...

 and followed it up with an equally popular music talent show named “Sa Re Ga Ma

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa

From 1999 till 2001, the show was hosted by the brothers Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan.After that, Shaan started hosting the show. Later, the name "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa" became known as the "brand name" of the series and completely changed the concept of the show to include public interaction through...

” television show hosted by Sonu Nigam

Sonu Nigam

Sonu Nigam is an Indian playback singer whose songs have been featured in numerous Hindi movies, as well as films in Assamese, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi and Kannada language. He has also released numerous Indi-pop albums and acted in a few Hindi feature films...

 then. Hamsika participated in both the shows and was the finalist on Sa Re Ga Ma. She was also invited to participate in the 100th episode of Sa Re Ga Ma.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Eklavya in early 2007 came as a big break and her song 'Chanda Re' popularly known as 'The Moon Song' went on to become a chart buster that year; appreciated by critics and laymen alike.

She is currently settled at Goregaon, a Mumbai suburb.

Discography

• Chammak Challo
  Chammak Challo
  Chammak Challo is a song composed by musical director duo Vishal-Shekhar as a part of the soundtrack for the 2011 Bollywood film Ra.One. The song, along with the rest of the soundtrack, was officially released on September 12, 2011. However, the song faced controversy when the rough version was...
  
   - Ra.One
  Ra.One
  Ra.One is a 2011 Indian science fiction superhero film written and directed by Anubhav Sinha. The film features Shahrukh Khan in dual roles, and also stars Kareena Kapoor, Armaan Verma and Arjun Rampal in the lead...
  
   (2011) with Akon
  Akon
  Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
  
  
• Jay Jagadish - Ganaraj Adhiraj (2011) with Salim Merchant
  Salim-Sulaiman
  Salim Merchant And Sulaiman Merchant are a musical duo of brothers, born and brought up in Bhuj, Kutch, India. They belong to Ismaili Muslim family and are inspired by their father Sadruddin Merchant, who used to lead Ismaili Scouts Orchestra in India..Steeped in a family tradition of music as the...
  
   and Gulraj Singh
• Jhoola Jhool - Stanley Ka Dabba (2011)
• Athadilo Edo - Kudirithe Cup Coffee
  Kudirithe Cup Coffee
  Kudirithe Cup Coffee is a 2011 Telugu film directed by Ramana Salva who has worked as a cinematographer for the movie Village Lo Vinayakudu. He makes his debut as a director with this film. The duo Mahi and Shiva who also produced Village Lo Vinayakudu , are jointly producing this movie under the...
  
   (2011) Telugu
• Lalita (vocals) - Spirit and Spice (2010) by George Brooks - Releasing Jul 3, 2010 by Freight & Salvage
• Ishq Barse - Rajneeti (2010) with Pranab Biswas, Swanand Kirkire
  Swanand Kirkire
  Swanand Kirkire is an Indian lyricist, playback singer, writer, also a television serial writer, assistant director, dialogue writer, both in television and Hindi films.Kirkire won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics twice...
  
  
• Ninagende Vishesha - Prithvi
  Prithvi (2010 film)
  Prithvi is an Indian Kannada movie released in 2010 directed by Jacob Vargheese, Produced by NS Rajkumar, starring Puneet Rajkumar, Parvati Menon, Manikanth Kadri is the music director for the movie.The movie is based on the current political scenario in Karnataka.-Plot:Movie Hero Prithvi Kumar is...
  
   (2010) with Kunal Ganjawala
  Kunal Ganjawala
  Kunal Ganjawala is popularly known as Bollywood playback singer. But he also did a very well contribution to Kanada film industry as well. Kunal began his career by singing jingles. He came to limelight with the song 'Bheege Honth Tere' form film Murder in 2004. It was his first biggest hit...
  
  
• Kuchi Kuchi Twist - Quick Gun Murugun (2009) with Vijay Prakash
  Vijay Prakash
  Vijay Prakash , is a playback singer from Mysore who moved to Mumbai in 1996. He has sung in Hindi films such as Blue, Yuvvraaj, Swades, Kaal, Lakshya, Matrubhoomi, Tere Naam, Cheeni Kum, Raavan and Force. He has also performed in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam movies...
  
  
• Jheeni Jheeni - Phir Kabhi
  Phir Kabhi
  Phir Kabhi is a Hindi matured love story, which got released in 2009 through DTH. The film stars Mithun Chakraborty and Dimple Kapadia in lead roles.- Synopsis :Phir Kabhi targets the heart of its audience. It is all about emotions...
  
   (2009) with Bhupinder Singh
  Bhupinder Singh (musician)
  Bhupinder Singh is an Indian musician, chiefly a Ghazal singer and Bollywood playback singer.-Early life:Born in Patiala, Punjab to Prof Nattha Singh , a trained vocalist and his early music teacher. He was one of the 7 brothers and sisters...
  
  
• Urrat Dhadhdhad - Sunder Mazhe Ghar (2009) (Marathi Movie)
• Kadhaigal Pesum - Angaadi Theru
  Angaadi Theru
  -Further reading:* Christopher, Michael & Helen Staufer . “Urban. Village. Urban-Village. Angaditheru and its mofussil department store society in Chennai”, in: manycinemas 1, 24-37, ,...
  
   (2009) with Benny Dayal
  Benny Dayal
  Benny Dayal is an Indian singer. He is a member of the band S5 launched by the channel SS Music. Originally from Kerala, he has worked as a playback singer with many noted composers to produce successful soundtracks.-Biography:Benny Dayal's parents hail from Kollam district, Kerala...
  
  
• Chaal Apni - Sikandar
  Sikandar (2009 film)
  .Sikandar is a Hindi film. The film, which features Parzan Dastur in the lead role with R. Madhavan, Sanjay Suri, Ayesha Kapoor in pivotal roles amongst others is written and directed by Piyush Jha and produced by Sudhir Mishra. The film has terrorism in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir as its...
  
   (2009) with Rishikesh Kamerkar
• Fallen- 3 Cities (2008) with Bombay Dub Orchestra
• Bagundey Bagundey - Chintakayala Ravi
  Chintakayala Ravi
  Chintakayala Ravi is a 2008 romantic comedy Telugu Cinema starring Venkatesh, Mamta Mohandas and Anushka Shetty.-Plot:Chintakayala Ravi works in a bar named Cyber Wave in New York. He is a head waiter; he works with his three friends who also are waiters at the same bar...
  
   (2008) with Vijay Prakash
  Vijay Prakash
  Vijay Prakash , is a playback singer from Mysore who moved to Mumbai in 1996. He has sung in Hindi films such as Blue, Yuvvraaj, Swades, Kaal, Lakshya, Matrubhoomi, Tere Naam, Cheeni Kum, Raavan and Force. He has also performed in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam movies...
  
  
• Khushboo Sa - Khoya Khoya Chand
  Khoya Khoya Chand
  Khoya Khoya Chand, is a Bollywood film directed by Sudhir Mishra which released on 7 December 2007. The film stars Shiney Ahuja and Soha Ali Khan in the lead roles with Rajat Kapoor, Sushmita Mukherjee, Sonya Jehan and Vinay Pathak in important roles...
  
   (2007)
• Raaz ki ek baat - Its Breaking News (2007) with Bhushan Marathe, Clinton
• Haqeeqat ne aisa pakda girebaan - Its Breaking News (2007)
• Loins of Punjab Presents
  Loins of Punjab Presents
  Loins of Punjab Presents is a 2007 Indian film directed by Manish Acharya. It stars Shabana Azmi, Ayesha Dharker and Ajay Naidu. The film marked Manish Acharya's first feature film as a director.-Cast:*Shabana Azmi .... Rrita Kapoor...
  
   (2007)
• Maa tere haath, Jaane kyun aisa lagta hai - Meri Awaz Ko Mil Gayi Roshni
  Meri Awaz Ko Mil Gayi Roshni
  Meri Awaz Ko Mil Gayi Roshni is a Hindi language Indian soap opera that aired on STAR Plus. It was first aired at 9:00PM IST. But later it was moved to the 8:00PM IST time slot...
  
   (2007)
• Chanda re [The moon song] - Eklavya: The Royal Guard
  Eklavya: The Royal Guard
  Eklavya: The Royal Guard is a Bollywood film directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra which was released in India, the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom on 16 February 2007....
  
   (2007)
• The love theme - Eklavya: The Royal Guard
  Eklavya: The Royal Guard
  Eklavya: The Royal Guard is a Bollywood film directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra which was released in India, the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom on 16 February 2007....
  
   (2007)
• Mugurtha neram - Mercury Pookal (2006) with Kunal Ganjawala
  Kunal Ganjawala
  Kunal Ganjawala is popularly known as Bollywood playback singer. But he also did a very well contribution to Kanada film industry as well. Kunal began his career by singing jingles. He came to limelight with the song 'Bheege Honth Tere' form film Murder in 2004. It was his first biggest hit...
  
  
• Kal - Yesterday And Tomorrow (2005)
• Saawalith Majhya - Not Only Mrs. Raut (2003)
• Jheel jaisi teri aankhen - Jajantaram Mamantaram (2003) with Narayan Parasuram
• Pyaar se dekh le - Calcutta Mail
  Calcutta Mail
  Calcutta Mail is a 2003 Bollywood film starring Anil Kapoor and Rani Mukerji. It was directed by Sudhir Mishra.- Plot :Avinash comes to Calcutta to search for his only son and finds himself engulfed with too many people interested in him...
  
   (2003) with Sonu Nigam
  Sonu Nigam
  Sonu Nigam is an Indian playback singer whose songs have been featured in numerous Hindi movies, as well as films in Assamese, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi and Kannada language. He has also released numerous Indi-pop albums and acted in a few Hindi feature films...
  
  

She has also sung songs with the band - 3 Brothers & a Violin for Karadi Tales audio book series for kids.

Concerts

Amrutacha Vasa - June 25, 2008

Venue: Yeshwant Natya Mandir, Matunga, Mumbai

• In the program, rare Marathi poem's were set to tune by Kaushal Inamdar
  Kaushal Inamdar
  Kaushal S. Inamdar is an Indian singer and music composer in Marathi and Hindi movies. His work in music spans from composing music for films, television, drama to events, concerts in Hindi and Marathi, composing music for ballets, advertisements, and also albums...
  
  

Performers and mentors included - Pt. Satyasheel Deshpande

Satyasheel Deshpande

Pandit Satyasheel Deshpande is an Indian musician who specializes in singing khyal. He is a prominent disciple of Pt. Kumar Gandharva and the son of musicologist Vamanrao Deshpande.-Early life:...

, Shri Shankar Vaidya, Kaushal Inamdar, Kamlesh Bhadkamkar, Anagha Dhomse, Hamsika Iyer , Manish Kulkarni, Shrirang Bhave, Sanjeev Chimmalgi

Sanjeev Chimmalgi

Sanjeev Chimmalgi is a Indian Hindustani vocalist. He is a disciple of the master composer, musician and revered guru, Pandit C. R. Vyas. His music reflects the voice culture of Kirana gharana as well as the bandish oriented singing of the Gwalior gharana/ Agra gharana.-Early life:Sanjeev...

, Arun Mhatre, Sagar Sathe, Jaanvee Arora, Sachit Patil, Sumeet Raghavan, Amol Bavadekar, Adesh Bandekar, Omkar Dadarkar, Ajit Parab, Parikshit Bhatkhande, Tushar Deval

Rain Raga - July 26, 2008

Venue: Ishanya Mall Amphitheater, off Airport Road, Pune

• A rare combination of nature and melody: The two-hour performance comprises about–8-9 compositions reflecting current global music trends though more broadly based on Indian music patterns.

Performers included - Louiz Banks - keyboards & track arrangements, George Brooks - saxophone, Rupak Kulkarni - flute, Gino Banks - percussion, Sheldon D'silva - bass guitar, Ravindra Chari - sitar, Vinayak Netke - tabla, Rafiq Bhai - sarangi, Sanjeev Chimmalgi

Sanjeev Chimmalgi

Sanjeev Chimmalgi is a Indian Hindustani vocalist. He is a disciple of the master composer, musician and revered guru, Pandit C. R. Vyas. His music reflects the voice culture of Kirana gharana as well as the bandish oriented singing of the Gwalior gharana/ Agra gharana.-Early life:Sanjeev...

 - vocal, Hamsika Iyer - vocal, music composer - Kaushal Inamdar

Kaushal Inamdar

Kaushal S. Inamdar is an Indian singer and music composer in Marathi and Hindi movies. His work in music spans from composing music for films, television, drama to events, concerts in Hindi and Marathi, composing music for ballets, advertisements, and also albums...

News and interviews

Television

• New voice on Bollywood block

IBNLive - A Network18 Venture - Video - February 9, 2008

IBNLive - A Network18 Venture - Text - February 9, 2008

• New voices on the block

Times Now - Text - January 16, 2008

Newspapers

• Debut

Indian Express - December 23, 2007

• Ensemble cast

Indian Express - November 13, 2007

Radio

• Radio Surabhi wins best signature tune at Radio Duniya Awards 2008

World Space (India)

WorldSpace

1worldspace, formerly known as 'WorldSpace', is a currently defunct satellite radio network that provided service to over 170,000 subscribers in eastern and southern Africa, the Middle East, and much of Asia with 96% coming from India...

 Satellite Radio - Surabhi - February 13, 2008

• In 2006, Hamsika was interviewed on Radio Mirchi
  Radio Mirchi
  Radio Mirchi is a nationwide network of private FM radio stations in India. It is owned by the Entertainment Network India Ltd , which is one of the subsidiaries of The Times Group....
  
  - Mumbai

Indian magazines

• Media-shy HAMSIKA speaks

Woman's Era - Feb (First) 2007 - Pages: 127, 128

• Notes of PROMISE: Young and fresh voices are fast taking over the Bollywood music industry

Routes: The Gateway magazine - April 2007 (Vol VII, Issue 6) - Pages 19–23

External links

• Bandar bindaas Bandar at Karadi Tales website
• Eklavya audio review at Music India Online
• Calcutta mail audio review at Planet Bollywood
• Advertisements, Jingles, Concerts, etc.YouTube Playlist