Shashaa Tirupati’s journey into professional music was far from conventional. Raised in Canada in a family that valued academics, she discovered her love for singing at a very young age. Her early connection with Indian music began through songs by legendary singers such as Lata Mangeshkar.
Although she initially pursued academics, music gradually became her calling. She eventually decided to leave her pre-medical studies in Canada and move to India to build a career as a singer.
The decision was a major turning point. Arriving in Mumbai without an established industry network, Shashaa worked through auditions, jingles and different musical opportunities while continuing to develop her craft.
The A.R. Rahman Connection
One of the biggest turning points in Shashaa Tirupati’s career came through A.R. Rahman.
Her association with Rahman began around 2013, when she auditioned for Coke Studio. Rahman reportedly described the quality of her voice in a way that immediately stood out to her, comparing it to a musical instrument. Soon after, she got opportunities to sing for his projects.
Her work with Rahman eventually opened the doors to a much larger playback career. She became associated with songs across Hindi and South Indian cinema, establishing herself as a versatile multilingual singer.
From ‘Humma’ to National Award Glory
Shashaa became widely recognised among Bollywood audiences for songs including “The Humma Song” from OK Jaanu and “Phir Bhi Tumko Chaahunga” from Half Girlfriend.
However, one of the biggest achievements of her career came with “Vaan Varuvaan” from Mani Ratnam’s Kaatru Veliyidai. The song, composed by A.R. Rahman, earned Shashaa the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
The achievement marked a major milestone for a singer who had once questioned whether she could make a career in playback singing.
A Multilingual Musical Identity
One of Shashaa’s biggest strengths has been her ability to perform across languages and musical styles. Over the years, she has recorded songs in several Indian and international languages.
Her discography includes work in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi, Bengali, Konkani and English, among others. This multilingual exposure has played an important role in shaping her identity as a musician.
For Shashaa, singing in different languages is not simply about pronunciation. She has spoken about how every language brings its own rhythm, sweetness and emotional character, giving her a different perspective while performing.
Beyond Playback Singing
Shashaa Tirupati has gradually expanded beyond conventional playback singing. She has also explored songwriting, music composition and independent music.
Her independent work represents another side of her artistic personality, allowing her greater creative freedom than a traditional film soundtrack. Her debut independent EP I’m Sorry, Heart marked an important step in this direction.
More recently, her independent project MAAHIRR has explored the meeting point between Hindustani classical music and electronic production. Its first track, “Raynnn,” reflects her continued interest in experimenting with different musical worlds.
What Makes Shashaa Tirupati Different?
Shashaa’s career stands out because it has never been limited to one language, genre or format. From classical training and playback singing to independent composition and experimentation, she has continued to evolve as an artist.
Her journey also demonstrates the importance of persistence. She faced setbacks early in her career and even took a break from singing after receiving discouraging feedback. But returning to music ultimately led her towards some of the biggest opportunities of her career.
Today, Shashaa Tirupati represents a generation of Indian musicians who are comfortable moving between film music and independent artistry. Her association with A.R. Rahman, National Award-winning work and continued experimentation have made her journey one worth following.
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