Hariharan grew up in Bombay and holds bachelor's degrees in science and law. He speaks Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, and English fluently. The son of renowned Carnatic vocalists, Shrimati Alamelu and the late H.A.S. Mani , he inherited his parents' virtuoso musical talents. Alamelu was Hariharan's first tutor. From her, he picked up the rudiments of Carnatic classical. He was also exposed to Hindustani music from a young age. In his teens, inspired by the songs of Mehdi Hassan, Hariharan developed a passion for ghazals and started training in Hindustani music with Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan. He used to put in thirteen hours of singing practice every day, refusing to get up till a session was over.
Hariharan has collaborated with Pakistan based band Strings for a track called "Bolo Bolo". He released an album called Destiny with Punjabi / bhangra artist Daler Mehndi. He also coined the terminology "Urdu Blues" with his fairly successful album Kaash which featured musicians like A. Sivamani on percussion, Ustad Rashid Mustafa on tabla, Ustad Liyaqat Ali Khan on sitar and Ustad Sultan Khan on sarangi. He also performed the Swagatham song in the 2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony held in New Delhi on 3 October.
Telephone
Hariharan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
melbourne merupula merise daana.
digitalalo chekkina swarama.
elizibeth taylor tarama.
zakir hussain tabala nuvvena.aa.
sona sona ne andam chandanamena.
sona sona nuvvu latest cellular phone aa.
computer tho ninnu aa brahmme malichenaa.
Nuvu leni naadu yende undadu le.chiru chinuke raaladu le.
nuvu leni naadu vennela viriyadu le.na kalale pandavu le.
ne peru chebite swasa pedavi suma gandhamounu cheli.
nuvu duuramaite veeche gaali aagipovunulee.
nuvu lekapote jharule undavu le.kondaki andam undadu le.
nuvu raakapote praanam niluvadu le.vayasuki aakali puttadu le.
neeve nadivai nanu rooju neelo eedulaadani.
siggestunte ne kurulato ninne daachesuko.
Nee peru evaru palukaga viduvanu le.aa sukhamunu vadalanu le.
nee jallo puulu raalaga viduvanu le.aa yendaku vadalanu le.
ye kanne gaali naade tappa ninu taakanivvanu.
yenaadu ninnu mother theresa tho tappa palukanivvanu.
nuvu velle daari purushulakodalanu le.para streelanu viduvanu le.
ne chilipi navvu gaaliki vadalanu le.yeda loyalo padilamu le.
showroomullo stree bommani saitam taakanivvanu.
ee chetito kalalo saitam ninu daatanivvanu.
The lyrics of Hariharan's song Telephone depict the feeling of distance and longing for someone who is far away. The first stanza portrays how even though they are continents apart, the sound waves of the telephone create a connection between them. The reference to the famous actress Elizabeth Taylor adds an element of glamour and timelessness to the song. The mention of the famous tabla player Zakir Hussain adds a musical and cultural touch. The use of technology in the line "computer tho ninnu aa brahmme malichenaa" adds a modern and relatable aspect, suggesting that even though they are far apart, they can still communicate through technology.
The second stanza delves deeper into the emotions of missing someone. The use of negative phrases like "nuvu leni naadu" (the place where you are not) and "nuvu lekapote" (if you are not here) emphasizes the emptiness and incompleteness felt in the absence of the loved one. The description of the person's name being like a "scented breeze" reinforces the idea that the memory of the person is a pleasant and comforting presence. The line "siggestunte ne kurulato ninne daachesuko" which means "if you suggest, I will hug you with all my might" symbolizes the desire to be physically close to the person.
Line by Line Meaning
Telephone dhwani la navve daana.
Your voice on the telephone is like a fresh breeze to me.
melbourne merupula merise daana.
Your voice on the phone is like Melbourne's horizon.
digitalalo chekkina swarama.
Your voice on the phone sounds digitized.
elizibeth taylor tarama.
Your voice has the grace and poise of Elizabeth Taylor.
zakir hussain tabala nuvvena.aa.
Your voice stirs me like the beat of Zakir Hussain’s tabla.
sona sona ne andam chandanamena.
Your beauty is fragrant like sandalwood.
sona sona nuvvu latest cellular phone aa.
You are like the latest cellular phone, shining golden.
computer tho ninnu aa brahmme malichenaa.
Have you become a part of the virtual world?
Nuvu leni naadu yende undadu le.chiru chinuke raaladu le.
Without you, my world has lost its charm and my smile has disappeared.
nuvu leni naadu vennela viriyadu le.na kalale pandavu le.
Without you, the moon no longer shines and night is longer than ever.
ne peru chebite swasa pedavi suma gandhamounu cheli.
Just speaking your name is like taking a breath of fragrant flowers.
nuvu duuramaite veeche gaali aagipovunulee.
When you’re far away, I feel like I'm being swept away by the wind.
nuvu lekapote jharule undavu le.kondaki andam undadu le.
Without you, the trees don't sway and the world loses its beauty.
nuvu raakapote praanam niluvadu le.vayasuki aakali puttadu le.
If you leave, I will be left without a breath, like a hungry baby.
neeve nadivai nanu rooju neelo eedulaadani.
Only you know how to navigate me through life's ups and downs.
siggestunte ne kurulato ninne daachesuko.
I want to cling onto you tightly when you whisper into my ear.
Nee peru evaru palukaga viduvanu le.aa sukhamunu vadalanu le.
I won't give your name to anyone, it gives me too much happiness.
nee jallo puulu raalaga viduvanu le.aa yendaku vadalanu le.
I won't let the flowers in your hair wither, why would I?
ye kanne gaali naade tappa ninu taakanivvanu.
Only the wind in your eyes can find and touch me.
yenaadu ninnu mother theresa tho tappa palukanivvanu.
I won’t let anyone else take care of you like Mother Theresa does.
nuvu velle daari purushulakodalanu le.para streelanu viduvanu le.
If you leave, I’ll become a wandering monk, leaving behind all other women.
ne chilipi navvu gaaliki vadalanu le.yeda loyalo padilamu le.
Your sweet laugh is like music to my ears, I dance to its tune wherever I am.
showroomullo stree bommani saitam taakanivvanu.
I won't let perfect shopkeepers woo you with their charms.
ee chetito kalalo saitam ninu daatanivvanu.
Even in my dreams, I chase after you to keep you close.
Contributed by Annabelle V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@right_turn2123
Kya bole, wo waqt he kuch alag tha.. Missing those days.. Wow..
@bluecore8525
Natural idea of doing things gets messed with when commercialized
@MdAftab-py7wu
Right BRO
@SanojKumar-pn7eg
Kon hai
@cloudnineepic
Exactly ✅✅
@nithyanadasarla8546
Who din shyaad ab na aye par humene tho jiya hai
@maneeshagoel1540
MK is so gorgeous and stylish.
Natural beauty
@kunal774
Missing the golden 90's Era..... With no Internet, no telephone but full of happiness....
@Shastrisknowledgebytes
In this song , there is reference of Telephone, Computer 🖥️, and Cellphone. Just saying 😅.
@rons-topic1067
Telephone was there but no mobile phone