Swetha Ashok is an Indian playback singer, who is well known for her work in the Malayalam film industry. She rose to fame as a child when she won the reality show Munch Star Singer (2008). She was one of the finalists on the reality show SaReGaMaPa Keralam, the Malayalam regional version of the flagship show of Zee Entertainment Enterprises. During the course of the show, Swetha launched her playback singing career by singing songs for prominent films like Mammooty's Shylock, Happy Sardar, and Dhamaka by music director Gopi Sundar.
Swetha Ashok | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Vadakara, Calicut, Kerala |
| Genres | Folk, Indian classical, Playback Singing, Ghazal, Western |
| Years active | 2008 - Present |
| Website | www |
Biography
editSwetha was born in Vadakara, Calicut. She currently lives with her parents and brother in Cochin, Kerala. She has one elder sister and a brother. Swetha's brother Vishnu Ashok is an aspiring violinist and a music director.[1] Swetha's sister Aswathi Ashok is a lyricist[2] and a businesswoman, owner of the jewellery line AASH.
Career
editSwetha is a trained classical singer and a B high grade artiste in All India Radio. She trained under Guru T. Ramachandran Namboothiri and Guru Vaikom Jayachandran Namboothiri. She participated in the reality show Munch Star Singer in 2008 and subsequently was crowned the winner. Post her rise to fame as a child, Swetha has done over 500 concerts across India, USA, Canada, Singapore and the Middle East. She was an Asst. Professor of Computer Science and an online music instructor at NotesNBeats, California before she once again participated in a reality show SaReGaMaPa Keralam in 2019. During the course of her show, she landed singing opportunities with well known music directors like Gopi Sundar and Shaan Rahman.
On 26 August 2020, Swetha released her first original song, called "Chingaponpulari".[3] The song is an Onam special featuring Swetha as the artiste. The music was done by her brother Vishnu Ashok and the lyrics have been penned by her sister Aswathi Ashok.[4] The song immediately trended after the release with multiple media platforms covering it and lauding the family for their joint venture. Produced under their family's banner, the song has been jointly produced by KP Ashokan and Jyothi Ashok.[5] The song was released online by Sujatha Mohan who appreciated Swetha on her maiden original with a note of encouragement.[6]
Swetha released her second single[7] on 1 November 2020. The romantic number "Neeye" was the second venture of the sibling trio with Vishnu Ashok composing the music and Aswathi Ashok penning the lyrics for the same.
As playback singer
edit- All songs are in Malayalam, unless otherwise noted.
| Year | Song | Title | Music director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Amme Mookambike" | Nalla Pattukare | Sharreth | |
| 2017 | "Kannil Mayyezhuthi" | Sakhavinte Priyasakhi | Hari | |
| 2019 | "Bar Song" | Shylock | Gopi Sundar | |
| "Adipoli Dhamaka" | Dhamaka | Gopi Sundar | ||
| "Happy Song" | ||||
| 2020 | "Farewell Song - Chorus" | Kunjeldho | Shaan Rahman | |
| "Thulasikathir Nulliyeduthu" | Album | Sargam Music | ||
| "Maadu Meykum Kanne" | Album | Sargam Music | ||
| "Veera Viraada" | Album | Sargam Music | ||
| "Malappuram Song" | Album | Atif, Essar Media | ||
| "Thulasi Kathir" (Hindi) | Album | Sargam Music | ||
| "Chingaponpulari" | Original song | Vishnu Ashok | [8] | |
| "Neeye" | Original song | Vishnu Ashok | [9] | |
| "Kadhayini Maari" | Kaiyethum Doorath | Gopi Sundar | [10] | |
| 2021 | "Janmangal Theeruvolam Amma Kunje" | Amma makal | Alphons Joseph | [11] |
| "Edukka Kaashayi" | Minnal Murali | Shaan Rahman | ||
| 2022 | "Nagumo Revival" | Hridayam | Hesham Abdul Wahab | |
| "Paalvarnna Kuthiramel" | Kaduva | Jakes Bejoy | ||
| "Theliyaledhuga" | Em Chesthunnav | Gopi Sundar | ||
| 2023 | "Parakkum Parava Poley" | Otta | M. Jayachandran |
Television shows
edit| Program | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Singer season 9 | Mentor | Asianet | |
| Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Keralam | Contestant | Zee Keralam | 2nd Runner-Up |
| Munch Star Singer season 1 | Contestant | Asianet | Winner |
References
edit- ^ "സരിഗമപയിലൂടെ ശ്രദ്ധേയായ ശ്വേത അശോകിന്റെ ഓണഗാനം ശ്രദ്ധേയമാകുന്നു; തരംഗമായി ചിങ്ങപൊൻപ്പുലരി,Swetha ashok musical album goes viralMalayali Life | the Largest Malayalam Online Lifestyle Portal". 9 September 2015.
- ^ "സരിഗമപയിലൂടെ ശ്രദ്ധേയായ ശ്വേത അശോകിന്റെ ഓണഗാനം സോഷ്യൽ മീഡിയയിൽ ശ്രദ്ധേയമാകുന്നു". 27 August 2020.
- ^ "ശ്വേത അശോകിന്റെ 'ചിങ്ങപ്പൊൻപുലരി'; ആശംസകള്‍ നേർന്ന് സുജാത".
- ^ "സരിഗമപ താരം ശ്വേതയുടെ 'ചിങ്ങപ്പൊന്‍പുലരി' ശ്രദ്ധേയമാവുന്നു! ഓണപ്പാട്ട് വീഡിയോ കാണാം". 28 August 2020.
- ^ "സരിഗമപയിലൂടെ ശ്രദ്ധേയായ ശ്വേത അശോകിന്റെ ഓണഗാനം സോഷ്യല്‍ മീഡിയയില്‍ ശ്രദ്ധേയമാകുന്നു". 27 August 2020.
- ^ https://timeskerala.com/archives/333765 [dead link]
- ^ "ശ്വേതയും സഹോദരങ്ങളും ചേർന്നൊരുക്കിയ ഗാനം സോഷ്യൽ മീഡിയയിൽ ഹിറ്റ്". 2 November 2020.
- ^ "സരിഗമപ താരം ശ്വേതയുടെ 'ചിങ്ങപ്പൊന്‍പുലരി' ശ്രദ്ധേയമാവുന്നു! ഓണപ്പാട്ട് വീഡിയോ കാണാം". 28 August 2020.
- ^ https://www.malayalamexpress.in/archives/1466123/ [dead link]
- ^ "Family drama Kaiyethum Doorath to narrate an interesting love story - Times of India". The Times of India. 27 November 2020.
- ^ "Zee Keralam launches new Primetime show 'Amma Makal' today at 9 PM". 25 October 2021.
External links
edit- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/malayalam/i-quit-my-teaching-job-for-music-says-sa-re-ga-ma-pa-keralam-contestant-swetha-ashok/articleshow/70466437.cms
- https://www.exchange4media.com/industry-briefing-news/saregamapa-keralam-contestants-song-for-shylock-crosses-1m-views-on-youtube-102274.html
- https://malayalilife.com/channel/interview/swetha-ashok-sharing-the-lockdown--days-10823.html
- https://www.indiantelevision.com/release/y2k10/feb/febrel51.php
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/malayalam/sa-re-ga-ma-pa-keralam-contestants-turn-playback-singers-this-onam/articleshow/70910794.cms