Madrashe (musician)

Madrashe
Born (1985-03-31) March 31, 1985
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupations
Years active2006–present

Madrashe (born 31 March 1985), previously known as Krithika Nelson, is an Indian playback singer, dubbing artist, lyricist, and composer who primarily works in Tamil cinema.[1][2]

Early life

Madrashe was born on 31 March 1985 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.[3] She comes from a literary family; her father is writer Suresh D (of the duo Subha) and her aunt was writer and activist Anuradha Ramanan.[3] She began Carnatic music training at age four. In 2002, she was runner-up in the Sun TV singing competition Sapthaswarangal. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Electronic Media from MOP Vaishnav College for Women in 2005.[3]

Career

Playback singing

Madrashe began her playback career with Yedho Nadakuthu in Parijatham (2006).[4] After a hiatus, she returned with Kanaa in Adithya Varma (2019), which was noted in song reviews.[5] She has since released independent singles including Anbe and Nee Mattum.[6]

Dubbing

Madrashe has worked as a dubbing artist for over 50 Tamil and Telugu films.[7] She debuted in Ko (2011) and has frequently voiced for actresses including Trisha as Kundavai in the Ponniyin Selvan films,[8][9] Aditi Rao Hydari in Kaatru Veliyidai, and Thulasi Nair in Kadal.[10] She has described dubbing as "an extension of singing".[10]

Lyricism and direction

She wrote the song Sol for Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022), which was originally a deleted scene.[11] Later that year, she wrote the entire soundtrack for Nitham Oru Vaanam.[12] Madrashe served as an associate director to Mani Ratnam on the Ponniyin Selvan films and was Creative Director for Music for Coke Studio Tamil Season 1.[3][13]

Independent music

Madrashe has focused on creating independent music, writing, composing, and singing her own songs. Her singles like Nee/Naan, Pi Pi Dum Dum, and Anbe explore themes of love and self-discovery.[6][14] Her work has been featured on music charts.[15]

Other ventures

In 2009, Madrashe co-founded Shopo.in, an online marketplace for Indian designers, which was acquired by Snapdeal in 2015.[16][17] She has also worked as a radio jockey for Big FM 92.7 and as a television host.

Artistry

Madrashe's musical style blends Carnatic traditions with contemporary pop and folk elements. Her lyrics feature wordplay and modern, conversational Tamil while maintaining literary quality.[18] As a dubbing artist, she is recognized for her versatile voice modulations.[10]

Discography

Select works as lyricist

Year Song/Album Notes Source
2021 Nee/Naan (Independent) Self-released single [6]
2021 Pi Pi Dum Dum (Independent) Self-released single [6]
2022 Anbe (Independent) Self-released single [6]
2022 Sol (Ponniyin Selvan: I) Deleted scene song [19]
2022 Nitham Oru Vaanam (full soundtrack) Feature film soundtrack [20]
2023 Nee Mattum (Think Indie) Original release [21]
2023 Urudhi (Coke Studio Tamil) Season 1 original [22]

Select works as playback singer

Year Song/Album Composer Notes Source
2006 Yedho Nadakuthu (Parijatham) Dharan Debut playback [23]
2009 Orey Oru (1977) Vidyasagar Tamil film
2019 Kanaa (Adithya Varma) Radhan Return to playback [24]
2022 Anbe (Independent) Gopi Sundar Also composer & lyricist [6]
2022 Oru Vezham, Paathi Nee Paathi Naa (Nitham Oru Vaanam) Gopi Sundar Feature film [25]

Select works as composer

Year Work Notes Source
2021–2023 Independent singles (Nee/Naan, Pi Pi Dum Dum, Anbe, Nee Mattum) Self-composed and released [6][26]

Filmography

As voice artist

Select filmography as dubbing artist[7][10]
Year Film/Series Voiced for Character(s) Language(s) Notes
2011 Ko Pia Bajpiee Saraswathi Tamil Dubbing debut[7]
2011 Mankatha Andrea Jeremiah Sabitha Prithviraj Tamil
2013 Kadal Thulasi Nair Beatrice Tamil Voice role noted in career profile[10]
2013 Thillu Mullu Isha Talwar Janani Tamil Review noted voice work[27]
2015 Yennai Arindhaal Trisha Hemanika Tamil
2017 Kaatru Veliyidai Aditi Rao Hydari Dr. Leela Abraham Tamil Frequently cited as notable dubbing work[10]
2019 Adithya Varma Banita Sandhu Meera Shetty Tamil
2022–2023 Ponniyin Selvan: I & II Trisha Kundavai Tamil Notable voice role featured in articles[8][28]
2022 Nitham Oru Vaanam Ritu Varma Subhadra Tamil

As assistant director

Year Film/Series Director Notes
2020 Putham Pudhu Kaalai (segment) Suhasini Maniratnam Anthology series
2022–2023 Ponniyin Selvan: I & II Mani Ratnam Associate director[3]

Awards and nominations

  • 2023: JFW Movie Award for Best Lyricist – Sol (Ponniyin Selvan: I)
  • 2023: Nominated – JFW Movie Award for Best Dubbing Artist (Ponniyin Selvan: I)
  • 2024: Nominated – Filmfare Award South for Best Lyricist (Tamil)[29]

References

  1. ^ "I'm a Madras ponnu, Madrashe felt right for my name: Krithika Nelson". The Times of India. 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  2. ^ "Madrashe was born because I stopped feeling like a Krithika Nelson". Cinema Express. 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  3. ^ a b c d e "The 3-and-a-half years I spent with Mani sir is a wonderful experience – Krithika Nelson". JFW Online. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  4. ^ admin (2024-12-16). "Yedho Nadakuthu Song Lyrics | Parijatham | Tamil". Music Lounge - Tamil Song Lyrics. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  5. ^ "Adithya Varma songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Madrashe on her new single 'Anbe' and why she chose to use her stage name full-time". The Hindu. 2022. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  7. ^ a b c "The voice behind the stars: Krithika Nelson". Vikatan. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  8. ^ a b "The real voice of Kundavai". Hindu Tamil. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  9. ^ "Trisha's story from Tamil Nadu's Chellam to Ponniyin Selvan's Kundhavai". Film Companion. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Dubbing is about the character, not the artist". DT Next. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  11. ^ "'Sol': Deleted song from 'Ponniyin Selvan - 1' is finally here". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  12. ^ Sundar, Anusha (2022-12-08). "Video of Sol song from Ponniyin Selvan out". Cinema Express. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  13. ^ "Coke Studio Tamil Season One Artists Revealed in New Trailer". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  14. ^ "Rhythms of resistance: Daavula Darling artistes speak on gaining popularity". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  15. ^ "Top Indian Songs of the week 12th February 2023". Extragavanza. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  16. ^ "Shopo.in: The Online Indian Mela". Tanya Munshi. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  17. ^ "Snapdeal acquires Shopo.in". The Next Web. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  18. ^ "Krithika Nelson, the lyricist of PS-1's song 'Sol', shares her musical odyssey". Indulge Express. 2022. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  19. ^ "'Sol': Deleted song from 'Ponniyin Selvan - 1' is finally here". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  20. ^ Sundar, Anusha (2022-12-08). "Video of Sol song from Ponniyin Selvan out". Cinema Express. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  21. ^ "Top Indian Songs of the week 12th February 2023". Extragavanza. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  22. ^ "Coke Studio Tamil Season One Artists Revealed in New Trailer". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  23. ^ admin (2024-12-16). "Yedho Nadakuthu Song Lyrics | Parijatham | Tamil". Music Lounge - Tamil Song Lyrics. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  24. ^ "Adithya Varma songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  25. ^ "Best of Tamil songs released in October 2022". Behindwoods. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  26. ^ "Rhythms of resistance: Daavula Darling artistes speak on gaining popularity". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  27. ^ "Thillu Mullu Review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  28. ^ "Trisha's story from Tamil Nadu's Chellam to Ponniyin Selvan's Kundhavai". Film Companion. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  29. ^ "Filmfare Awards South 2024 full list of nominees: Salaar, Ponniyin Selvan, Kaathal bag nominations". Hindustan Times. 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
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