Shalini Lakshmi

Shalini Lakshmi is a phenomenally talented singer whose unique and evocative singing combines Carnatic, Hindustani, Rock, R&B, Jazz and Operatic styles of singing. Vintage Guitar Magazine praised her singing saying “Shalini Lakshmi adds luster” in Prasanna’s album All Terrain Guitar. Shalini recorded with A. R. Rahman in singing the title track for the Hollywood film “Hundred-Foot Journey”. She has also recorded in Prasanna’s acclaimed score for the Indian National Award winning blockbuster Tamil film Vazhakku Enn 18/9. Four-time Grammy Award-winning singer/bassist Esperanza Spalding invited Shalini to premiere her original song Vapor at the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival. She has also recorded a song for noted Cannes film festival winning composer Pierre Van Dormael for the French film Essaye Moi by Pierre Francois Martin. 

Fun fact The fun and music started with Freshie's night - I played guitar and sang Pink Floyd's 'Wish you were here' and played bass for the newly formed freshies band. The seniors liked what they heard. The music secs called me the next day and asked me to join the IIT rock band. Yeah!! We played shows at CIT Coimbatore, Central University Hyderabad, Mood Indigo IIT Bombay and of course Mardi Gras/Saarang. I won the Best vocalist at Saarang for my rendition of Pink Floyd's 'Great gig in the sky'. Being the only female in the IIT rock band did not dampen my spirits. Thanks to one very enthu Sarayuite, we formed an "all girls" group and won a prize at the WCC Western group event.