Hariharan the renowned singer was born on April 3rd in 1955 in Puthan Theruvu, Kerala. Born of musician parents, music came on to him naturally and spontaneously. He learned his first lessons in music from his mother Alamelu who was a Carnatic vocalist. His father H.A.S Mani was also a renowned Carnatic singer. Hariharan was however drawn by the Hindhusthani facet of music from a very young age. He lost himself to the Ghazal version of music that led him to learn Hindusthani music under Ustad Ghulam Musthafa Khan and involved himself in strenuous practice of the same. He further enhanced himself with the learning of Urdu for a pure rendering of Ghazals. His Urdhu diction was remarkable.
Hariharan was selected for the top prize for the 'All India Sur Singaar' competition in 1977 that opened the portals of film music for him. The late music director Jaidev promptly introduced him in the Hindi film 'Gaman'. His Ghazal rendering '"Ajeeb Saane He Mujh Par Qarar" in the movie bagged him the Uttar Pradesh state award and his career in playback singing took off. "Sahibaan", "Lamhe", "Raam Nagari", "Dard Ka Rishe", Zamana" and "Sindoor" were someof the Hindi movies amongst many others that carried his voice. But however his career in playback singing did not affect in least bit his love for singing ghazals. He came up with a lot of ghazal albums like "Abshaar-e-Ghazal" with Asha Bhonsle that made good sales and " Gulfam" which fetched him the Diva award for the best album of the year 1994.
Hariharan's musical talent was well spoken in every nook and corner of the country as well as globally for his Indo-Western rendering for the album " Colonial Cousins" paired with Leslie Lewis. The success of the album soared his fame to unbelievable heights. The song 'Something in the way you smile' is a wonderful blend of the Indo-Western music. 'Let me see the love' is a beautiful expression of the 'Hamsadhvani' raga with Hariharan's voice easily and efficiently smoothing over the highest and lowest notes. Hariharan's music talents transcended language barriers and were spoken of with much appreciation down south when A.R. Rahman introduced him in the film 'Roja' for the song 'Tamilazh Tamilazh'.
His unique voice enthralled the Tamil audience that made him established his music talents in the Tamil cine field as well. Hariharan was adjudged Best Male Playback Singer in the Tamilnadu State Government Film Awards for 1995 for his versatility in singing the soul stirring Uyireh uyireh for 'Bombay' and 'Konja Naal' for the film 'Aasai'. 'Yennai Thaalata varuvalaa' for the film 'Kaadhalukku Mariyaadhai' composed by the maestro Illayaraja added yet another feather to his hat.'Malargalleh malargalleh' for 'Love Birds', 'Telephone mani pol' for Indian, 'Mellisaiye' for 'Mr. Romeo', 'Vennilaveh vennilaveh' for 'Minsaarakanavu', 'Nagumo yein' for ' Arunachalam' were some of his melodious hits in Tamil movies. Well this is not all and Hariharan is sure to mesmerize his audience with his mellifluous voice with his forth-coming numbers