Hariharan Albums and Landmark Songs

Overview

Since his playback debut in 1978, Hariharan has recorded more than 5,000 songs in ten languages, across 350-plus playback projects. Running alongside that film work is a body of recordings beyond the film studio: ghazal albums going back to 1985, the pop partnership Colonial Cousins, and devotional recordings that have found an audience measured in the billions. This page gathers the essential records and songs in one place.

Ghazal Albums

The ghazal is where Hariharan's recorded work begins and where he has returned throughout his career, first in the classical mould and later bending the form towards something he named himself.

Abshaar-e-Ghazal 1985

A duet album with Asha Bhosle and one of his first ghazal records; it went gold in sales and was later re-released as Kuch Door Hamare Saath.

Hazir 1992

An acclaimed collaboration with the tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, released on Omi Music.

Gulfam

Released on Venus, Gulfam reached double platinum in sales and brought Hariharan the Diva Award for Best Album of the Year.

Jashn 1996

A Venus release, and one of two ghazal albums he issued that year.

Halka Nasha 1996

The other of the 1996 pair, released on Bay Shore.

Paigham 1997

A further collection for Venus, following Jashn.

Aathwan Sur: The Other Side of Naushad 1998

Ghazals composed by the film legend Naushad, released on Navras Records.

Kaash 2000

The landmark. With Kaash, released on Bay Shore, Hariharan coined the term Urdu Blues, with Sivamani on percussion, Ustad Rais Khan on sitar and Ustad Sultan Khan on sarangi.

Lahore Ke Rang Hari Ke Sang 2005

Made with Pakistani ghazal composers, it won rave reviews and critical acclaim both inside and outside India.

Waqt Par Bolna 2007

Released on Sony BMG.

Lafzz... 2008

Released on T-Series.

Colonial Cousins

Colonial Cousins is Hariharan's duo with the singer and composer Leslie Lewis. Their self-titled debut, released in October 1996 on Magnasound, went platinum in India, and the duo became the first Indian act to appear on MTV Unplugged. They went on to win the MTV Asia Viewer's Choice Award and the US Billboard Viewer's Choice Award, while the song 'Krishna' took a Star Screen Award for Best Music Video.

  • Colonial Cousins (1996, Magnasound)
  • The Way We Do It (1998, Sony)
  • Aatma (2001, Sony Music)
  • Once More (2012)

The duo also composed the music for two Tamil films, Modhi Vilayadu (2009) and Chikku Bukku (2010).

Landmark Film Songs

A career of over 5,000 songs cannot be reduced to a list, but certain recordings mark the turning points.

Hindi

  • 'Ajeeb Saaneha Mujh Par Guzar Gaya Yaaron' from Gaman (1978), composed by Jaidev. His playback debut, which earned a National Award nomination and the Uttar Pradesh State Film Award.
  • 'Hai Rama' from Rangeela (1995), composed by A.R. Rahman; a duet with Swarnalatha.
  • 'Chappa Chappa' from Maachis (1996), composed by Vishal Bhardwaj, with Suresh Wadkar.
  • 'Mere Dushman Mere Bhai' from Border (1997), composed by Anu Malik. The rendition won Hariharan the 1998 National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer.
  • 'Nahin Saamne' from Taal (1999), composed by A.R. Rahman, with Sukhwinder Singh.
  • 'Yun Hi Chala Chal' from Swades (2004), composed by A.R. Rahman, with Udit Narayan and Kailash Kher.

Tamil

  • 'Thamizha Thamizha' from Roja (1992), composed by A.R. Rahman. One of his first hits with Rahman, with whom he has since recorded more than fifty tracks.
  • 'Uyire Uyire' from Bombay (1995), composed by A.R. Rahman; sung as 'Tu Hi Re' in the Hindi version. Among the most acclaimed songs of the 1990s, and the song Hariharan considers the best he has ever sung.
  • 'Telephone Manipol' from Indian (1996), composed by A.R. Rahman, with Harini and Srinivas.
  • 'Vennilave' from Minsara Kanavu (1997), composed by A.R. Rahman; a duet with Sadhana Sargam.
  • 'Pachai Nirame' from Alaipayuthey (2000), composed by A.R. Rahman, with Clinton Cerejo.

Marathi

  • 'Jeev Rangla' from Jogwa (2009), composed by Ajay-Atul. It brought Hariharan his second National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer, at the 2010 ceremony.

Devotional

Hariharan's devotional work is anchored by the T-Series recording of the Shree Hanuman Chalisa, made with the late Gulshan Kumar, with music by Lalit Sen. The video, uploaded to YouTube on 10 May 2011, became the first Indian video to cross five billion views in November 2025, and the only Indian entry among YouTube's ten most viewed videos worldwide.

His devotional albums include Tirupati Shri Balaji (2006, T-Series), featuring 'Dekha Hai Ek Sapna' and 'Ganpati Sun Lo', and Nandagopalam (2013, MC Audios and Videos), featuring 'Shree Krishna'.

Where to Listen

Hariharan's recordings are available on all major streaming platforms.