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{{short description|Australian singer (born 1998)}}
{{short description|Sri Lankan singer (born 1998)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
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| genre = Pop
| genre = Pop
| instrument = Vocals
| instrument = Vocals
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Playback singer]]|[[Singer]]}}
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Singer]]|[[playback singer]]}}
| years_active = 2012–present
| years_active = 2012–present
| label = [[Maajja]]
| label = [[Maajja]]
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| website =
| website =
}}
}}
'''Dheekshitha Venkadeshan''' (born 26 June 1998), known professionally as '''Dhee''', is an Australian singer known for her work as a [[playback singer]] in [[Tamil cinema|Indian Tamil cinema]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Laisram |first1=Romal |title=22-year-old singer Dhee's first single, Enjoy Enjaami, crosses a 100M views! |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/music/2021/apr/09/chennai-based-dhee-enjoy-enjaami-story-32921.html |access-date=14 April 2021 |work=Indulge Express |publisher=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tamil-Australian singer's tribute to the dispossessed tea plantation labourers |url=https://www.theaustraliatoday.com.au/tamil-australian-singers-tribute-to-the-dispossessed-tea-plantation-labourers/ |last1=Sarwal |first1=Amit |website=The Australia Today |date=March 18, 2021 }}</ref><ref name="rlngs" >{{cite magazine |title=COVER STORY: Back to the Roots |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/cover-story-back-to-the-roots-dhee-shan-vincent-de-paul-maajja/ |last1=Tagat |first1=Anurag |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 21, 2021 }}</ref> Born to a Sri Lankan father and an Indian mother, she was raised in [[Sydney]] and has sung songs mostly in her stepfather [[Santhosh Narayanan]]'s albums. She has once been nominated at the [[Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil|Filmfare Awards]] for Best Singer,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/chennai/Singer-Dhee-looked-cool-at-the-premiere-of-X-Men-Apocaplypse-at-Sathyam-cinemas-in-Chennai//52375533.cms|title=Singer Dhee, looked cool at the premiere of 'X Men: Apocaplypse' at Sathyam cinemas in Chennai - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/140316/dhee-one-to-watch-out-for.html|title='Dhee' one to watch out for!|first=Balajee C.|last=R|date=14 March 2016|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> and is known for her distinctive [[alto]] voice.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cuckoo, cuckoo! A voice of her own |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2021/apr/10/cuckoo-cuckoo-a-voice-of-her-own-2288042.html |last1=Laisram |first1=Ronal |website=The New Indian Express |date=April 10, 2021 }}</ref>
'''Dheekshitha Venkadeshan''' (born 26 June 1998), known professionally as '''Dhee''', is an Australian singer known for her work as a [[playback singer]] in [[Cinema of India|Indian cinema]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Laisram |first1=Romal |title=22-year-old singer Dhee's first single, Enjoy Enjaami, crosses a 100M views! |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/music/2021/apr/09/chennai-based-dhee-enjoy-enjaami-story-32921.html |access-date=14 April 2021 |work=Indulge Express |publisher=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tamil-Australian singer's tribute to the dispossessed tea plantation labourers |url=https://www.theaustraliatoday.com.au/tamil-australian-singers-tribute-to-the-dispossessed-tea-plantation-labourers/ |last1=Sarwal |first1=Amit |website=The Australia Today |date=March 18, 2021 }}</ref><ref name="rlngs" >{{cite magazine |title=COVER STORY: Back to the Roots |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/cover-story-back-to-the-roots-dhee-shan-vincent-de-paul-maajja/ |last1=Tagat |first1=Anurag |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 21, 2021 }}</ref> Born in [[Jaffna]] to [[Tamils|Tamil]] parents, she was raised in [[Sydney]]. She is best known for her collaborations with her stepfather, [[Santhosh Narayanan]], and her distinctive [[alto]] voice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=R |first=Balajee C. |date=2016-03-14 |title=Dhee' one to watch out for! |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/140316/dhee-one-to-watch-out-for.html |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=www.deccanchronicle.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news |title=Cuckoo, cuckoo! A voice of her own |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2021/apr/10/cuckoo-cuckoo-a-voice-of-her-own-2288042.html |last1=Laisram |first1=Ronal |website=The New Indian Express |date=April 10, 2021 }}</ref> She won the [[Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil|Filmfare Award]] for Best Singer for “Kaattu Payale”, from the 2020 film [[Soorarai Pottru|''Soorarai Pottru'']].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-10 |title=Suriya’s Soorarai Pottru and Allu Arjun starrer Pushpa win big at Filmfare Awards South 2022, check out complete winners list |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/filmfare-awards-south-2022-soorarai-pottru-pushpa-winners-list-8199133/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>


==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
Dheekshitha was born on 26 June 1998 in [[Jaffna]], Sri Lanka{{Cn|date=January 2024}} to a [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] father Venkadesan and an [[Tamils|Indian Tamil]] mother Meenakshi Iyer who is a [[Carnatic musician]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Meenakshi Santhosh Narayanan |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/tamil/en/podcast-episode/meet-meenakshi-santhosh-narayanan/41ascmo7v |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=[[SBS (Australia)]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="dec" /> She was raised and did her schooling in [[Sydney]], Australia where her mother was based.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dhee |url=https://www.platform-mag.com/music/dhee.html |last1=Lohani Mehtani |first1=Hansika |website=Platform |date=February 7, 2022 }}</ref><ref name="rlngs" /><ref>{{cite news |title=All You Should Know About Dhee |url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/shestars/who-is-dhee-enjoy-enjaami-magazine-cover-slammed-arivu/ |last1=Das |first1=Ria |website=SheThePeople |date=August 23, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Enjoyed "Enjoy Enjaami"? You'll love what the musicians of maajja are cooking up next |url=https://www.gqindia.com/entertainment/content/musicians-of-maajja |last1=Gupta |first1=Nidhi |website=GQIndia |date=March 26, 2021 }}</ref> She has an elder brother Sudheekshanan. Dheekshitha is the stepdaughter of Indian music composer [[Santhosh Narayanan]]. She began her playback singing career by performing songs in two of his albums, ''[[Pizza II: Villa]]'' (2013) and ''[[Cuckoo (2014 film)|Cuckoo]]'' (2014), during breaks from her education.
Dhee was born on 26 June 1998 in [[Jaffna]], Sri Lanka<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dhee Song Lyrics with Translation & Meanings (2024) |url=https://www.lyricsdecoder.com/artist/dhee/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=www.lyricsdecoder.com |language=en-US}}</ref> to a [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] father, Venkadesan, and an [[Tamils|Indian Tamil]] mother, Meenakshi Iyer, who is a [[Carnatic musician]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Meenakshi Santhosh Narayanan |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/tamil/en/podcast-episode/meet-meenakshi-santhosh-narayanan/41ascmo7v |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=[[SBS (Australia)]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="dec" /> She was raised and went to school in [[Sydney]], Australia, where her mother was based.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dhee |url=https://www.platform-mag.com/music/dhee.html |last1=Lohani Mehtani |first1=Hansika |website=Platform |date=February 7, 2022 }}</ref><ref name="rlngs" /><ref>{{cite news |title=All You Should Know About Dhee |url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/shestars/who-is-dhee-enjoy-enjaami-magazine-cover-slammed-arivu/ |last1=Das |first1=Ria |website=SheThePeople |date=August 23, 2021 }}</ref> She has an elder brother, Sudheekshanan, and is the stepdaughter of Indian music composer [[Santhosh Narayanan]].<ref name=":1" /> Dhee began her playback singing career by performing songs in two of Narayanan's albums, ''[[Pizza II: Villa]]'' (2013) and ''[[Cuckoo (2014 film)|Cuckoo]]'' (2014), during breaks from her education.


Since based in [[Chennai]], Dhee made a breakthrough by singing "Naan Nee" from [[Pa. Ranjith]]'s ''[[Madras (film)|Madras]]'' (2014) alongside [[Shakthisree Gopalan]]. Her work on the song saw the pair garner nominations for Best Female Singer at the [[Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil|Filmfare Awards]] and [[Vijay Award for Best Female Playback Singer|Vijay Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.filmfare.com/features/nominations-for-the-62nd-britannia-filmfare-awards-south-9405.html |title=Nominations for the 62nd Britannia Filmfare Awards (South) |website=Filmfare.com |date=2015-06-03 |accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref>
After settling in [[Chennai]], Dhee made her breakthrough by singing "Naan Nee" on Narayanan's album, alongside [[Shakthisree Gopalan]], for [[Pa. Ranjith]]'s ''[[Madras (film)|Madras]]'' (2014). The pair garnered nominations for Best Female Singer for their performance at the [[Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil|Filmfare Awards]] and [[Vijay Award for Best Female Playback Singer|Vijay Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.filmfare.com/features/nominations-for-the-62nd-britannia-filmfare-awards-south-9405.html |title=Nominations for the 62nd Britannia Filmfare Awards (South) |website=Filmfare.com |date=2015-06-03 |accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref>


She received critical acclaim for her work in [[Sudha Kongara Prasad]]'s sports drama film, ''[[Irudhi Suttru]]'' (2016).<ref name="dec" >{{cite news |title='Dhee' one to watch out for |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/140316/dhee-one-to-watch-out-for.html |last1=Balaji |first1=CR |website=Deccan Chronicle |date=March 14, 2016 }}</ref> Being used as the lead singer for Ritika Singh's North Madras-based boxer character in the film, Dhee recorded two solo songs titled "Ey Sandakaara" and "Usuru Narumbuley".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlykollywood.com/irudhi-suttru-songs-review/ |title=Irudhi Suttru Songs Review |publisher=Only Kollywood |date=2016-01-05 |accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref> Behindwoods.com stated that the first song was "another classic Santhosh number that gets your attention in no time", while noting the "pathos song by Dhee is a revelation sorts" about the latter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/irudhi-suttru/irudhi-suttru-songs-review.html |title=Irudhi Suttru (aka) Iruthi Suttru songs review |website=Behindwoods.com |date=2016-01-04 |accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/irudhi-suttru-a-sparkling-album-news-tamil-qbfkUacbgdfbd.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105224735/http://www.sify.com/movies/irudhi-suttru-a-sparkling-album-news-tamil-qbfkUacbgdfbd.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 January 2016 |title=Irudhi Suttru- A sparkling album! |website=[[Sify]] |date= |accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top10cinema.com/article/36265/irudhi-suttru-music-review |title=Irudhi Suttru Music Review |publisher=Top10 Cinema |date=2016-01-04 |accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref>
Dhee received critical acclaim for her work in [[Sudha Kongara Prasad|Sudha Kongara]]'s sports drama film, ''[[Irudhi Suttru]]'' (2016).<ref name="dec" >{{cite news |title='Dhee' one to watch out for |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/140316/dhee-one-to-watch-out-for.html |last1=Balaji |first1=CR |website=Deccan Chronicle |date=March 14, 2016 }}</ref> As the lead singer for [[Ritika Singh]]'s North Madras-based boxer character in the film, Dhee recorded two solo songs titled "Ey Sandakaara" and "Usuru Narumbuley".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlykollywood.com/irudhi-suttru-songs-review/ |title=Irudhi Suttru Songs Review |publisher=Only Kollywood |date=2016-01-05 |accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref> Behindwoods.com stated that the first song was "another classic Santhosh [Narayanan] number that gets your attention in no time", while noting, of the latter, that the "pathos song by Dhee is a revelation of sorts".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/irudhi-suttru/irudhi-suttru-songs-review.html |title=Irudhi Suttru (aka) Iruthi Suttru songs review |website=Behindwoods.com |date=2016-01-04 |accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/irudhi-suttru-a-sparkling-album-news-tamil-qbfkUacbgdfbd.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105224735/http://www.sify.com/movies/irudhi-suttru-a-sparkling-album-news-tamil-qbfkUacbgdfbd.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 January 2016 |title=Irudhi Suttru- A sparkling album! |website=[[Sify]] |date= |accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top10cinema.com/article/36265/irudhi-suttru-music-review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107121248/http://www.top10cinema.com/article/36265/irudhi-suttru-music-review |url-status=usurped |archive-date=7 January 2016 |title=Irudhi Suttru Music Review |publisher=Top10 Cinema |date=2016-01-04 |accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref> In 2017, Dhee made her debut in Telugu cinema with songs from Kongara's [[Guru (2017 film)|''Guru'']], a remake of the director's own ''Irudhi Suttru.''


Dhee later worked with her stepfather in critically acclaimed albums including ''[[Kaala (2018 film)|Kaala]]'' (2018) and ''[[Vada Chennai]]'' (2018), before collaborating with [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]] for the song "[[Rowdy Baby (song)|Rowdy Baby]]" in ''[[Maari 2]]'' (2018). Singing alongside [[Dhanush]], the film garnered popularity soon after its release. The song garnered more than 1.5 billion views on YouTube making it the highest viewed Tamil music videos and one of the most-viewed Indian videos of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rowdy Baby Becomes The First South Indian Song To Set This Record! |url=https://www.vcinema.com/news-article/about:blank |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=www.vcinema.com |language=en}}</ref>
Dhee continued working with Narayanan in critically acclaimed albums for films such as ''[[Kaala (2018 film)|Kaala]]'' (2018) and ''[[Vada Chennai]]'' (2018), before collaborating with [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]] for the song "[[Rowdy Baby (song)|Rowdy Baby]]" in ''[[Maari 2]]'' (2018). Singing alongside actor [[Dhanush]], the song garnered viral popularity soon after its release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reporter |first=Staff |date=2019-02-13 |title=‘Rowdy Baby’ notches up 200 million YouTube views |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/rowdy-baby-notches-up-200-million-youtube-views/article61542406.ece |access-date=2024-10-12 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The track has since gained more than 1.5 billion views on [[YouTube]], making it the highest viewed Tamil music video and one of the most-viewed Indian videos of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rowdy Baby Becomes The First South Indian Song To Set This Record! |url=https://www.vcinema.com/news-article/about:blank |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=www.vcinema.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2020, Dhee won her first Filmfare Award for Best Female Singer for the song "Kaattu Payale" in the Kongara film [[Soorarai Pottru|''Soorarai Pottru'']] (2020), working with composer [[G. V. Prakash Kumar|G.V. Prakash Kumar]].


Dhee made her debut as a pop singer, under the [[A. R. Rahman|A.R. Rahman]]-helmed label, [[Maajja]], with "[[Enjoy Enjaami]]" featuring [[Arivu]] (from [[The Casteless Collective]]) on 7 March 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Enjoy Enjaami's Dhee: The 'Goli Soda akka' who now dares to dream |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/singer-dhee-the-goli-soda-akka-who-now-dares-to-dream/article34026824.ece |last1=Kumar |first1=Pradeep |website=The Hindu |date=March 15, 2021 }}</ref> The song was produced by her stepfather. The lyrics were penned by Arivu.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-05|title=Santhosh Narayanan, Arivu and Dhee release 'Enjoy Enjaami'|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/santhosh-narayanan-arivu-and-dhee-release-enjoy-enjaami-144674|access-date=2021-04-10|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Muralidharan|first=Kavitha|date=2021-03-18|title=Listen between the lines|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/listen-between-the-lines/article34100794.ece|access-date=2021-04-10|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The song was immediately popular, with the music video having gained over 398 million views and more than 4.6 million likes (as of March 2022) since it premiered on YouTube. "Enjoy Enjaami" is the first song to be released under maajja.<ref name=":0" /> Dhee's first studio album which is also being produced by maajja.<ref>{{Cite web|title=22-year-old singer Dhee's first single, Enjoy Enjaami, crosses a 100M views! Find out more...|url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/music/2021/apr/09/chennai-based-dhee-enjoy-enjaami-story-32921.html|access-date=2021-04-10|website=www.indulgexpress.com|language=en}}</ref> The album is expected to be released by the end of 2021 and will be largely made up of contemporary jazz songs. It will also mark her first English-language release since debuting in the (Indian) music industry.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kumar|first=Pradeep|date=2021-03-09|title=Enjoy Enjaami's Dhee: The 'Goli Soda akka' who now dares to dream|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/singer-dhee-the-goli-soda-akka-who-now-dares-to-dream/article34026824.ece|access-date=2021-04-10|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In March 2023 she debuted in Telugu cinema with the song "Chamkeela Angeelesi" from the movie ''[[Dasara (film)|Dasara]]''. She gained popularity from that song among the [[Telugu cinema|Telugu]] audience.
Dhee made her debut in independent Tamil pop under the [[A. R. Rahman|A.R. Rahman]]-helmed label, [[maajja]], with "[[Enjoy Enjaami]]", featuring [[Arivu]] (from [[The Casteless Collective]]), on 7 March 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Enjoy Enjaami's Dhee: The 'Goli Soda akka' who now dares to dream |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/singer-dhee-the-goli-soda-akka-who-now-dares-to-dream/article34026824.ece |last1=Kumar |first1=Pradeep |website=The Hindu |date=March 15, 2021 }}</ref> The track's production, influenced by Tamil Nadu's [[Oppari]] style, and its anti-oppression lyrical sentiment made the song an immediate success, with the music video gaining over 50 million views within weeks of its premiere on YouTube.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Nidhi |date=March 26, 2021 |title=Enjoyed "Enjoy Enjaami"? You'll love what the musicians of maajja are cooking up next |url=https://www.gqindia.com/entertainment/content/musicians-of-maajja |website=GQIndia}}</ref> Produced by Narayanan, it is the first song to be released under maajja.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Muralidharan |first=Kavitha |date=2021-03-18 |title=Listen between the lines |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/listen-between-the-lines/article34100794.ece |access-date=2021-04-10 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Pradeep |date=2021-03-09 |title=Enjoy Enjaami's Dhee: The 'Goli Soda akka' who now dares to dream |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/singer-dhee-the-goli-soda-akka-who-now-dares-to-dream/article34026824.ece |access-date=2021-04-10 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The success of "Enjoy Enjaami" soon became fraught with controversy about Arivu's perceived sidelining in the song's marketing in favour of Dhee and Narayanan. These debates largely revolved around his status as a 'featured' artist, and were spurred on by his absences from the covers of a [[Spotify]] remix by [[DJ Snake]] and the August 2021 issue of ''[[Rolling Stone India]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Desk |first=South First |date=2024-08-09 |title=Dhee back in spotlight with her latest single, 'I Wear My Roots Like a Medal' |url=https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/tamil/dhee-back-in-spotlight-with-her-latest-single-i-wear-my-roots-like-a-medal/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=The South First |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2022-08-02 |title=The ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ controversy explained |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/enjoy-enjaami-arivu-dhee-santhosh-narayanan-controversy-explained/article65715753.ece |access-date=2024-10-12 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In August 2022, Dhee responded to the controversy by asserting her record of crediting Arivu, and Narayanan, "every chance [she] got",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=T. N. M. |date=2022-08-02 |title='Always credited Arivu': Dhee on Enjoy Enjaami controversy |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/always-credited-arivu-dhee-enjoy-enjaami-controversy-166421 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref> while Arivu has maintained that the song was written and composed entirely by him.

In the years that followed, Dhee returned to Tamil cinema through musical collaborations with Narayanan and G.V. Prakash Kumar. She worked for the first time with composer [[Anirudh Ravichander]] on "Jujubee" for the 2023 hit [[Jailer (2023 Tamil film)|Jailer]], directed by [[Nelson Dilipkumar|Nelson]] and starring Ravichander's uncle, [[Rajinikanth]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-26 |title=Watch 'Jailer's third single 'Jujubee' now; a mass song! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/watch-jailers-third-single-jujubee-now-a-mass-song/articleshow/102145828.cms |access-date=2024-10-12 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> She made her Malayalam language debut in 2024 with "Viduthal" in Darwin Kuriakose's [[Anweshippin Kandethum]], with music by Narayanan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-05 |title=Singer Dhee amazes with her debut Malayalam track 'Viduthal', calls it special |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/music/singer-dhee-stuns-with-her-first-malayalam-song-viduthal-1.9298518 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=English.Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref>

During the 2021 promotions for "Enjoy Enjaami", it was announced that Dhee's debut studio album would be produced by maajja, marking her first English-language release since debuting in the Indian music industry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=22-year-old singer Dhee's first single, Enjoy Enjaami, crosses a 100M views! Find out more... |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/music/2021/apr/09/chennai-based-dhee-enjoy-enjaami-story-32921.html |access-date=2021-04-10 |website=www.indulgexpress.com |language=en}}</ref> Dhee's first English language single, "I Wear My Roots Like a Medal", was released in October 2024 without involvement from maajja. It was composed, written and performed by Dhee, and co-produced with Narayanan and Aditya Ravindran.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2024-08-08 |title=Dhee returns to her roots in her latest single ‘I Wear My Roots Like a Medal’ |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/i-wear-my-roots-like-a-medal-dhee-returns-to-her-roots-in-her-latest-single/article68500970.ece |access-date=2024-10-12 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
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|"Naan Nee"
|"Naan Nee"
||''[[Madras (film)|Madras]]''
||''[[Madras (film)|Madras]]''
|| co-artist Shakthisree Gopalan
|| Nominated—[[Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil|Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Female Playback Singer]]<br>Nominated—[[Vijay Award for Best Female Playback Singer]]
Nominated—[[Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil|Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Female Playback Singer]]<br>Nominated—[[Vijay Award for Best Female Playback Singer]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="4" |2016
| rowspan="4" |2016
Line 82: Line 87:
| rowspan="2" |''[[Irudhi Suttru]]''
| rowspan="2" |''[[Irudhi Suttru]]''
| rowspan="2"| Nominated—[[6th South Indian International Movie Awards|SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer]]
| rowspan="2"| Nominated—[[6th South Indian International Movie Awards|SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer]]
|
|-
|-
|"Usuru Narumbeley"
|"Usuru Narumbeley"
Line 103: Line 109:
| "Maadila Nikkura Maanutty" ||''[[Vada Chennai]]''||
| "Maadila Nikkura Maanutty" ||''[[Vada Chennai]]''||
|-
|-
| "[[Rowdy Baby (song)|Rowdy Baby]]" ||''[[Maari 2]]''||rowspan="2" |[[Yuvan Shankar Raja]]||Won - SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer
| "[[Rowdy Baby (song)|Rowdy Baby]]" ||''[[Maari 2]]''||rowspan="2" |[[Yuvan Shankar Raja]]||Nominated - Filmfare Award South for Best Female Playback Singer
Won - SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2019 || "Vaanil Irul" ||''[[Nerkonda Paarvai]]''||
| rowspan="2" | 2019 || "Vaanil Irul" ||''[[Nerkonda Paarvai]]''||
Line 123: Line 130:
| ''[[Soorarai Pottru]]''|| rowspan="2" |[[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]|| Won - SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer
| ''[[Soorarai Pottru]]''|| rowspan="2" |[[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]|| Won - SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer
Won - Filmfare Award South for Best Female Playback Singer
|-
|-
| "Kaatuka Kanule" || ''[[Aakasam Nee Haddu Raa]]'' || Telugu
| "Kaatuka Kanule" || ''[[Aakasam Nee Haddu Raa]]'' || Telugu
Line 156: Line 164:
|[[Santhosh Narayanan]]
|[[Santhosh Narayanan]]
|
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |2024
|"Kombari Vettapuli"
|''[[Captain Miller (film)|Captain Miller]]''
|[[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]
|
|-
|"Viduthal"
|''[[Anweshippin Kandethum]]''
|[[Santhosh Narayanan]] || Malayalam
|
|-
|"Ta Takkara"
|''[[Kalki 2898 AD]]''
|[[Santhosh Narayanan]]
|Telugu
|-
|"Yennai Izhukkuthadi"
|[[Kadhalikka Neramillai (upcoming film)|''Kadhalikka Neramillai'']]
|[[A. R. Rahman]]
|Tamil
|-
|"Nain Matakka"
|''[[Baby John (film)|Baby John]]''
|[[Thaman S]]
|Hindi debut
|}
|}


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[[Category:Singers from Chennai]]
[[Category:Singers from Chennai]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil musicians]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil musicians]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil people]]
[[Category:Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Australian women singers]]
[[Category:Australian women singers]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Australian people of Sri Lankan Tamil descent]]
[[Category:Australian people of Sri Lankan Tamil descent]]
[[Category:Australian people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Australian people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil women]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil women]]
[[Category:Indian women playback singers]]
[[Category:Tamil playback singers]]
[[Category:Tamil playback singers]]
[[Category:Tamil-language singers]]
[[Category:Tamil-language singers]]
[[Category:Australian expatriates in India]]
[[Category:Australian expatriates in India]]
[[Category:Expatriate musicians in India]]
[[Category:Expatriate musicians in India]]
[[Category:21st-century Sri Lankan women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women singers]]

Latest revision as of 22:38, 26 November 2024

Dhee
Birth nameDheekshitha Venkadeshan
Born (1998-06-26) 26 June 1998 (age 26)
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
OriginSydney, Australia
GenresPop
Occupations
InstrumentVocals
Years active2012–present
LabelsMaajja

Dheekshitha Venkadeshan (born 26 June 1998), known professionally as Dhee, is an Australian singer known for her work as a playback singer in Indian cinema.[1][2][3] Born in Jaffna to Tamil parents, she was raised in Sydney. She is best known for her collaborations with her stepfather, Santhosh Narayanan, and her distinctive alto voice.[4][5] She won the Filmfare Award for Best Singer for “Kaattu Payale”, from the 2020 film Soorarai Pottru.[6]

Early life and career

[edit]

Dhee was born on 26 June 1998 in Jaffna, Sri Lanka[7] to a Sri Lankan Tamil father, Venkadesan, and an Indian Tamil mother, Meenakshi Iyer, who is a Carnatic musician.[8][9] She was raised and went to school in Sydney, Australia, where her mother was based.[10][3][11] She has an elder brother, Sudheekshanan, and is the stepdaughter of Indian music composer Santhosh Narayanan.[5] Dhee began her playback singing career by performing songs in two of Narayanan's albums, Pizza II: Villa (2013) and Cuckoo (2014), during breaks from her education.

After settling in Chennai, Dhee made her breakthrough by singing "Naan Nee" on Narayanan's album, alongside Shakthisree Gopalan, for Pa. Ranjith's Madras (2014). The pair garnered nominations for Best Female Singer for their performance at the Filmfare Awards and Vijay Awards.[12]

Dhee received critical acclaim for her work in Sudha Kongara's sports drama film, Irudhi Suttru (2016).[9] As the lead singer for Ritika Singh's North Madras-based boxer character in the film, Dhee recorded two solo songs titled "Ey Sandakaara" and "Usuru Narumbuley".[13] Behindwoods.com stated that the first song was "another classic Santhosh [Narayanan] number that gets your attention in no time", while noting, of the latter, that the "pathos song by Dhee is a revelation of sorts".[14][15][16] In 2017, Dhee made her debut in Telugu cinema with songs from Kongara's Guru, a remake of the director's own Irudhi Suttru.

Dhee continued working with Narayanan in critically acclaimed albums for films such as Kaala (2018) and Vada Chennai (2018), before collaborating with Yuvan Shankar Raja for the song "Rowdy Baby" in Maari 2 (2018). Singing alongside actor Dhanush, the song garnered viral popularity soon after its release.[17] The track has since gained more than 1.5 billion views on YouTube, making it the highest viewed Tamil music video and one of the most-viewed Indian videos of all time.[18] In 2020, Dhee won her first Filmfare Award for Best Female Singer for the song "Kaattu Payale" in the Kongara film Soorarai Pottru (2020), working with composer G.V. Prakash Kumar.

Dhee made her debut in independent Tamil pop under the A.R. Rahman-helmed label, maajja, with "Enjoy Enjaami", featuring Arivu (from The Casteless Collective), on 7 March 2021.[19] The track's production, influenced by Tamil Nadu's Oppari style, and its anti-oppression lyrical sentiment made the song an immediate success, with the music video gaining over 50 million views within weeks of its premiere on YouTube.[20] Produced by Narayanan, it is the first song to be released under maajja.[21][22] The success of "Enjoy Enjaami" soon became fraught with controversy about Arivu's perceived sidelining in the song's marketing in favour of Dhee and Narayanan. These debates largely revolved around his status as a 'featured' artist, and were spurred on by his absences from the covers of a Spotify remix by DJ Snake and the August 2021 issue of Rolling Stone India.[23][24] In August 2022, Dhee responded to the controversy by asserting her record of crediting Arivu, and Narayanan, "every chance [she] got",[25] while Arivu has maintained that the song was written and composed entirely by him.

In the years that followed, Dhee returned to Tamil cinema through musical collaborations with Narayanan and G.V. Prakash Kumar. She worked for the first time with composer Anirudh Ravichander on "Jujubee" for the 2023 hit Jailer, directed by Nelson and starring Ravichander's uncle, Rajinikanth.[26] She made her Malayalam language debut in 2024 with "Viduthal" in Darwin Kuriakose's Anweshippin Kandethum, with music by Narayanan.[27]

During the 2021 promotions for "Enjoy Enjaami", it was announced that Dhee's debut studio album would be produced by maajja, marking her first English-language release since debuting in the Indian music industry.[28] Dhee's first English language single, "I Wear My Roots Like a Medal", was released in October 2024 without involvement from maajja. It was composed, written and performed by Dhee, and co-produced with Narayanan and Aditya Ravindran.[29]

Discography

[edit]

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart
positions 		Album
UK
Asian
[30]
"Enjoy Enjaami"
(feat. Arivu, produced by Santhosh Narayanan) 		2021 5 Non-album single

As playback singer

[edit]
Year Song title Film Music Director Notes
2013 "Disco Woman" Pizza II: Villa Santhosh Narayanan
2014 "Enda Mapla" Cuckoo
"Naan Nee" Madras co-artist Shakthisree Gopalan

Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Female Playback Singer
Nominated—Vijay Award for Best Female Playback Singer

2016 "Ey Sandakaara" Irudhi Suttru Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer
"Usuru Narumbeley"
"Thoondil Meen" Kabali
"Dushta" Iraivi
2017 "Oo Sakkanoda" Guru Telugu
"Gundelothulalo"
"Rathina Katti" Meyaadha Maan
2018 "Kannamma Kannamma" Kaala
"Maadila Nikkura Maanutty" Vada Chennai
"Rowdy Baby" Maari 2 Yuvan Shankar Raja Nominated - Filmfare Award South for Best Female Playback Singer

Won - SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer

2019 "Vaanil Irul" Nerkonda Paarvai
"Idharkuthaan" Bigil A. R. Rahman
2020 "Yedho Maayam" Dagaalty Vijay Narain
"Manamengum Maaya Oonjal" Gypsy Santhosh Narayanan
"Kaattu Payale" Soorarai Pottru G. V. Prakash Kumar Won - SIIMA Award for Best Female Playback Singer

Won - Filmfare Award South for Best Female Playback Singer

"Kaatuka Kanule" Aakasam Nee Haddu Raa Telugu
"Rakita Rakita Rakita" Jagame Thandhiram Santhosh Narayanan
2021 "Uttradheenga Yeppov" Karnan
2022 "Anbarey" Gulu Gulu
2023 "Chamkeela Angeelesi" Dasara Telugu
"Mainaru Vetti Katti" Tamil version
"Jujubee" Jailer Anirudh Ravichander
"Maamadura" Jigarthanda DoubleX Santhosh Narayanan
2024 "Kombari Vettapuli" Captain Miller G. V. Prakash Kumar
"Viduthal" Anweshippin Kandethum Santhosh Narayanan Malayalam
"Ta Takkara" Kalki 2898 AD Santhosh Narayanan Telugu
"Yennai Izhukkuthadi" Kadhalikka Neramillai A. R. Rahman Tamil
"Nain Matakka" Baby John Thaman S Hindi debut

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Laisram, Romal. "22-year-old singer Dhee's first single, Enjoy Enjaami, crosses a 100M views!". Indulge Express. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  2. ^ Sarwal, Amit (18 March 2021). "Tamil-Australian singer's tribute to the dispossessed tea plantation labourers". The Australia Today.
  3. ^ a b Tagat, Anurag (21 August 2021). "COVER STORY: Back to the Roots". Rolling Stone.
  4. ^ R, Balajee C. (14 March 2016). "Dhee' one to watch out for!". www.deccanchronicle.com. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b Laisram, Ronal (10 April 2021). "Cuckoo, cuckoo! A voice of her own". The New Indian Express.
  6. ^ "Suriya's Soorarai Pottru and Allu Arjun starrer Pushpa win big at Filmfare Awards South 2022, check out complete winners list". The Indian Express. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Dhee Song Lyrics with Translation & Meanings (2024)". www.lyricsdecoder.com. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Meet Meenakshi Santhosh Narayanan". SBS (Australia). Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  9. ^ a b Balaji, CR (14 March 2016). "'Dhee' one to watch out for". Deccan Chronicle.
  10. ^ Lohani Mehtani, Hansika (7 February 2022). "Dhee". Platform.
  11. ^ Das, Ria (23 August 2021). "All You Should Know About Dhee". SheThePeople.
  12. ^ "Nominations for the 62nd Britannia Filmfare Awards (South)". Filmfare.com. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  13. ^ "Irudhi Suttru Songs Review". Only Kollywood. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  14. ^ "Irudhi Suttru (aka) Iruthi Suttru songs review". Behindwoods.com. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Irudhi Suttru- A sparkling album!". Sify. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  16. ^ "Irudhi Suttru Music Review". Top10 Cinema. 4 January 2016. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ^ Reporter, Staff (13 February 2019). "'Rowdy Baby' notches up 200 million YouTube views". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Rowdy Baby Becomes The First South Indian Song To Set This Record!". www.vcinema.com. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  19. ^ Kumar, Pradeep (15 March 2021). "Enjoy Enjaami's Dhee: The 'Goli Soda akka' who now dares to dream". The Hindu.
  20. ^ Gupta, Nidhi (26 March 2021). "Enjoyed "Enjoy Enjaami"? You'll love what the musicians of maajja are cooking up next". GQIndia.
  21. ^ Muralidharan, Kavitha (18 March 2021). "Listen between the lines". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  22. ^ Kumar, Pradeep (9 March 2021). "Enjoy Enjaami's Dhee: The 'Goli Soda akka' who now dares to dream". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  23. ^ Desk, South First (9 August 2024). "Dhee back in spotlight with her latest single, 'I Wear My Roots Like a Medal'". The South First. Retrieved 12 October 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  24. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (2 August 2022). "The 'Enjoy Enjaami' controversy explained". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 October 2024. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  25. ^ Staff, T. N. M. (2 August 2022). "'Always credited Arivu': Dhee on Enjoy Enjaami controversy". The News Minute. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Watch 'Jailer's third single 'Jujubee' now; a mass song!". The Times of India. 26 July 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Singer Dhee amazes with her debut Malayalam track 'Viduthal', calls it special". English.Mathrubhumi. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  28. ^ "22-year-old singer Dhee's first single, Enjoy Enjaami, crosses a 100M views! Find out more..." www.indulgexpress.com. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  29. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (8 August 2024). "Dhee returns to her roots in her latest single 'I Wear My Roots Like a Medal'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 October 2024. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  30. ^ Singles on UK Asian Music Chart:
[edit]
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