Tanvi Shah

Tanvi Shah
தன்வி ஷா
Tanvi Shah தன்வி ஷா
Born	1982 (age 43–44); Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Genres	Filmi
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2004–present
Website	www.tanvishah.com

Tanvi Shah (Tamil: தன்வி ஷா, born 1982)^[1] is an Indian singer, songwriter, and designer from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.^[2] In 2010 Shah was the first Indian woman to win a Grammy Award for her contributions to the song "Jai Ho" from the film Slumdog Millionaire.^[3]

Early life and career

Shah studied Fine Arts and received a master's degree in Ceramics from George Washington University in Washington D.C.^[4]

Her first songs with Indian composer and musician A.R. Rahman were "Yakkai Thiri" and "Fanaa" for the 2004 films Aayutha Ezhuthu and Yuva, respectively. The collaboration continued with songs from films Sillunu Oru Kaadhal, Slumdog Millionaire and Delhi-6. Shah has also sung for Yuvan Shankar Raja, Amit Trivedi, and other music directors.^[5]^[6]

In 2010, she shared the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media with Rahman and Gulzar at the 52nd Grammy Awards for the song "Jai Ho", where she wrote the Spanish lyrics.^[7]^[8]

She was invited to speak at the TEDxSF conference on Global Health on 12 November 2014.^[9] In 2025 Shah made her comeback after a period of illness with the song "Baala Kaale", with lyrics in Sinhalese, together with Sri Lanka-based artist Jo Perera.^[10]

Philanthropy

Shah is actively involved with the Cancer Institute (WIA), battling cancer herself.^[11] She is also involved with Rotary International's End Polio campaign.^[4] Together with producer JHawk she donated the song "Zindagi" to the album End Polio Now, which features international artists Itzhak Perlman, David Sanborn, Ziggy Marley, Donovan, Staff Benda Bilili,and more.^[12]

Awards

Grammy Award, Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for "Jai Ho" (from Slumdog Millionaire), 2010^[13]

Discography

Film scores

Year	Film	Song	Music director	Language	Ref(s)
2004	Yuva	"Fanaa"	A. R. Rahman	Hindi	^[14]
2005	Kanda Naal Mudhal	"Pani Thuli"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[15]
2005	Pudhupettai	"Pul Pesum Poo Pesum"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[16]
2006	Ashok	"Mumtaju Mahalu"	Mani Sharma	Telugu	^[17]
2006	Sillunu Oru Kaadhal	"Jillendru Oru Kaadhal"	A. R. Rahman	Tamil	^[18]
2007	Sivaji: The Boss	"Style"	A. R. Rahman	Tamil	^[19]
2008	Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na	"Pappu Can't Dance"	A. R. Rahman	Hindi	^[20]
2008	Saroja	"My Life"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	English	^[21]
2008	Slumdog Millionaire	"Gangsta Blues"	A. R. Rahman	English & Hindi	^[22]
2008	Slumdog Millionaire	"Jai Ho"	A. R. Rahman	Spanish & Hindi	^[23]
2009	Delhi-6	"Dilli-6"	A. R. Rahman	Hindi	^[24]
2009	Delhi-6	"Rehna Tu"	A. R. Rahman	Hindi	^[25]
2009	Snoop Dogg Millionaire	"Snoop Dogg Millionaire"	Chase & Status	English & Hindi	^[26]
2009	Muthirai	"July Madathil"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[27]
2009	Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai	"Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[28]
2010	Paiyaa	"Thuli Thuli"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[29]
2010	Paiyaa	"En Kadhal Solla"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[30]
2010	Raavanan	"Keda Kari"	A. R. Rahman	Tamil	^[31]
2010	Puli	"Power Star"	A. R. Rahman	Telugu	^[32]
2010	Naan Mahaan Alla	"Iragai Pole"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[33]
2010	Enthiran	"Boom Boom Roboda"	A. R. Rahman	Tamil	^[34]
2010	Goa	"Goa"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[35]
2012	Billa II	"Yedho Yedho Oru Maikam"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[36]
2012	Kadal	"Magudi Magudi"	A. R. Rahman	Tamil	^[37]
2013	Biriyani	"Biriyani"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[38]
2013	Arrambam	"Hare Rama Hare Krishna"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[39]
2014	Lekar Hum Deewana Dil	"Mawwali Qawwali"	A. R. Rahman	Hindi	^[40]
2014	Lingaa	"Mona Gasolina"	A. R. Rahman	Tamil	^[41]
2015	Vai Raja Vai	"Pookkamazh"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[42]
2015	Yatchan	"Konjalaai"	Yuvan Shankar Raja	Tamil	^[43]

References

^ D'souza, Dipti Nagpaul (18 December 2009). "Language no bar". www.screenindia.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
^ Suresh, Tarunya (28 May 2009). "Dogged determination!". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
^ Gomes, Michael (1 November 2018). "Grammy award-winning singer Tanvi Shah talks about music, A.R. Rahman and women's empowerment". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
^ ^a ^b "Grammy Winner Tanvi Shah: "Life Is More Interesting When You Don't Have Any Expectations"". The Lab Mag. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
^ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (19 December 2025). "Tanvi Shah's comeback song is in Sinhalese — and it came after a life-changing year". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
^ "Amit Trivedi records 'Sheher Mein' at MTV Coke Studio". The Times of India. 18 January 2014. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
^ Tejonmayam, U (3 February 2009). "The Jai Ho girl". Express Buzz. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
^ sunder, gautam (26 April 2014). "A. R. Rahman is like an encyclopedia of music: Tanvi Shah". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
^ "Unwinding with Tanvi Shah". Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
^ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (19 December 2025). "Tanvi Shah's comeback song is in Sinhalese — and it came after a life-changing year". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
^ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (30 September 2024). "How Tanvi Shah battled cancer: The 'Jai Ho' singer on music in her 'second life'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
^ "Grammy Award winner Tanvi Shah to host an event set up by Ministry of Women and Child Development". Bollywood Life. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
^ "Tanvi Shah | Artist | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
^ "Yuva shows a different Rahman". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Kanda Naal Mudhal Music review songs lyrics". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Pudhupettai music review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Ashok Music review songs lyrics". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Rahman makes 1950s music in Tamil". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "AR Rahman pleases Rajni fans with Sivaji". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "As the Slumdog Millionaire frenzy reaches the Grammy Awards... meet Tanvi Shah, the 'Jai Ho' girl". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Music review: Saroja". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Rahman's magic makes Slumdog a must-have". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Meet the singers of Jai Ho". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Music review: Delhi-6". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Happy birthday AR Rahman: A playlist of his top ten Hindi compositions". The Indian Express. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Dogged determination!". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Top Ten Songs: Mutthirai". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Yuvan is monotonous in Theeradha Vilayattu Pillai". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Top Ten Songs: Paiyaa". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Payya - Tamil Music Review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "A Spanish awakening". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Music Review on Pawan Kalyan starrer Komaram Puli". Ragalahari. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "South Tamil music review: Naan Mahaan Alla". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Endhiran music review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Goa music review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Billa 2 Music Review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Kadal songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Biriyani songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Arrambam songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Mawwali Qawwali from Lekar Hum Deewana Dil". Filmfare. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Lingaa songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Vai Raja Vai songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
^ "Yatchan songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

External links

Official website
Tanvi Shah at IMDb

[1] D'souza, Dipti Nagpaul (18 December 2009). "Language no bar". www.screenindia.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2026.

[2] Suresh, Tarunya (28 May 2009). "Dogged determination!". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 April 2026.

[3] Gomes, Michael (1 November 2018). "Grammy award-winning singer Tanvi Shah talks about music, A.R. Rahman and women's empowerment". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 8 April 2026.

[:1-4] "Grammy Winner Tanvi Shah: "Life Is More Interesting When You Don't Have Any Expectations"". The Lab Mag. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2026.

[5] Ramanujam, Srinivasa (19 December 2025). "Tanvi Shah's comeback song is in Sinhalese — and it came after a life-changing year". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 April 2026.

[6] "Amit Trivedi records 'Sheher Mein' at MTV Coke Studio". The Times of India. 18 January 2014. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 April 2026.

[7] Tejonmayam, U (3 February 2009). "The Jai Ho girl". Express Buzz. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 June 2009.

[8] sunder, gautam (26 April 2014). "A. R. Rahman is like an encyclopedia of music: Tanvi Shah". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 18 January 2021.

[9] "Unwinding with Tanvi Shah". Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.

[10] Ramanujam, Srinivasa (19 December 2025). "Tanvi Shah's comeback song is in Sinhalese — and it came after a life-changing year". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 April 2026.

[11] Ramanujam, Srinivasa (30 September 2024). "How Tanvi Shah battled cancer: The 'Jai Ho' singer on music in her 'second life'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 April 2026.

[12] "Grammy Award winner Tanvi Shah to host an event set up by Ministry of Women and Child Development". Bollywood Life. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2026.

[13] "Tanvi Shah | Artist | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 17 January 2026.

[14] "Yuva shows a different Rahman". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[15] "Kanda Naal Mudhal Music review songs lyrics". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[16] "Pudhupettai music review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[17] "Ashok Music review songs lyrics". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[18] "Rahman makes 1950s music in Tamil". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[19] "AR Rahman pleases Rajni fans with Sivaji". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[20] "As the Slumdog Millionaire frenzy reaches the Grammy Awards... meet Tanvi Shah, the 'Jai Ho' girl". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[21] "Music review: Saroja". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[22] "Rahman's magic makes Slumdog a must-have". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[23] "Meet the singers of Jai Ho". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[24] "Music review: Delhi-6". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[25] "Happy birthday AR Rahman: A playlist of his top ten Hindi compositions". The Indian Express. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[26] "Dogged determination!". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[27] "Top Ten Songs: Mutthirai". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[28] "Yuvan is monotonous in Theeradha Vilayattu Pillai". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[29] "Top Ten Songs: Paiyaa". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[30] "Payya - Tamil Music Review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[31] "A Spanish awakening". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[32] "Music Review on Pawan Kalyan starrer Komaram Puli". Ragalahari. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[33] "South Tamil music review: Naan Mahaan Alla". Rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[34] "Endhiran music review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[35] "Goa music review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[36] "Billa 2 Music Review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[37] "Kadal songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[38] "Biriyani songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[39] "Arrambam songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[40] "Mawwali Qawwali from Lekar Hum Deewana Dil". Filmfare. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[41] "Lingaa songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[42] "Vai Raja Vai songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

[43] "Yatchan songs review". Behindwoods. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

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Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media
Awarded to songwriters
1980s	"Somewhere Out There" – James Horner, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil (1988) "Two Hearts" – Phil Collins & Lamont Dozier (1989)
1990s	"Let the River Run" – Carly Simon (1990) "Under the Sea" – Alan Menken & Howard Ashman (1991) "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" – Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Michael Kamen & Bryan Adams (1992) "Beauty and the Beast" – Alan Menken & Howard Ashman (1993) "A Whole New World" – Alan Menken & Tim Rice (1994) "Streets of Philadelphia" – Bruce Springsteen (1995) "Colors of the Wind" – Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz (1996) "Because You Loved Me" – Diane Warren (1997) "I Believe I Can Fly" – R. Kelly (1998) "My Heart Will Go On" – James Horner & Will Jennings (1999)
2000s	"Beautiful Stranger" – Madonna & William Orbit (2000) "When She Loved Me" – Randy Newman (2001) "Boss of Me" – John Flansburgh & John Linnell (2002) "If I Didn't Have You" – Randy Newman (2003) "A Mighty Wind" – Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy & Michael McKean (2004) "Into the West" – Annie Lennox, Howard Shore & Fran Walsh (2005) "Believe" – Glen Ballard & Alan Silvestri (2006) "Our Town" – Randy Newman (2007) "Love You I Do" – Siedah Garrett & Henry Krieger (2008) "Down to Earth" – Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman (2009)
2010s	"Jai Ho" – Gulzar, A. R. Rahman & Tanvi Shah (2010) "The Weary Kind" – Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett (2011) "I See the Light" – Alan Menken & Glenn Slater (2012) "Safe & Sound" – T Bone Burnett, Taylor Swift, Joy Williams & John Paul White (2013) "Skyfall" – Adele Atkins & Paul Epworth (2014) "Let It Go" – Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez (2015) "Glory" – Common, Che Smith & John Legend (2016) "Can't Stop the Feeling!" – Max Martin, Shellback & Justin Timberlake (2017) "How Far I'll Go" – Lin-Manuel Miranda (2018) "Shallow" – Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt (2019)
2020s	"I'll Never Love Again" – Lady Gaga, Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey & Aaron Raitiere (2020) "No Time to Die" – Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell (2021) "All Eyes on Me" – Bo Burnham (2022) "We Don't Talk About Bruno" – Lin-Manuel Miranda (2023) "What Was I Made For?" – Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell (2024) "It Never Went Away" – Jon Batiste & Dan Wilson (2025) "Golden" – Ejae, Park Hong-jun, Joong Gyu-kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo & Mark Sonnenblick (2026)