# Devan Ekambaram

Devan Ekambaram (born 25 December 1975) is an Indian American film playback singer, actor and composer. He began his career as a playback singer in Tamil films, and later branched out to many other south Indian languages, such as Telugu and Kannada. Ekambaram has sung for over 500 films.

## Education

Devan studied at Freehold Township High School, New Jersey. He enrolled in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he dropped out in his second year.

## Singing career

Devan started his singing career in 1999 when he received an unexpected call from the assistants of composer A. R. Rahman, inviting him for a voice audition. He went on to record his first song, "O Maria," for the film Kadhalar Dhinam, collaborating with Yugendran. The song leads to numerous offers from various Southern music directors.
Devan's second hit came in his short rendition of "Ore Nyabagam" from the film Minnale (2001), composed by Harris Jayaraj. Following that, he sang numerous popular tracks in Tamil and Telugu films, collaborating with composers such as Ilayaraja, Vidhyasagar, Deva, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Karthik Raja, and others. The song "Anbil Avan" from the film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa is composed by A. R. Rahman.
Recently, he sang "Nahna na Na" for Director Venkat Prabhu's Biriyani, composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Two different remix versions of the song include "New Jack Swing Mix" and "The Extended Mix".
He sang the song "Yennai Arindhaal" from the movie Yennai Arindhaal in collaboration with Harris Jayaraj. Lyricist Thamarai wrote this song.

## Music direction

Devan debuted as a music director in the 2010 film Bale Pandiya. The music album was received with a mixed response. Besides this film, Devan has composed for several short Tamil album songs and has also sung for them.
* Bale Pandiya (2010)
* Pattarai (2022)

## Acting

Devan has performed in a few Tamil films as a character artist. Prominent ones include Parthiban Kanavu (debut film), Unnale Unnale and Jayam Kondaan. He also dubbed for various characters in films like Little John for the main character, John McKenzie, Suresh in Dasavathaaram, Dong Lee and other Chinese characters in 7aum Arivu.

## Discography
### Tamil

| Year | Film | Song | Composer | Co-singer(s) |
| 2024 | Unarvugal Thodarkadhai | "Thodarum Kadhaiyaaga" | Ajmal Khan | Niharika Patro |
| 2019 | Kee | "Pathikichu Paatheeya" | Vishal Chandrasekhar | |
| 2018 | Pyaar Prema Kaadhal | "I Will Never Let You Go" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| 2016 | Hello Naan Pei Pesuren | "Kozhi Kuruda" | Siddharth Vipin | Shweta Mohan |
| 2015 | Om Shanthi Om | "Mazhai Thuli Azhaga" | Vijay Ebenezer | Aalap Raju, Dr. Burn |
| 2015 | Yennai Arindhaal | "Yennai Arindhaal" | Harris Jayaraj | Mark Thomas, Abhishek |
| 2015 | Idhu Enna Maayam | "Machi Machi" | G. V. Prakash Kumar | Udit Narayan, Navin Iyer |
| 2014 | Yaan | "Hey Lamba Lamba" | Harris Jayaraj | Krishna Iyer, Divya Vijay |
| 2013 | Endrendrum Punnagai | "Vaan Engum Nee Minna" | Harris Jayaraj | Aalap Raju, Harini, Praveen |
| 2013 | Biriyani | "Nahna Nah Na" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| 2013 | Biriyani | "Nahna Na Nah (New Jack Swing Mix)" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Premgi Amaren |
| 2013 | Biriyani | "Nahna Na Nah (Extended Dance Mix)" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Yuvan Shankar Raja, Premgi Amaren |
| 2013 | Settai | "Theme Music of Settai" | S. Thaman | |
| 2012 | Kalakalappu | "Unnaipattri Unnidame" | Vijay Ebenezer | Prashanthini |
| 2011 | Vandhaan Vendraan | "Anjo" | S. Thaman | Rahul Nambiar, Haricharan |
| 2011 | Kandaen | "Ninaivugal" | Vijay Ebenezer | |
| 2011 | Engeyum Kadhal | "Engeyum Kadhal" | Harris Jayaraj | Aalap Raju, Ranina Reddy |
| 2010 | Bale Pandiya | "Happy" | Devan Ekambaram | Haricharan, Naresh Iyer, Naveen, Ranjith, Rahul Nambiar, Paravai Muniyamma, Manikka Vinayagam, Anuradha Sriram, Srinivas, Mukesh, Divya, Suchitra, Velmurugan, Malgudi Subha, Vijay Yesudas, Aalap Raju |
| 2010 | Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa | "Anbil Avan" | A. R. Rahman | Chinmayi |
| 2009 | Ayan | "Honey Honey" | Harris Jayaraj | Sayanora Philip |
| 2008 | Vaaranam Aayiram | "Nenjukkul Peidhidum" | Harris Jayaraj | Hariharan, Krish, Prasanna |
| 2008 | Azhaipithazh | "Ley Ley" | Hitesh | |
| 2007 | Kasu Irukkanum | "Kadhal Sammatham" | Kavin Saradha, Raj Shankar | Anuradha Sriram |
| 2006 | Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu | "Karka Karka" | Harris Jayaraj | Tippu, Andrea Jeremiah, Nakul |
| 2006 | Thalai Nagaram | "Yedho Ninaikiren" | D. Imman | |
| 2004 | Bose | "Enna Enna Aachu" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Mathangi Jagdish |
| 2004 | Machi | "Holiday" | A. R. Reihana | |
| 2004 | Maha Nadigan | "Pillaiyara Vendiko" | Deva | |
| 2004 | Giri | "Dei Kaiya Vechikitu Summa Iruda" | D. Imman | Anuradha Sriram |
| 2003 | Kurumbu | "Adichchi Pudichchi" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Sunitha Sarathy |
| 2003 | Kurumbu | "Aasai Nooru Vagai" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Malaysia Vasudevan |
| 2003 | Winner | "Eye Um Eye Um" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | |
| 2003 | Thiruda Thirudi | "Azhaga Irukanga" | Dhina | Timmy, Master Karan |
| 2003 | Well Done | "Indhiya Mappai" | Vidyasagar | |
| 2003 | Parthiban Kanavu | "Theeradha Dum" | Vidyasagar | Tippu, Manikka Vinayagam |
| 2003 | Pudhiya Geethai | "Vasiyakaara - I" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Chitra Sivaraman |
| 2003 | Punnagai Poove | "Venus Venus Pennae" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Harini |
| 2002 | Majunu | "Mercury Mele" | Harris Jayaraj | P. Unnikrishnan |
| 2002 | Majunu | "Hari Gori" | Harris Jayaraj | Tippu, Karthik, Ganga, Febi Mani |
| 2002 | King | "Sagiye Pogathe" | Dhina | Febi Mani |
| 2002 | Vetri | "Kanavil Kandene" | Harris Jayaraj | |
| 2002 | Run | "Ichutha Ichutha" | Vidyasagar | Sowmya Raoh, Naveen, Pop Shalini |
| 2002 | Panchathanthiram | "Manmatha Leelai" | Dhina | Timothy, Mathangi Jagdish |
| 2001 | Shahjahan | "May Madham" | Mani Sharma | Sujatha Mohan |
| 2001 | Ullam Kollai Poguthae | "Anjala Anjala" | Karthik Raja | Harini |
| 2001 | Chocklet | "Hosima" | Deva | Anupama |
| 2001 | Poovellam Un Vaasam | "Yukthaamukhi" | Vidyasagar | Clinton Cerejo |
| 2001 | Badri | "Salaam Maharasa" | Ramana Gogula | Priya Himesh |
| 2001 | Minnale | "Ore Nyabagam" | Harris Jayaraj | |
| 2001 | Friends | "Manjal Poosum" | Ilayaraja | Sujatha Mohan |
| 2000 | Pennin Manathai Thottu | "Udhadukkum" | S. A. Rajkumar | Srividya, Febi Mani |
| 2000 | Pennin Manathai Thottu | "Kalloori Vaanil" | S. A. Rajkumar | Anuradha Sriram |
| 2000 | Kushi | "Macarena Macarena" | Mani Sharma | Sowmya Raoh |
| 2000 | Kandukondain Kandukondain | "Smayiyai" | A. R. Rahman | Clinton Cerejo, Dominique Cerejo |
| 2000 | James Pandu | "Kannenna Minsarama" | S. A. Rajkumar | |
| 1999 | Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga | "Monalisa" | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Anuradha Sriram |
| 1999 | Time | "Nenachapadi" | Ilaiyaraaja | Unni Menon, Malgudi Subha |
| 1999 | Kadhalar Dhinam | "Oh Mariya" | A. R. Rahman | Yugendran, Febi Mani |

### Telugu

| Year | Film | Song | Composer | Co-singer(s) |
| 2018 | Tholi Prema | "Vinnane Vinnane" | S. Thaman | Armaan Malik |
| 2013 | Sahasam | "Sahasam" | Sri | |
| 2010 | Ye Maaya Chesave | "Manasaa" | A.R. Rahman | Chinmayi |
| 2006 | Ashok | "Mumtaju Mahalu" | Mani Sharma | Tanvi Shah |
| 2005 | Vennela | "Preyasikaavu" | Mahesh Shankar | Saindhavi, Shudip, Rajani |
| 2005 | Vennela | "Bhagyam Podduna" | Mahesh Shankar | Aravind, Shudip |
| 2003 | Naaga | "Macarina" | Deva | |
| 2002 | Vasu | "O Prema" | Harris Jayaraj | |
| 2001 | Kushi | "Premante" | Mani Sharma | Kalpana |
| 2000 | Suri | "Monnatidaka" | Vidyasagar | |
| 1999 | Premikula Roju - (D) | "Oh Mariya" | A. R. Rahman | Yugendran, Febi Mani |

### Kannada

| Year | Film | Song | Composer | Co-singer(s) |
| 2000 | Yajamana | "Navile Pancharangi Navile" | Rajesh Ramnath | Nanditha |
| 2001 | Bahala Chennagide | "Chori Chori" | Koti | |
| 2003 | Pakka Chukka | "Odu Odu" | S. Narayan | |
| 2008 | Accident | "Friendship Andre" | Ricky Kej | |
| 2017 | Toss | "Nidde Madi" | Gautham Srivatsa | |