Thaman S

Ghantasala Sai Srinivas Sivakumar (born on 16 November 1983),[3] professionally credited as

Thaman S, is an Indian composer and playback singer known for his works majorly in Telugu and
Tamil cinema.[4][5] He is the recipient of the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for his
work in the 2020 musical hit Ala Vaikuntapuramulo.[6]

His breakout film as a music director was Kick (2009).[7] His notable compositions include films
such as Eeram (2009), Brindavanam (2010), Mirapakay (2011), Osthe (2011), Dookudu (2011),
Businessman (2012), Naayak (2013), Baadshah (2013), Greeku Veerudu (2013), Ramayya
Vasthavayya (2013), Race Gurram (2014), Aagadu (2014), Bruce Lee (2015), Sarrainodu (2016),
Tholi Prema (2018), Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava (2018), Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020),
Krack (2021), Vakeel Saab (2021), Akhanda (2021), Bheemla Nayak (2022), Varisu (2023),
Bhagavanth Kesari (2023) and Guntur Kaaram (2024).

Thaman has been the judge in the reality singing show Telugu Indian Idol. He is known for his
frequent collaborations with Ravi Teja, Surender Reddy, Sreenu Vaitla, Trivikram Srinivas, and
Boyapati Srinu.[8]

Early life

Thaman was born as Ghantasala Sai Srinivas in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. grew up in Chennai in a
Telugu speaking family of musicians.[9][10] He is the grandson of veteran director and producer,
Ghantasala Balaramayya.[11] His father, Ghantasala Siva Kumar, was a drummer, who worked for
seven hundred films, under music director K. Chakravarthy. His mother, Ghantasala Savitri, his sister,
Yamini Ghantasala, and his aunt, B. Vasantha, are all playback singers.[12][3] Sai Srinivas adopted the
stage name Thaman and suffixed it with an S, the initial of his father's name Sivakumar.[1]

Thaman's father was his first teacher, who was also an accomplished drummer who worked with
the likes of legendary percussionist Sivamani. Thaman entered Telugu cinema as a supporting
drummer at the age of 11 when he accompanied his father for the background score for the film
Bhairava Dweepam in 1994.[13] He performed in 7000 stage shows all over the world before
becoming a music director. He worked for 64 Indian music directors as a rhythm box player,
keyboard programmer and drummer for 900 films before he became a film music director. His debut
releases as a music director were Kick in Telugu and Sindhanai Sei in Tamil, both of which released
in 2009.[14][15] He made his acting debut with one
Thaman S
of India's most celebrated directors Shankar's
Boys (2003).

Thaman studied at Boston School in Chennai. He

joined a music team consisting of S. P.
Balasubrahmanyam and G. Anand as a rhythm
pads player when he was nine years old,[16] and
discontinued studies at the age of 13 when his
father died. He was compelled to make his hobby
into a profession to overcome the crisis in his
family.[17] He then joined Raj–Koti and worked for
three years on 60 films under their tutelage. He
also worked with M. M. Keeravani for three years
Thaman in 2014
on 30 films.

Background information
Thaman considers Mani Sharma to be his guru
and spent eight years under his tutelage, while Birth name Ghantasala Sai

working on 94 films with him.[18] On the whole he Srinivas Sivakumar[1]

put in fourteen years of rhythm and keyboard

Born 16 November 1983[2]
programming with the veterans before branching
Nellore, Andhra
out on his own.[19] Pradesh, India

Career Genres Film score

Occupations Music composer ·

Thaman made his debut as a composer in drummer · judge ·
through the Telugu feature film Malli Malli (2009), singer

although the soundtrack album was released in

Instruments Drums · rhythm pads
2008. Jeevi of Idlebrain credited Thaman's work
· keyboard · trumpet
in the film is credited as "good".[20] The same year
his second soundtrack, of the film Sindhanai Sei, Years active 1994–present

marked his debut in the Tamil cinema.[21] He has

also made his playback singing debut by recording "Uchimeedhu" song from the soundtrack.
Background score in the Tamil film Eeram (2009) received good reviews from the critics.[22][23]
Although he started composing the music of the film in 2007, the soundtrack was released in 2008
and eventually the film was released in 2009. In May 2017, Thaman made his Hindi debut when he
was one of the six composers who featured in the soundtrack album of Rohit Shetty's Golmaal
Again, a comedy franchise in Hindi cinema.[24] In 2018, he composed a theme song for Rohit
Shetty's successful venture Simmba.

Personal life

Thaman owns music bands named Band Thamania and Gongura band.[25][26] He is also a Cricket
player, part of CCL[27] and owns a team called Thaman Hitters.

Discography

Filmography

Year Title Role Language Notes Ref.

[28]
2003 Boys Krishna

2009 Sindhanai Sei Tamil

2010 Ayyanar Special appearance

Himself
2019 Mr. Majnu Telugu

2024 Baby John Hindi Special appearance in the song "Nain Matakka"

Television

Year Title Role Network Language

2019 Super Singer Telugu Star Maa

Telugu
2022–present Telugu Indian Idol Judge Aha

2023 Super Singer Junior 9 Star Vijay Tamil

Accolades

National Film Awards

2022: 68th National Film Awards – Best Music Direction for Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo

South Indian International Movie Awards

2012: Best Music Director – Telugu for Dookudu[29]

2013: Best Male Playback Singer – Telugu for "Sir Osthara" – Businessman[30]

2015: Most streaming song for "Aagadu title song" – Aagadu[31]

 2021: Best Music Director – Telugu for Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo

2022: Best Male Playback Singer – Kannada for Yuvarathnaa

2023: Nominated – Best Music Director – Telugu for Bheemla Nayak

Filmfare Awards South

2012: Best Music Director – Telugu for Dookudu[32]

Other awards

The Hyderabad Times Film Awards 2011 – Best Music Director for Dookudu[33]

MAA Music Awards 2011 – Best Music Director for Dookudu

TSR TV9 Awards 2011 – Best Music Director for Dookudu.

TSR TV9 Awards 2016 – Best Music Director for Sarrainodu, Srirastu Subhamastu.

GAMA Awards 2016 – Best Love song "Nuvve Nuvve" in Kick 2.

Zee Cine Awards Telugu – Favorite Music Director for Tholi Prema.

17th Santosham Film Awards 2019 – Best Music Director Award for Aravinda Sametha Veera
Raghava (2018).

References

1. Exclusive: Music Director SS Thaman about Ala Vaikuntapurramloo (https://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=zo43Z4F70q4&t=14m45s) . 10TV. 24 November 2019. Archived (https://ghostarc
hive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/zo43Z4F70q4) from the original on 21 December
2021.

2. K., Janani (16 November 2020). "Mahesh Babu and Allu Arjun lead Tollywood in wishing S
Thaman a happy birthday" (https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/mahesh-
babu-and-allu-arjun-lead-tollywood-in-wishing-s-thaman-a-happy-birthday-1741360-2020-11-1
6) . India Today. Retrieved 6 March 2021.

3. Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (29 July 2019). "Yamini Ghantasala, composer S S Thaman's siser, is
the voice behind the 'Gira gira gira' song in 'Dear Comrade' " (https://www.thehindu.com/enterta
inment/movies/yamini-ghantasala-composer-s-s-thamans-siser-is-the-voice-behind-the-gira-gir
a-gira-song-in-dear-comrade/article28745724.ece) . The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X (https://sear
ch.worldcat.org/issn/0971-751X) . Retrieved 22 June 2022.
 4. "Thaman to render music for NTR - Harish Shankar movie" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120
913011300/http://pluzmedia.in/news/tollywood/56111/thaman-to-render-music-for-ntr--harish
-shankar-movie.htm) . Pluzmedia.in. 10 August 2012. Archived from the original (http://pluzm
edia.in/news/tollywood/56111/thaman-to-render-music-for-ntr--harish-shankar-movie.htm)
on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2016.

5. "Telugu cinema news, Telugu Movies Updates, Latest Movie reviews in Telugu" (http://www.telu
guboxoffice.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1228___+&Itemid=32) .
Telugu BOX Office. Retrieved 20 January 2016.

6. Bureau, The Hindu (22 July 2022). "68th National Film Awards | Updates" (https://www.thehind
u.com/entertainment/movies/68th-national-film-awards-live-here-are-all-the-winners/article65
670011.ece) . The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X (https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0971-751X) .
Retrieved 23 July 2022. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)

7. "Happy Birthday S Thaman: A sneak peek into his musical journey and top songs" (https://india
nexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/happy-birthday-s-thaman-a-sneak-peek-into-his-m
usical-journey-and-top-songs-7623466/) . The Indian Express. 16 November 2021. Retrieved
25 July 2022.

8. "Telugu 'Indian Idol' to get started from February 25" (https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/t

elugu-indian-idol-to-get-started-from-february-25-730015) . 19 February 2022.

9. "S Thaman turns 36: Tollywood celebrities queue to wish the talented composer on social
media" (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/s-thaman-tur
ns-36-tollywood-celebrities-queue-to-wish-the-talented-composer-on-social-media/articlesho
w/72083078.cms) . The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257 (https://search.worldcat.org/issn/09
71-8257) . Retrieved 8 April 2023.

10. "All you want to know about @MusicThaman" (https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/thaman-s.ht

ml) . FilmiBeat. Retrieved 8 April 2023.

11. "Anirudh-அ விட Best-ஆ பண்ணி காட்றேன் : Music Director Thaman Exclusive Interview |
Thalapathy 66" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2KSctCbMW8) . YouTube. 11 May
2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.

12. "Music for the masses - Delta" (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemap

lus/music-for-the-masses/article1472986.ece) . The Hindu. 20 February 2011. Retrieved
20 January 2016.
13. Manisharma is My Guru in Music Since School Days, Thaman Interview NTV (https://www.yout
ube.com/watch?v=w0lUJvb1s7Q&t=0m5s) . Archived (https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/yout
ube/20211221/w0lUJvb1s7Q) from the original on 21 December 2021.

14. "Yuvan and Thaman team up again for 'Adhyaayam' " (https://archive.today/20150413205747/
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/yuvan-and-thaman-team-up-again-for-'adhyaayam'/276400-8.htm
l) . IBNLive. Archived from the original (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/yuvan-and-thaman-team-up
-again-for-'adhyaayam'/276400-8.html) on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2016.

15. "Thaman to complete 50th film with Aagadu" (http://www.raagalahari.com/news/16807/thama

n-hits-fastest-half-century-in-music-history.aspx) . Raagalahari.com. 17 June 2013. Retrieved
20 January 2016.

16. "Tollywood Music Director S Thaman Biography, News, Photos, Videos" (https://nettv4u.com/c
elebrity/telugu/music-director/s-thaman) . nettv4u. Retrieved 30 November 2019.

17. "Budding talent in music" (http://cineoutlook.com/index.php/budding-talent-in-music.html) .

Retrieved 7 April 2013.

18. NTV Interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXu7xa5Jf9Q&t=11m23s) . Archived (http

s://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/vXu7xa5Jf9Q) from the original on 21
December 2021.

19. "Thaman S Biography, Thaman S Profile - Filmibeat" (http://entertainment.oneindia.in/celebs/th

aman-s/biography.html) . Entertainment.oneindia.in. 16 November 1983. Retrieved
20 January 2016.

20. "Malli Malli review - Telugu cinema Review - Skanda & Kalyanee" (http://www.idlebrain.com/mo
vie/archive/mr-mallimalli.html) . www.idlebrain.com. Retrieved 20 November 2021.

21. "Bheebatsam audio function" (http://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions/audio-bheebatsam.ht

ml) . Idlebrain.com. 7 November 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

22. "Not a damp squib -- Eeram" (https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemapl

us/not-a-damp-squib-eeram/article3021917.ece) . The Hindu. 18 September 2009.
ISSN 0971-751X (https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0971-751X) . Retrieved 1 February 2022.

23. Srinivasan, Pavithra. "Review: Eeram is brilliant" (https://movies.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/1

1/review-eeram.htm) . Rediff. Retrieved 1 February 2022.

24. "Thaman flies to Bollywood with top league director" (https://web.archive.org/web/201811050

12021/https://www.top10cinema.com/article/42519/thaman-flies-to-bollywood-with-top-leagu
e-director) . Top 10 Cinema. 16 May 2017. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018.
Retrieved 17 May 2017.
25. "Thaman launches music band" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130927093711/http://newindi
anexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article324891.ece) . The New Indian Express. Archived
from the original (http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article324891.ece) on
27 September 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2016.

26. "We're trying to record live: Tharman" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regio

nal/news-interviews/were-trying-to-record-live-Tharman/articleshow/4874089.cms) . The
Times of India. 10 August 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2011.

27. "CCL 2023: Thaman in Semis, Akhil in Finals Made the War One-sided" (https://www.gulte.com/
movienews/234623/ccl-2023-thaman-in-semis-akhil-in-finals-made-the-war-onesided) . 27
March 2023.

28. "Music director Thaman joins Shankar-RamCharan's #RC15" (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.c

om/entertainment/tamil/music/music-director-thaman-joins-shankar-ramcharans-rc15/article
show/84545217.cms) . The Times of India. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.

29. "SIIMA AWARDS | 2012 | winners | |" (http://siima.in/2012/winners.html) . siima.in. Retrieved

8 July 2020.

30. "SIIMA AWARDS | 2013 | winners | |" (https://web.archive.org/web/20170705101950/http://sii

ma.in/2013/winners.html) . siima.in. Archived from the original (http://siima.in/2013/winners.
html) on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.

31. "SIIMA AWARDS | 2015 | winners | |" (http://siima.in/2015/winners.html) . siima.in. Retrieved

8 July 2020.

32. "The 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2011 (South)" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainme

nt/regional/tamil/news-interviews/The-59th-Idea-Filmfare-Awards-2011South/articleshow/147
42576.cms) . The Times of India. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2016.

33. "The Hyderabad Times Film Awards 2011" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130718191108/htt

p://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-24/news-interviews/32382769_1_mahesh-b
abu-tamannaah-video) . The Times of India. 24 June 2012. Archived from the original (http://a
rticles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-24/news-interviews/32382769_1_mahesh-babu-t
amannaah-video) on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2016.

External links

Thaman S (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3888981/) at IMDb

Thaman S (https://x.com/MusicThaman) on Twitter