MK Balaji

MK Balaji
Genres	Playback singing, Indi-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, Lyricist, Television Presenter, Stage Performer

MK Balaji is an Indian playback singer from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. As a playback singer he has sung more than 100 songs for noted music directors including Harris Jeyaraj, G. V. Prakash Kumar, D.Imman, Vijay Antony and many other composers in various languages like Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. He has also collaborated with Prabhu Deva to cut a single "Dhool Tucker" a Desi cricket song in English. He turned lyricist for the song "Hawa Hawa" from Sethupathi

Biography

Balaji is the voice behind the song "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 Angaadi Theru, directed by Veyil Vasanthabalan. His first release in Telugu was "Dailamo Dailamo" for the movie Mahatma directed by Krishna Vamsi after which he sang many songs in Telugu including "Tuneega Tuneega" for the movie Tuneega Tuneega.

He has worked with many other music directors like 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 many award functions, television shows, college pro shows and corporate events. He was one of the very few South Indian singers who have performed 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 Japan, Dubai, Kuwait, Seychelles, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka. He has 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.

Year	Song title	Film/album	Music director
2015	"Poi Poi"	Adhibar	"Vikram Selva"
2015	"Eecham pazham"	Puriyadha Anandham Pudhidhaga Arambam"	A. R. Reihana
2015	"Unnai Enni"	Ayirathil Iruvar	Bharathwaj
2014	"Oru Oorla Rendu Raja"	Oru Oorla Rendu Raja	D.Imman
2014	"Sara Sara Saravedi"	Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal	Harris Jayaraj
2013	"Kadal Naan Thaan"	Endrendrum Punnagai	Harris Jayaraj
2013	"Suda Sudathan"	Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA	James Vasanthan
2013	"Un Tholil"	Sonna Puriyathu	Yateesh Mahadev
2013	"Ayyao Poche"	Sonna Puriyathu	Yateesh Mahadev
2013	"Ada Thaga"	Unakku 20 Enakku 40	Joe Maxwell
2012	"Rettai Kathirae"	Maattrraan	Harris Jayaraj
2009	"Sexy lady"	Ninaithale Inikkum (2009 film)	Vijay Antony
2012	"Rendia Thirigae"	Brothers	Harris Jayaraj
2010	"Vellaikari"	Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam	G. V. Prakash Kumar
2010	"Enge poveno"	Angadi Theru	Vijay Antony
2013	"Dhool Tucker"	Dhool Tucker Single feat PrabhuDeva	L.V Ganesan
2010	"Thulle Rani"	Super Cowboy	G. V. Prakash Kumar
2009	"Dilamo Dilamo"	Mahatma (Telugu)	Vijay Antony
2011	"Siru Siru"	Markandeyan	Sundar C Babu
2012	"Tuneega Tuneega"	Tuneega Tuneega	Karthik Raja
2012	"Ready Ready"	Shiva poojayil Karadi	Sundar C Babu
2010	"Indha kadhal "	Kanagavel Kakka	Vijay Antony
2012	"Sirisiri Viri"	Mark	Sundar C Babu
2011	"O Rabbaya"	Manchivadu	Sirpy
2011	"Thavaniyellam"	Milaga	Sabesh Murali
2011	"Marudhani poo"	Vamsam	Taj Noor
2011	"Pallanguzhi"	Bayam Ariyan	P.C.Shivan
2011	"Dhara Dhiri"	Bayam Ariyan	P.C.Shivan
2010	"Lavender Pennae"	365 Kadhal Kadithangal	Paul J
2010	"Alappara"	365 Kadhal Kadithangal	Paul J
2010	"Pudhusa Pudhusa"	Madurai to theni	Xavi
2010	"Oru Kinnathai"	Indira Vizha	"Yateesh"
2009	"Surangani"	Pandhayam	Vijay Antony
2009	"Rasikkum Seemane"	Rasikkum Seemane	Vijay Antony
2011	"I Know you love Me"	Ayudha Porattam	"Nandhan Raj"
2011	"Mittai Penne"	Mittai	Sabesh Murali
2009	"Penillame"	Pugaipadam	Gangai Amaran
2009	"Un Kangal"	Pandi	Srikanth Deva
2009	"Un Sparisam"	Anbu Karangal	"Jayanth"
2008	"Edhuvum Seivom"	Oohlalala Album	"V3"

As lyricist

Year	Song title	Film/album	Music director
2016	"Hawa hawa"	Sethupathi_(film)	"Nivas K. Prasanna"

References

• MK Balaji at the Internet Movie Database
• 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