Hamsika Iyer

Hamsika Iyer
Background information
Born	in Pune, India
Origin	Bombay, India
Genres	playback singing, Jingles, Carnatic_music, Hindustani_music, World_music
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1996-present
Website	Website

Hamsika Iyer (ஹம்சிகா ஐயர்) is an Indian singer based in Mumbai—born in Pune and brought up in Mumbai. She studied at the SIES college of Arts and Science in Sion. She is a regular voice with ad world jingles, Marathi tele-serials, and has sung songs in Tamil, Hindi and Bengali movies.

Biography

Hamsika received her initial training in music from her father - Shri. S Balachander, a Carnatic musician and musicologist based in Mumbai. In the year 1995, Zee TV launched the hugely successful Indian film based music show named “Close Up Antakshari” hosted by Annu Kapoor and followed it up with an equally popular music talent show named “Sa Re Ga Ma” television show hosted by Sonu Nigam 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.

International Collaborations and Tours

Hamsika with Juno Reactor, 2012

• September 2011, Hamsika sang Chammak Challo with Akon for Shahrukh Khan's Ra.One.
• November 2011, Hamsika was featured along with Vivek Rajagopalan Quartet at UrbanFOLK Bangalore.
• January 2012, Hamsika toured Japan with international band Juno Reactor for the band's Asia Tour 2012.
• Hamsika has also sung for the Bombay Dub Orchestra in their album 3 Cities in 2008, and with American saxophonist George Brooks in the album Spirit and Spice in 2010.

Discography

• Raabta [Siyaah Raatein] - Agent Vinod (2012) with Arijit Singh, Joy
• Chhaya Bhitu Chhaya - Aparajita Tumi (2012) Bengali
• Chammak Challo - Ra.One (2011) with Akon
• Jay Jagadish - Ganaraj Adhiraj (2011) with Salim Merchant and Gulraj Singh
• Jhoola Jhool - Stanley Ka Dabba (2011)
• Athadilo Edo - Kudirithe Cup Coffee (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
• Ninagende Vishesha - Prithvi (2010) with Kunal Ganjawala
• Kuchi Kuchi Twist - Quick Gun Murugun (2009) with Vijay Prakash
• Jheeni Jheeni - Phir Kabhi (2009) with Bhupinder Singh
• Urrat Dhadhdhad - Sunder Mazhe Ghar (2009) (Marathi Movie)
• Kadhaigal Pesum - Angaadi Theru (2009) with Benny Dayal
• Chaal Apni - Sikandar (2009) with Rishikesh Kamerkar
• Fallen- 3 Cities (2008) with Bombay Dub Orchestra
• Bagundey Bagundey - Chintakayala Ravi (2008) with Vijay Prakash
• Khushboo Sa - Khoya Khoya Chand (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 (2007)
• Maa tere haath, Jaane kyun aisa lagta hai - Meri Awaz Ko Mil Gayi Roshni (2007)
• Chanda re [The moon song] - Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007)
• The love theme - Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007)
• Mugurtha neram - Mercury Pookal (2006) with Kunal Ganjawala
• 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 (2003) with Sonu Nigam

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

Concerts

Juno Reactor Asia Tour 2012 - January 20, 2012
Venue: Ageha, Tokyo

• This concert was part of Juno Reactor's Asia Tour 2012, and Hamsika toured with them.

Vivek Rajagopalan Quartet - November 2011
Venue: UrbanFolk Bangalore

• This concert sponsored by Taj Vivanta, was along with the Vivek Rajagopalan Quartet. Vivek is a percussionist and musician based in Mumbai. Behind the Scenes of the rehearsals is available on YouTube. Other performances of the concert, Lonely, Vaarthai Thavari Vittaiadi Kannamma

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

Performers and mentors included - Pt. Satyasheel Deshpande, Shri Shankar Vaidya, Kaushal Inamdar, Kamlesh Bhadkamkar, Anagha Dhomse, Hamsika Iyer , Manish Kulkarni, Shrirang Bhave, Sanjeev Chimmalgi, 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 - vocal, Hamsika Iyer - vocal, music composer - Kaushal Inamdar

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) Satellite Radio - Surabhi - February 13, 2008

• In 2006, Hamsika was interviewed on Radio Mirchi - 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