Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam (born 31 August 1981), also known by his initials A. D. K. or simply Dinesh Kanagaratnam, is a Sri Lankan R&B and hip hop artist and music producer who has composed tracks in Tamil language. He also often collaborates with music directors in Tamil cinema as a playback singer.
Early life and career
Dinesh was born in Badulla and raised in Modara, Sri Lanka. He studied information technology (IT) in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India and started teaching IT courses in Sri Lanka. He began working with local musicians part-time to pursue his growing interest in music. In 2004, he was given a chance by Bathiya, an artist in Sri Lanka and started recording rap songs until he was discovered by Vijay Antony. He collaborated with him for the song "Aathichudi" for the soundtrack of the film TN 07 AL 4777 (2008) in 2009 which is a remake of Surangani, a song from his first independent album, Tamizha (2008). Back in Sri Lanka, he did a cross-culture album in 2005 which includes songs in Tamil, Sinhala and English.
His next throughout in cinema industry was "Magudi", which was his first collaboration with A. R. Rahman for the Mani Ratnam-directed film Kadal (2013). He was featured along with Anirudh Ravichander for the song "Mun Sellada" in the film Manithan (2016), composed by Santhosh Narayanan. Kanagaratnam and rapper Sri Rascol formed a record label called Rap Machines and have done other rap musics.
He continued to work in Tamil and Telugu cinema, writing and performing English language rap for soundtracks, including the title track "Maayon" in Mersal (2017) composed by A. R. Rahman, the song "Gala Gala" featured with Megha from Race Gurram composed by S. Thaman and also a background score (which had been deleted later) in Nerkonda Paarvai. He also worked in 2.0 (2018). Kanagaratnam has joined concert tours in Sri Lanka, the Middle East, India, Malaysia and Singapore. He is well known for his rap battles at every A. R. Rahman concert tours alongside Lady Kash and Blaaze. In January 2019, Kanagaratnam performed with Bathiya and Santhush at Oba Nisa in Sri Lanka.
Discography
Albums Year Album Song(s) Composer Ref 2005 Cross Culture "Naan Sonnal" Dinesh Kanagaratnam 2007 "Cross Culture" 2008 Tamizha "Surangani Remake" 2012 Aaryan "Goka Pearu" "Kuruvi" "Hollaback Muniamma" "You Ate My Money"
Independent tracks Year Song(s) Composer Ref 2009 "Nagara Vaytai" Shabir "Kuruvi" Dinesh Kanagaratnam, Charles Bosco 2011 "Dhoomi Dhaala" 2015 "Uyir Poo" Deyo 2016–present "AYM Tribute" D Navigator "Vellai Poove" Deyo "Maayavi" Deyo "Pudhiya Era" D Navigator "Hollaback Muaniamma 2" 2017 "Yeanadi Penne" Chamath Sangeeth 2018 "Kannaley Kollathey" Puven 2019 "Poraali" Ash "2.0 X Petta Mashup" AllanPreetham
Playback singing Year Title Song Composer Language Co-singer(s)2009TN-07 AL 4777 "Aathichudi"Vijay AntonyTamilVijay AntonyVettaikaran "Oru Chinna Thamarai"Krish, Suchitra, BonekillaOdipolama"Odipalama"D. ImmanArati Anklikar 2010Kattradhu Kalavu "Kattradhu Kalavu" Paul. J Blaaze 2012Kadal "Magudi Magudi"A. R. RahmanChinmayi, Tanvi Shah2014Lingaa"Oh Nanba"S. P. BalasubrahmanyamBurma"Vaddi"Sudharshan M KumarTupakeys (MC Rude, MC Akram)Race Gurram "Gala Gala"S. ThamanTeluguMegha 2015 Rajinimurugan "Yennama Ipadi Panreengalaema (Imman Mix)"D. Imman Tamil D. Imman O Kadhal Kanmani "Kaara Attakkaaraa"A. R. Rahman Darshana KT, Shashaa Tirupati2016Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada"Showkali"Aditya Rao, Sri Rascol"Thalli Pogadhey"Sid Sriram, Aparna NarayananSahasam Swasaga Sagipo"Showkalli"TeluguAditya Rao, Sri Rascol"Vellipomaakey"Sid Sriram, Aparna NarayananManithan"Mun Sellada"Santhosh NarayananTamilAnirudh RavichanderSi3 "Universal Cop"Harris JayarajChristopher Stanley, Krish2017Mersal"Maayon" (Title Track & BGM)A. R. Rahman20187UP Madras Gig "Veera Thamizhan"D. ImmanD. Imman, Nithyasree MahadevanVedigundu Pasangge "Vedingu Pasangge" Vivek-MervinTeejay Arunasalam2019Sindhubaadh"Rockstar Robber"Yuvan Shankar RajaPav Bundy2024Romeo"Aiyo Ma"Barath Dhanasekar also lyricistDhruva Natchathiram"Ranagala Veeran Ragamane Dheeran"Harris Jayaraj
Composer 18 Vayasu (2012)
Television Year Show Role Channel Notes2022-2023 Bigg Boss (Tamil season 6) Contestant Star Vijay Sacrificed Day 98
References