Thaman S

Thaman was born as Ghantasala Sai Srinivas in Pottepalem in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. and grew up in Chennai in a family[9][10] of musicians. 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 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,[13] and discontinued studies when he lost his father at the age of 13. He was compelled to make his hobby into a profession to overcome the crisis in his family.[14] 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 on 30 films.

Thaman considers Mani Sharma to be his guru and spent eight years under his tutelage, while working on 94 films with him.[15] On the whole he put in fourteen years of rhythm and keyboard programming with the veterans before branching out on his own.[16]

Thaman made his debut as a composer in through the Telugu feature film Malli Malli (2009), although the soundtrack album was released in 2008. Jeevi of Idlebrain credited Thaman's work in the film is credited as "good".[17] The same year his second soundtrack, of the film Sindhanai Sei, marked his debut in the Tamil cinema.[18] 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.[19][20] 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.

His breakout film as a music director was Kick (2009).[21] His notable compositions include films such as Eeram (2009), Brindavanam (2010), Mirapakay (2011), Dookudu (2011), Businessman (2012), Naayak (2013), Baadshah (2013), Greeku Veerudu (2013), Race Gurram (2014), Aagadu (2014), Bruce Lee (2015), Sarrainodu (2016), Tholi Prema (2018), Simmba (2018), Ala Vaikuntapuramulo (2020), Krack (2021), Vakeel Saab (2021), Akhanda (2021), Bheemla Nayak (2022) and Varisu (2023). Thaman won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for Ala Vaikuntapuramulo in 2020, a recognition not many Telugu music composers have received in the history of Telugu Cinema. He also received several awards such as Filmfare, IIFA etc., for his music for many blockbuster films.

In the same year of his debut, he had four more soundtrack album releases–three in Telugu and one in Tamil.[22] Composition of "Mahalakshmi" and "Dhakku Dhakku" songs from the film Sankham were praised.[23] In 2010, he has composed score and soundtrack album for nine films, with majority of them being Tamil. Brindavanam was the most successful composition of all. Released on 12 September 2010, the album received positive reviews. 123Telugu gave a review stating "Overall the songs of Brindaavanam are fast, most of them soulful, enjoyable and a touch catering to the lovers of mass numbers. Most Telugu music directors have been going the Rahman way focusing on a fast beat while the song is slow. This album is an exception, where the songs are as fast as they can get. Thaman manages to keep everyone interested with his tunes, in spite of the pressure to cater to dance needs of Jr.NTR."[24]

Thaman completed his 100th film as a composer for Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava in 2018, when he worked for the first time with celebrated writer and director Trivikram Srinivas. Thaman considers him as his mentor and guru who has guided, inspired him and changed the way he approached his music. Noticeably, his composing style had shifted significantly post his first collaboration with his mentor.

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.[25] In 2018, he composed a theme song for Rohit Shetty's successful venture Simmba.

Thaman has been part of the Judges Panel for the popular show Telugu Indian Idol, season 1 and season 2, streaming on Aha.[26]

Thaman owns music bands named Band Thamania and Gongura band.[27][28] Thaman is passionate about the sport of Cricket and played several matches for CCL and 3rd division in Chennai. He has received many accolades as 'Man of the Match' and has a dedicated fanbase for his batting skills in the CCL world.

National Film Awards

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

South Indian International Movie Awards

• 2012: SIIMA Award for Best Music Director (Telugu) for Dookudu[38]
• 2013: SIIMA Award for Best Male Playback Singer (Telugu) for "Sir Osthara" – Businessman[39]
• 2015: SIIMA Award for Most streaming song for "Aagadu title song" – Aagadu[40]
• 2021: SIIMA Award for Best Music Director (Telugu) for Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo
• 2022: SIIMA Award for Best Male Playback Singer (Kannada) for Yuvarathnaa

Filmfare Awards South

• 2012: Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Telugu for Dookudu[41]

Other awards

• The Hyderabad Times Film Awards 2011 – Best Music Director for Dookudu[42]
• 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).

• Thaman S at IMDb
• Thaman S on Twitter
• Thaman S on Instagram