Hariharan

Hariharan is an Indian singer and composer known for his work in Indian cinema as a playback singer and for his performances in the traditional and contemporary ghazal genres. Born in 1955, he rose to international prominence in the 1990s as part of the musical duo Colonial Cousins, formed with guitarist Lesle Lewis. The duo blended Indian melodies with Western pop influences, gaining wide audience reach and earning several awards and recognitions.

In addition to his work with Colonial Cousins, Hariharan has contributed extensively to film soundtracks across multiple languages, including Hindi and several regional languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. His vocal style is noted for its versatility, accommodating classical nuances as well as modern, melodic phrasing, which has made him a prolific presence in Indian playback singing over the decades.

Beyond cinema, Hariharan has released solo albums and ghazal collections that explore a range of lyrical themes and musical textures. He is also known for live performances and concert appearances around the world, where he has helped popularize Indian melodic traditions to broader audiences.

Hariharan’s impact within Indian music stems from his ability to bridge traditional Indian vocal aesthetics with contemporary sensibilities, contributing to the ongoing evolution of playback singing and ghazal performance in India.