Priyadarshini as a Playback Singer in Indian Cinema
Priyadarshini embarked on her musical journey in the Indian film industry back in 2004, making her debut with the Tamil movie “Kadhal Dot Com.” This film marked her entry as a playback singer, working under the eminent music direction of Ramani Bharadwaj. Her first song, titled “Kadhal Kadhal,” was a beautiful duet with the renowned singer Hariharan. A testament to her dedication, Priyadarshini travelled from Singapore to India to record this significant milestone in her career.
Though Priyadarshini had extensive experience in live performances, TV shows, music competitions, and private albums since her childhood, stepping into the realm of film music was a new and exciting challenge. 
She was fortunate enough to receive valuable guidance from the esteemed music composer during the recording session at AVM Studios. This guidance not only helped her refine her singing techniques but also taught her the intricate nuances required for the song, making it an unforgettable experience in her budding career.
Priyadarshini’s remarkable vocal abilities, characterized by her extensive range and enchanting, crystal-clear voice, flourished through her unwavering commitment to her craft in the music industry. As a result, she was presented with numerous opportunities to lend her melodious voice to various film songs. Not content with just one genre, Priyadarshini bravely ventured into different musical styles, showcasing her versatility and passion for music. Priyadarshini made her mark in the Tamil film industry by singing for the popular movie ‘Kusthi.’ Directed by Rajkapoor, she contributed her voice to the energetic song ‘Masala Maharani,’ composed by D.Imman. The song was beautifully picturized with a star-studded cast, including Prabhu, Karthik, Manya, Latha, Y.G. Mahendran, Vijayakumar, and Vadivelu.
In this song, Priyadarshini showcased her versatility by deviating from her usual melodious style and adapting her voice to suit the peppy number. This experimentation brought her widespread appreciation and recognition. Following her success in the Tamil film industry, she continued to collaborate with D.Imman for various projects, such as movies, jingles, and background scores.
Priyadarshini expanded her career by venturing into Bollywood with the movie ‘Garam Masala,’ starring Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Neha Dhupia, and Daisy Bopanna. For this film, she sang the song ‘Ye Dosti’ under the music direction of D.Imman and also provided background vocals. This further solidified her position as a talented singer capable of adapting to different styles and genres.
Priyadarshini began receiving offers from other Indian film industries including Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. She forayed into Telugu Film Industry with ‘Simha Baludu’ starring Arjun Sarja, Simran, Ashish Vidhyarthi, Vijayakumar, Music Composed by Manisharma. Later she sang for movies like ‘Giri’, ‘Bommalavari Veedhulalo’ a duet with singer Karthik, Music by D.Imman starring Arjun Sarja, Divya Spandana, Reema Sen, Prakash Raj, ‘Chinna Pagulunna’ for movie Manikyam 420 where she had an opportunity to work again with Music Composer Bharadwaj for a Telugu movie and many other movies and become one of the prominent singers of Telugu Film Industry. She debuted into the Malayalam Music Industry with the song ‘Premam’.
In the year 2004, Priyadarshini also entered the Kannada film Industry with the song ‘Ee Premadaramba’ from the movie ‘Ajju’ under the Music Direction of Rajesh Ramanath, a melody duet with singer Rajesh Krishnan. She made a strong base in the Kannada film industry and worked back to back for many prominent music composers singing several melody hit songs. She lent her voice for the superhit movie ‘Julie‘ starring Dino Morea, Ramya which was the remake of the Hindi movie ‘Julie‘ starring actress Lakshmi. The soulful track ‘Yeh Raatein Nayi Purani‘ originally composed by Rajesh Roshan, sung by Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar was retained in the Kannada movie by Music Composer Rajesh Ramanath. Priyadarshini got the opportunity to sing the song ‘Ee Haadu‘. Singing it without imitating the veteran singer was a challenge, this song became a hit and became a landmark song in her film music career. She also sang the soothing song ‘Navanitha Chora‘ in the same movie, which was also well-received by the audience.
Priyadarshini sang for several other movies in Kannada, to name a few Bidda, Seena, Nannedeya Haadu, Thipparalliya Tarlegalu, Heththare Hennanne Herabeku, Chikkamagalura Chikka Mallige, Jayahe and others. In the blockbuster movie ‘Cheluvina Chittara,’ she sang two popular songs, ‘Kendowle Kane’ and ‘By two coffee,’ under the music direction of Mano Murthy. She then collaborated with legendary playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam for the movie ‘Rocky,’ singing the song ‘Snehada Chiguru,’ which starred actor Yash, Music Composed by Venkat Narayan. In the movie ‘News’ starring Upendra, Reema Sen, she sang a duet with singer KK for the song ‘Gira Gira,’ composed by Gurukiran.
She has lent her voice alongside Singer Mano for the song ‘Nanagu Ninagu’ for the movie ‘Bangalore Metro’ starring Naveen Krishna, Music Composed by Ravish A.T. which is slated for release. This song is a 80s blockbuster hit which has been reused from the movie ‘Nyaya Ellide’ starring Shankar Nag originally sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S.Janaki, Music Directed by Chakravarthy, Lyrics Chi. Udayashankar.
In the recent Tamil movie “Naan Than Bala,” featuring actor Vivek in the lead role, the talented singer has sung two unforgettable songs. One is “Thiruvai Mozhi azhaga,” penned by the renowned lyricist Vaali, who is considered to have written this as his last song before his demise. The other song is “Uyire Unakkaga,” which she sang alongside Srinivas, with music composed by Venkat Krishi. The movie’s audio was notably released by esteemed personalities in the industry, including music composer A. R. Rahman, and directors K. Balachander, Bharathiraja and Mani Ratnam.
She has sung ‘Anuragadha Aleyali’, from the movie Jhansi I.P.S starring Raai Laxmi, Ravi Kale, Mukesh Tiwari, directed by P.V.S Guruprasad, Music Composed by M.N. Krupakar, Lyrics by Mahesh Mahadev.
She has sung songs and also worked for the background vocals for the Tamil movie ‘Maaligai’ starring Andrea Jeremiah, directed by Dil Sathya, produced by Rajesh Kumar & Kamal Bohra.
She has sung songs and also worked for the background vocals for the Tamil movie ‘Maaligai’ starring Andrea Jeremiah, directed by Dil Sathya, produced by Rajesh Kumar & Kamal Bohra. Her song “Saddillade” from movie “Khadak” starring Dharma Keerthiraj and Anusha Rai, Music by M N Krupakar was well-received among the music lovers.
Priyadarshini has sung for several movies in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, languages for renowned Music Composers Bharadwaj, Hamsalekha, Mano Murthy, Gurukiran, D. Imman, Rajesh Ramanath, R.P. Patnaik, Manisharma, Dhina, Chakri, Soundaryan, V. Manohar, S.A Rajkumar, Muralikrishna, Venkat Krishi, M.N. Krupakar, A.T. Ravish, K.Kalyan, Ganesh Narayanan, V. Sridhar, U.K Murali, Mahesh Mahadev, Mervin Micheal, Satish Aryan, Ananth Aryan, and many others.
Priyadarshini has lent her voice for many movies along with Legendary & leading playback singers like S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Mano, Hariharan, Srinivas, Madhu Balakrishnan, KK, Karthik, Ranjith, Mukesh, Rajesh Krishnan, Hemanth and other singers.
Priyadarshini has also worked for many background vocals in movies, to name a few Rocky, Nannedeya Haadu, Naan Than Bala, Ennathan Pesuvatho, Garam Masala, Maaligai and others.
Non-Filmy & Private Albums
Apart from playback singing Priyadarshini has also proved her talent in Private Non-Filmy, Devotional, Indian classical Albums, Jingles, Serial/Show Title Songs, Corporate Brand Anthems in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Sanskrit, Marathi, Urdu, Odia, Bengali, Punjabi, Tulu, Rajasthani, English, Spanish and several other languages. Her collaborations with renowned music directors and record labels like Jhankar Music, Lahari Music, A2 Music, Ezra Audios, Dream Sounds, Anusha Audios, Believers Group, Universal Music, Clav International, PM Audios & Entertainments, Mugus Records, Vedanth Music, Kamadhenu Audio & Video, and others have led to the release of several independent albums.
Her album ‘Sai Sangeeth’ in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu languages gained appreciation from the music industry, featuring music composed and lyrics by K.Kalyan. Another notable album, ‘Mathura Madhura,’ was produced by Ram Sumi Creations, Music by A T Ravish under the Audio Label Lahari Audio Company. This album was released by renowned Kannada film actor and producer, Raghavendra Rajkumar. Priyadarshini also collaborated with legendary singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam on the albums ‘Rama Priya’ and ‘Rama Pyaari,’ released under the banners of Sri Sri Publications Trust & Universal Music and featuring music by A.T. Ravish. The album was released by legendary Kannada film producer, Parvathamma Rajkumar.
She has sung for the Sanskrit Album ‘Maharudram Mahadeshwaram’, Music Composed & Lyrics written by Mahesh Mahadev,. She has also sung for Sri Shankara Stotra Ratnas, an album comprising slokas of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, raga based compositions by Music Director Mahesh Mahadev initiated and released by His Holiness Sri Sri Shankara Bharathi Swamiji. She has sung & also appeared in the video song of Adi Shankara’s ‘Achyutam Keshavam‘ music composed & video directed by Mahesh Mahadev in his new raga creation Amritha Kalyani & Nada Kalyani.
She has lent her voice for albums like ‘Karunaada Siri Sri Siddha Gange’ by Jhankar Music, ‘Sri Manjunatha’ Music Composed by Satish Aryan, ‘Modakapriya Ganaraja’ Music Composed by Mahesh Mahadev, ‘Divya Chetana’ Music Composed by A.T. Ravish, ‘Gangamma’ Music Composed by Venkat Narayan, Christian Devotionals like ‘Athi Shreshtamaina Namam’, ‘C/o Jesus’, ‘Namma Mane Devaru’, ‘Winner’, ‘Ee Paapi Magana Koogu’ etc.
Some of her notable works include singing for the Sanskrit album ‘Maharudram Mahadeshwaram,’ composed and written by Mahesh Mahadev, produced by Ram. She has also sung the Sri Shankara Stotra Ratnas album, which features slokas of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. She has also sung the Keerthanas of Kaiwara Amaranareyana ‘Sadhguru Sri Yogi‘, ‘Nareyana Namamrutham‘ composed by Mahesh Mahadev, Lyrics by Kaiwara Yogi Nareyana Yathindra, produced by Dr. M. R. Jayaram, Dharmadikari, Kaiwara Yogi Mutt. Few popular songs in these albums include ‘Narudu Gurudani‘ in Rag Hindolam by Priyadarshini & S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, ‘Dhimi Dhimi‘ in Rag Brindavani Sarang by by Priyadarshini, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Mahesh Mahadev, ‘Sri Nareyana Namamrutha Rasa’ in Hamir Kalyani, ‘Nanenu Balleno’ in Darbari Kanada Ragamalika, ‘Rama Rama Mukunda Madhava’ in Raga Saramati and many others.
Lalitha Sahasranama Stotram, Shiva Ashtottara, Subramanya Gayatri, Saraswathi Dwadasanama Stotram, Ganesha Ashtottara, Shiva Panchakshari Stotram, Aigiri Nandini, Varamahalakshmi Stotra, Shani Panchakshari, Renuka Devi Chant, Mahalakshmi Suprabhatha are few of her notable works.
Her collaborations extend to other albums like ‘Karunaada Siri Sri Siddha Gange’ by Jhankar Music, ‘Lalitha Sahasranama Stotram’ by Bhakthi Nidhi, ‘Sri Manjunatha’ with music composed by Satish Aryan, ‘Modakapriya Ganaraja,’ ‘Divya Chetana,’ ‘Gangamma,’ and Christian devotionals such as ‘Athi Shreshtamaina Namam,’ ‘C/o Jesus,’ ‘Namma Mane Devaru,’ ‘Winner,’ and ‘Ee Paapi Magana Koogu.’ She has also appeared in the video album songs.
Priyadarshini has sung in Tamil albums ‘Vizhigal Pozhiyum’, Music Composed by U.K Murali, ‘Oli Deepavali’, Music Composed by Radha Vijayan, ‘Uyir Thedi’, Music Composed by Mervin Michael. Her Hindi song ‘Neele Gagan Mein‘ from the album ‘Sawan Ke Badal’ composed by Mahesh Mahadev became a super hit amongst music lovers. She has sung for the Thirukkural Isai world music project ‘Oru Kurall Oru Kural’ by Music Composed by Bharadwaj.
Priyadarshini has also lent her voice for new ragas created by Music Composer Mahesh Mahadev. To name a few new ragas Sri Tyagaraja, Amritha Kalyani, Nada Kalyani, Srirangapriya, Bhimsen, Rajasadhaka and also sung for compositions in rare ragas like Rudra Pancham, Vasanthi, Lavangi, Ganapathi and others.
Priyadarshini has worked for several jingles and commercials including CMR Central, Kuberan Silks, Micro Labs Limited, Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd. and many others. She has also sung for serial/show title songs, including Udaya TV’s serial ‘Kamadhenu’, Corporate brand anthems, motivational, awareness, promotional, campaign, theme songs, and also worked for songs for Tamil Nadu Tourist Development Corporation etc.
Priyadarshini as a Lyricist
Priyadarshini has penned lyrics for many devotional songs and private albums. Few devotional songs include ‘Un Madhura Naamathile’ from ‘En Kula Deivame Ayyappa’, ‘Unnai Naan’ from ‘Priyamana Sai’, ‘Neeye Endrum’ from ‘Devi Dayapari’ etc.