# Shakthisree Gopalan
**Shakthisree Gopalan** (Tamil: சக்திஸ்ரீ கோபாலன்) is an Indian vocalist, songwriter, and composer known for playback singing in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) and for her long association with the composer A.R. Rahman. Born in Kochi, Kerala, and raised in a Tamil family, she rose to prominence with "Nenjukulle" from the 2013 film *Kadal* and in 2025 made her debut as a film music director with the Netflix feature *Test*.[1](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/) • [2](https://music.apple.com/ae/artist/shakthisree-gopalan/545914210)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Kochi, Kerala, India; sources give 1988[3](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/vocalist/shakthisree-gopalan) or 1987 |
| Training | 13 years of Carnatic vocal training; Bachelor of Architecture from Anna University's School of Architecture and Planning, Chennai[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5342201/) • [1](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/) |
| Career start | Won SS Music's Voice Hunt (second season) in 2008; film playback debut the same year with "Sorgam Madhuvilae" from *TN 07 AL 4777*[3](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/vocalist/shakthisree-gopalan) • [2](https://music.apple.com/ae/artist/shakthisree-gopalan/545914210) |
| Signature song | "Nenjukulle" from *Kadal* (2013), premiered on MTV Unplugged with A.R. Rahman; won her the Vijay Award (2013) and Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Female Playback Singer (2014)[5](https://www.voxspace.in/2017/01/31/shakthisree-gopalan-talks/) • [2](https://music.apple.com/ae/artist/shakthisree-gopalan/545914210) |
| Output | Over 150 songs in the soundtracks of mainstream feature films across five Indian languages[1](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/) |
| Composing debut | Music director and composer for *Test* (Netflix, April 2025): background score plus a 7-song album[1](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/) |
| Education beyond India | Master's in Songwriting and Production from Berklee College of Music, NYC[1](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/) |
## Early life and training
Gopalan grew up in Kochi, Kerala, where she attended Rajagiri Public School in Kalamassery and trained in Carnatic vocal music for 13 years.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5342201/) • [3](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/vocalist/shakthisree-gopalan) She moved to Chennai for an architecture degree at [Anna University](https://www.edgepedia.org/anna-university)'s School of Architecture and Planning.[3](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/vocalist/shakthisree-gopalan) She has said she wanted to study at [Berklee College of Music](https://www.edgepedia.org/berklee-college-of-music) after school but found it too expensive and unconventional at the time, choosing architecture instead; she eventually completed a year of study there, later describing the experience as broadening her musical horizon.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/studying-at-berklee-has-broadened-my-musical-horizon-shakthisree-gopalan/articleshow/92915650.cms)
## Architecture and the path to A.R. Rahman
While still a student, Gopalan posted original compositions she made with friends on ReverbNation, and her first recording opportunity came from Guruprasad Subramaniam, who was scoring a Kannada film.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5342201/) • [7](https://www.voxspace.in/2017/01/31/shakthisree-gopalan-talks/) After winning SS Music's Voice Hunt in 2008, she sang her first film song, "Sorgam Madhuvilae" with Rahul Nambiar, for A. Lakshmikanthan's thriller *TN 07 AL 4777*.[2](https://music.apple.com/ae/artist/shakthisree-gopalan/545914210) • [3](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/vocalist/shakthisree-gopalan) Her first contribution to an A.R. Rahman soundtrack was as a backing vocalist on "Lattoo" from *Ghajini* (2008).[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5342201/)
Her two careers intersected when Rahman, looking for a young architect to design his music school, was connected to her through Abe Thomas. Gopalan, whose college thesis had involved research into music schools, led the redesign of a former textile warehouse into the KM College of Music and Technology in Arumbakkam, handling the layouts and interiors with Emmy Paul as acoustic consultant.[8](https://amp.scroll.in/reel/895021/scroll_in) According to her account, Rahman heard her demo series, which spanned pop, jazz, and Carnatic songs, and the architectural collaboration grew into a musical one.[8](https://amp.scroll.in/reel/895021/scroll_in) • [2](https://music.apple.com/ae/artist/shakthisree-gopalan/545914210)
## Playback career
**Breakthrough.** "Nenjukulle", from [Mani Ratnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/mani-ratnam)'s *Kadal*, was released through the [MTV Unplugged](https://www.edgepedia.org/mtv-unplugged) premiere in 2012 before the film reached theaters, and became the song with which Gopalan is most identified.[5](https://www.voxspace.in/2017/01/31/shakthisree-gopalan-talks/) It brought her the Vijay Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 2013 and the Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Female Playback Singer in 2014.[2](https://music.apple.com/ae/artist/shakthisree-gopalan/545914210) Her site's discography traces a line from "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" (Hindi, 2012) through "Enga Pona Raasa" from *Maryan* (2013), "Aaraaro" from *24* (2016), "Bhoomi Bhoomi" and "Kalla Kalavaani" from *Chekka Chivantha Vaanam* (2018), and "Aga Naga" and "Akamalar" from *Ponniyin Selvan II* (2023) to "Nenjame Nenjame" from *[Maamannan](https://www.edgepedia.org/maamannan)* (2023).[1](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/)
She has also sung in dubbed and multilingual projects, recording "Circle of Life", composed by [Hans Zimmer](https://www.edgepedia.org/hans-zimmer), in Tamil and Telugu for Disney's 2019 remake of *The Lion King*, and she performs in Malayalam and English as well.[1](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/) • [2](https://music.apple.com/ae/artist/shakthisree-gopalan/545914210) Later awards listed on her site include the Tamil Nadu State Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Yaanji" from *Vikram Vedha* (2017) and SIIMA Best Female Playback Singer awards in 2024 for "Nenjame Nenjame" (Tamil) and "Ammaadi" from *Hi Nanna* (Telugu).[1](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/)
## Independent music and bands
Away from film work, Gopalan is an active independent singer-songwriter. She has fronted two Chennai bands, Off the Record, formed in May 2009 with Vikram Vivekanand, Satish Narayanan, and Tapas Naresh/Vinay Ramakrishnan, and The Pyjama Conspiracy.[3](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/vocalist/shakthisree-gopalan) • [9](https://www.aaemusic.com/artist/shakthisree-gopalan/) • [2](https://music.apple.com/ae/artist/shakthisree-gopalan/545914210) Her original singles include "Voices" (2012), "Shakthi" (2017), "Phir Wahin", and "Nee Podhumey" (2021), the last written during the COVID-19 lockdown about two people telling each other they are loved.[8](https://amp.scroll.in/reel/895021/scroll_in) • [10](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/stories/interviews/2021/Mar/07/shakthisree-gopalani-dont-evaluate-my-songs-based-on-likes-and-views-23178.html) She describes film singing and independent work as different modes: in cinema she is "roleplaying different characters", while her independent songs, blending pop, jazz, trip-hop, and R&B, are "like a diary entry or a time capsule".[11](https://web2-prd.tabla.com.sg/culture/music/welcoming-spaces-natural-shakthisree)
## Composing: Test (2025)
In 2025 Gopalan debuted as a film composer and music director with the Netflix feature *Test*, directed by S. Sashikanth, produced by YNot Studios, and starring Siddharth, R. Madhavan, [Nayanthara](https://www.edgepedia.org/nayanthara), and [Meera Jasmine](https://www.edgepedia.org/meera-jasmine); the soundtrack comprises a background score and a 7-song album.[1](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/) • [12](https://rollingstoneindia.com/test-netflix-soundtrack-shakthisree-gopalan-interview/amp/) Sashikanth, himself an architect and a former guest lecturer at her college, had asked her to score two earlier films before she accepted *Test*. She has said A.R. Rahman encouraged her to take the role, telling her, "Sometimes, you can't wait to feel ready, you just have to do it."[13](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/tamil/2025/Apr/10/shakthisree-gopalan-interview-story-behind-the-sound)
The score deliberately had no temp tracks (temporary reference music used before composing an original score) or references, only the script. "Arena" set the tone, a hip-hop track fused with Indian folk percussion, thavil and mridangam, featuring the Tamil hip-hop artist [Yogi B](https://www.edgepedia.org/yogi-b), the Toronto-based producer Yanchan, and the thavil player Venkatanna; "Lullaby" is soft pop written to give voice to the film's two female leads; "Hope" leans toward alternative electronic.[13](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/tamil/2025/Apr/10/shakthisree-gopalan-interview-story-behind-the-sound) The recordings feature the Budapest Scoring Orchestra alongside collaborators from India and abroad.[1](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/)
## Other projects
**Sound Garden** is an immersive interactive installation she describes as part sound bath, part play space, part meditation, in which "raagas live as constellations" and visitors play with sound, light, and space; she developed it over three years, and a digital-first version for online festivals and hybrid events is planned. It is a SonicVeda project.[14](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/soundgarden/) • [1](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/)
She also runs **Kurinji**, a label and arthouse built with her mother, Radhamani. Its first release was the single "Old Friend", and its first live production was "An Evening with Shakthisree Gopalan", a 40-person listening session in Chennai on 16 July 2026 where the song and its film premiered.[15](https://www.shakthisreegopalan.com/listening-session-jul16/) Her scheduled Singapore show "Nenjukkule - Live in Singapore with Shakthisree Gopalan" at the Capitol Theatre was canceled, with full refunds to ticket holders.[11](https://web2-prd.tabla.com.sg/culture/music/welcoming-spaces-natural-shakthisree)
## References
1. [Shakthisree Gopalan, official website](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/)
2. [Shakthisree Gopalan, Apple Music artist page](https://music.apple.com/ae/artist/shakthisree-gopalan/545914210)
3. [Tamil Vocalist Shakthisree Gopalan Biography, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/vocalist/shakthisree-gopalan)
4. [Shakthisree Gopalan, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5342201/)
5. [VoxTalks With Shakthisree Gopalan, VoxSpace (2017)](https://www.voxspace.in/2017/01/31/shakthisree-gopalan-talks/)
6. [Studying at Berklee has broadened my musical horizon, Times of India (2022)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/studying-at-berklee-has-broadened-my-musical-horizon-shakthisree-gopalan/articleshow/92915650.cms)
7. [Shakthisree Gopalan Artist Profile, AAE Music](https://www.aaemusic.com/artist/shakthisree-gopalan/)
8. ["An explorer at heart": Shakthisree Gopalan on her film songs and indie music, Scroll.in (2018)](https://amp.scroll.in/reel/895021/scroll_in)
9. [Shakthisree Gopalan Artist Profile, AAE Music](https://www.aaemusic.com/artist/shakthisree-gopalan/)
10. [Shakthisree Gopalan: I don't evaluate my songs based on likes and views, Cinema Express (2021)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/stories/interviews/2021/Mar/07/shakthisree-gopalani-dont-evaluate-my-songs-based-on-likes-and-views-23178.html)
11. [Welcoming Spaces Natural for Shakthisree, Tabla (Singapore)](https://web2-prd.tabla.com.sg/culture/music/welcoming-spaces-natural-shakthisree)
12. [Shakthisree Gopalan Drew From The Humanity of Characters in 'Test', Rolling Stone India (2025)](https://rollingstoneindia.com/test-netflix-soundtrack-shakthisree-gopalan-interview/amp/)
13. [Shakthisree Gopalan Interview: Story behind the sound, The New Indian Express (2025)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/tamil/2025/Apr/10/shakthisree-gopalan-interview-story-behind-the-sound)
14. [Sound Garden, Shakthisree Gopalan official site](https://shakthisreegopalan.com/soundgarden/)
15. [An Evening with Shakthisree Gopalan, official site archive](https://www.shakthisreegopalan.com/listening-session-jul16/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › South Asian scenes › South Indian film music: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license