Devan Ekambaram


Devan Ekambaram is an Indian American film playback singer, actor and composer. He began his career as a playback singer in Tamil films and later branched out to many other south Indian languages as well like Telugu, Kannada and has sung for over 500 films.

Education

Devan pursued his higher school studies at the Freehold Township High School, New Jersey. He enrolled and dropped out of Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in his second year.

Playback singing career

Devan began his singing career in the year 1999, when he received an unexpected call from Academy Award winning composer A. R. Rahman's assistants for a voice audition. He then, went on to record his maiden song "O Maria" for the film Kadhalar Dhinam along with Yugendran. The song proved to be a hit among all sections and thereafter he received several offers from many other Southern music directors.
Devan's second huge hit came in his short piece mellifluous rendition in "Ore Nyabagam" from Minnale composed by Harris Jayaraj. Thereafter he sang many popular tracks in Tamil and Telugu films under the compositions of Ilayaraja, Vidhyasagar, Deva, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Karthik Raja and others. The song "Anbil Avan" from Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa composed by A. R. Rahman ruled the music chart for months.
Most of his songs are for the music director Harris Jayaraj. And all the songs which he had sung for him have received a good reception from the audience.
Recently he has sung a peppy number called "Nahna na Na" for Director Venkat Prabhu's Biriyani Which was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja has become a viral hit from the day it was released. Two different remix versions of the song called "New Jack Swing Mix" and "The Extended Mix" also received a massive response.
His latest song is " Yennai Arindhaal " from the movie Yennai Arindhaal where he again sings for the music director Harris Jayaraj. This song was written by lyricist Thamarai. It is another peppy number.

Music direction

Devan debuted as a music director in the 2010 film Bale Pandiya. The music album was received with a mixed response.Besides this film, Devan has composed for several short Tamil album songs and has also sung for them.
Devan has also acted in few Tamil films as a character artist. The prominent ones being Parthiban Kanavu, Unnale Unnale and Jayam Kondaan. He also dubbed for various characters in films like Little John for the main character, John McKenzie, Suresh in Dasavathaaram and Dong Lee and other Chinese characters in 7aum Arivu.

Discography

Tamil Songs

YearAlbumSong NameFilm ComposerCo-Singer
2015Idhu Enna Maayam"Machi Machi"G. V. Prakash KumarUdit Narayan, Navin Iyer
2015Yennai Arindhaal"Yennai Arindhaal"Harris JayarajMark Thomas, Abhishek
2015Om Shanthi Om"Mazhai Thuli Azhaga"Vijay EbenezerAalap Raju, Dr. Burn
2014Yaan"Hey Lamba Lamba"Harris JayarajKrishna Iyer, Divya Vijay
2013Biriyani"Nahna Nah Na"Yuvan Shankar RajaYuvan Shankar Raja
2013Endrendrum Punnagai"Vaan Engum Nee Minna"Harris JayarajAalap Raju, Harini, Praveen
2013Settai"Theme Music of Settai"S. Thaman
2011Kanden"Ninaivugal"Vijay Ebenezer
2011Engeyum Kadhal"Engeyum Kadhal"Harris JayarajAalap Raju, Ranina Reddy
2010Bale Pandiya"Happy"Devan EkambaramHaricharan, Naresh Iyer, Naveen Mathav, Ranjith, Rahul Nambiar, Paravai Muniyamma, Manikka Vinayagam, Anuradha Sriram, Srinivas, Mukesh, Divya, Suchitra, Velmurugan, Malgudi Subha, Vijay Yesudas, Aalap Raju
2010Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya"Anbil Avan"A. R. RahmanChinmayi
2009Ayan"Honey Honey"Harris JayarajSayanora Philip
2008Vaaranam Aayiram"Nenjukkul Peidhidum"Harris JayarajHariharan, Krish, Prasanna
2006Thalainagaram"Yedho Ninaikiren"D. Imman
2003Punnagai Poove"Venus Venus Pennae"Yuvan Shankar RajaHarini
2003Kurumbu"Adichchi Pudichchi"Yuvan Shankar RajaSunitha Sarathy
2003Kurumbu"Aasai Nooru Vagai"Yuvan Shankar RajaMalaysia Vasudevan
2002Majunu"Mercury Mele"Harris JayarajP. Unnikrishnan
2002Majunu"Hari Gori"Harris JayarajTippu, Karthik, Ganga, Febi Mani
2002Kannathil Muthamittal"Signore Signore"A. R. RahmanSwarnalatha, Rafique, Noel James, Anupama
2001Shahjahan"May Madham"Mani SharmaSujatha Mohan
2001Minnale"Ore Nyabagam"Harris Jayaraj
2001Friends"Manjal Poosum"IlayarajaSujatha Mohan
2001Kushi"Premante"Mani SharmaKalpana
2000Kandukondain Kandukondain"Smayiyai"A. R. RahmanClinton Cerejo, Dominique Cerejo
1999Kadhalar Dhinam"Oh Mariya"A. R. RahmanYugendran, Febi Mani

Telugu Songs

YearAlbumSong NameFilm ComposerCo-Singer-
2018Tholi Prema"Vinnane Vinnane"S. ThamanArmaan Malik-
2013Sahasam"Sahasam"Sri-
2006Ashok "Mumtaju Mahalu"Mani SharmaTanvi Shah
2005Vennela"Preyasikaavu"Mahesh ShankarSaindhavi, Shudip, Rajani-
2005Vennela"Bhagyam Podduna"Mahesh ShankarAravind, Shudip-
2002Vasu"O Prema"Harris Jayaraj-
2001Kushi"Premante"Mani SharmaKalpana-
2001Soori"Monnatidaka"-