Khatija Rahman (; born 29 December 1995) is a music composer and singer from Chennai, India.
Life and career Khatija Rahman made her playback debut in the 2010 sci-fi action film Enthiran, singing the title track in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi alongside musical legends including her father, A. R. Rahman, and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.
In 2019, she collaborated with the Irish band U2 on their single "Ahimsa", which emphasised the power of non-violence. She also performed the track during U2's Joshua Tree Tour in Mumbai the same year.
Khatija released her debut single, "Farishton", in 2020. The song, composed and produced by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Munna Shaokath Ali, was a meditative invocation of solidarity and cultural harmony. Its music video was recognised at multiple international film festivals and received an honourable mention at the 2021 Los Angeles Film Awards. In the same year, she was a featured artist on Grammy Award-winning composer Ricky Kej’s song "Iltaja", a track highlighting sustainability.
She continued to showcase her versatility with film songs, including "Rock A Bye Baby" from Mimi (2021), "Tum Bhi Raahi (Reprise)" from Mili (2022), and "Kaayam" from Iravin Nizhal (2022). She also contributed vocals to Rahman's 2022 Tamizh anthem "Moopilla Thamizhe Thaaye", collaborating with multiple artists.
In 2023, Khatija released her debut album Kuhu Kuhu, a collection of melodic renditions paying tribute to the legendary Lata Mangeshkar. The all-acoustic album features the Firdaus Orchestra, an all-female ensemble from the United Arab Emirates. Its lead single, “Piya Tose”, was accompanied by a music video symbolising global representation and collaboration. She also made her debut as a music composer with the film Minmini, releasing the lead single “Iru Perum Nadhigal”, a song centered on self-love and healing. That year, she further demonstrated her vocal range with songs such as “Chinnanjiru (Marumurai)” from Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), "Pranama Pranama" from Nayakudu (2023), and her Coke Studio Tamil single "Sagavaasi" with Arivu, which received widespread acclaim.
Discography Film songs Year Song FilmComposer Lyricist Co-singer(s) Language Notes 2010 "Puthiya Manidha" EnthiranA. R. RahmanVairamuthu A. R. Rahman, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Tamil"O Maramanishi"Robo (dubbed-language from Enthiran)Suddala Ashok TejaA. R. Rahman, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, SrinivasTelugu"O Naye Insaan"Robot (dubbed-language from Enthiran)Swanand KirkireA. R. Rahman, SrinivasHindi2021"Rock A Bye Baby"MimiAmitabh BhattacharyaJulia GarthaHindi"Rihaayi De"A. R. RahmanHindiBacking vocals2022"Kaayam"Iravin NizhalR. ParthibanSoundarya Bala Nandakumar, Veena Murali, Deepthi Suresh, Sowmya, Elfe ChoirTamil"Tum Bhi Raahi (Reprise)" MiliJaved AkhtarSoloHindi2023"Chinnanjiru (Marumurai)"Ponniyin Selvan: IIIlango KrishnanA. R. RahmanTamil"Minnanchula Vennelaa (Reprise)"Ramajogayya SastryA. R. RahmanTelugu"Mera Aasmaan Jal Gaya (Reprise)"GulzarA. R. RahmanHindi"Pranama Pranama"Nayakudu (Dubbed from Maamannan)Rakendu MouliVijay YesudasTelugu"Niraye"Philip'sHesham Abdul WahabAnu Elizabeth JoseHesham Abdul WahabMalayalam"Vizhigal Seraa"Sangeeth RavindranHesham Abdul WahabMalayalam2024"Anbalane"Lal SalaamA. R. RahmanYugabharathiDeva, Deepthi SureshTamilBacking vocals"Ulagam Oru Naal"MaidaanSnehanShridhar RameshTamil"Thaaraa Gaganamlo"Saraswathi Putra, Ramajogayya SastrySarath SantoshTelugu"Maanja Nee"AyalaanSivakarthikeyan, A. R. Rahman, thoughtsfornowA. R. Rahman, A. R. AmeenTamilBacking vocals"The Silent Sovereign"Ponniyin Selvan: IIIlango KrishnanA. R. RahmanTamilBacking vocals2025"Jigar Thanda (Female)"Tere Ishk MeinPa. VijayAmina Rafiq, Adithya RKTamil"Yaavum Neeye"Mashook RahmanTamil"Chere Premaga"SamratTelugu2026"Rummy Rummy"Gandhi TalksPa. VijayTamil"Nindiya Pari"Vishwadeep ZeestSarthak KalyaniHindi"Kalangaamale"MadrasheSreekanth HariharanTamil"Shubharatri Than Maalakhaye"Vinayak SasikumarJithin RajMalayalam"Angai"Sameer SamantAbhay JodhpurkarMarathi
Film background scores YearFilmSongSinger(s)DirectorMusic directorComposerLyricistLanguageNotes2025Thug Life"Ave Maria"Khatija Rahman, Adam GreigMani RatnamA. R. RahmanFranz SchubertWalter ScottGerman
Non-film songs YearSongAlbumComposerLyricistCo-singer(s)LanguageNotes2019"Ahimsa"SingleU2, A. R. RahmanTraditional U2, A. R. RahmanEnglish and Tamil2020"Farishton"SingleA. R. RahmanMunna Shaokath AliUrdu2020"Farishtha"SingleA. R. RahmanMashook RahmanTamil2020"EK"IltajaRicky KejIP Singh, Lonnie Park, Dominic D'Cruz, Ricky KejVarijashree Venugopal, Manoj George, Arun Kumar, Aparna RamakrishnanHindi2020"The 99 Names"SingleSami YusufChorusSami Yusuf, Raihanah, Isshrathquadhre, Raheema RahmanArabic2020"Hum Haar Nahin Maanenge"SingleA. R. RahmanPrasoon JoshiA. R. Rahman, Clinton Cerejo, Mohit Chauhan, Mika Singh, Harshdeep Kaur, Jonita Gandhi, Neeti Mohan, Javed Ali, Sid Sriram, Shruti Haasan, Shashaa Tirupati, Abhay JodhpurkarHindi2021"Amna Bibi"Sing A LullabyTraditionalTraditionalGurupriya Atreya, Vedanth BharadwajHindi2022"Moopilla Thamizhe Thaaye"SingleA. R. RahmanThamaraiA. R. Rahman, Saindhavi Prakash, A. R. Ameen, Amina Rafiq, Gabriella Sellus, Poovaiyar, Rakshita Suresh, Niranjana Ramanan, Aparna Harikumar, Nakul AbhyankarTamil2023"Sagavaasi"Coke Studio Tamil (Season 1)ArivuArivuArivuTamil2024"Woman of Power"SingleSterlin NithyaLavita LoboLavita Lobo, Sterlin NithyaEnglish2025"Engal Thamizhe"Indie trackVilvaVilvaVilvaTamil2025"Shukrana"SingleAsad KhanRaqueeb AlamEnglish and UrduIslamic devotional song
Albums Year Album Song Composer Lyricist Co-singer(s) Language Notes 2023 Kuhu Kuhu "Piya Tose Naina Lage Re"Sachin Dev BurmanShailendra Firdaus Orchestra Hindi"Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha"Raja Mehdi Ali KhanMadan MohanFirdaus OrchestraHindi"O Sajana Barkha Bahar"Salil ChowdhuryShailendraFirdaus OrchestraHindi"Kuhu Kuhu Bole Koyalia"P. Adinarayana RaoBharat VyasFirdaus Orchestra, Sarthak KalyaniHindi"Bekas Pe Karam Keejiye"NaushadShakeel BadayuniFirdaus OrchestraHindi
Compositions + Year Film Song Singer(s) Lyricist Director Language Notes 2024Minmini"Iru Perum Nadhigal"Shakthisree GopalanHalitha ShameemHalitha ShameemTamil"Minmini Nee"Sarthak Kalyani, Sireesha Bhagavatula "Uyirai"Suryansh"Jananam"Khatija Rahman, Sireesha Bhagavatula
Voice-overs Year Film Actor Director Producer Writer Language Notes 2021 99 SongsEdilsy VargasVishwesh KrishnamoorthyA. R. RahmanVishwesh Krishnamoorthy, A. R. RahmanTamilFor Tamil version2025Stardust––Pollachi Papyrus and Faraway OriginalsPankaj SinghEnglish
Live performances TitleDateVenuePerformed song(s)ShowsAttendanceNotesThe Joshua Tree Tour 201915 December 2019DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai Ahimsa142,590World Children's Day Concert at Expo 202021 November 2021 Al Wasl Plaza, Dubai–1–Wings of Love: The AR Rahman Sufi Experience19 March 2023Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai–1–TEDxGateway Opening Act Performance4 June 2023NCPA, Mumbai–1–Marakkuma Nenjam Concert20 August 2023Codissia Ground, Coimbatore –1Marakkuma Nenjam Concert10 September 2023Adityaram Palace City, Chennai –145,000South Side Story31 August – 1 September 2024Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi–2–Tanweer Festival21 November 2015Mleiha, Sharjah–1World Premier of Rooh-e-Noor, an all-women ensembleSheikh Zayed Festival29 November 2025Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi–1–Rooh-e-Noor, an all-women ensembleKhatija Rahman Live — The Garden of Echoes5 December 2025Museum Theatre, Egmore, Chennai–1450Sold-out showConcert in the Dark10 December 2025Naam Foundation21–Launched by Anil Srinivasan
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Awarded by Result 2020 Trend Setter Award – – Global Women Inspiration Awards and Conclave 2021 Coastal Star Award – – Rotary Club of Chennai Coastal 2022 14th Mirchi Music Awards Upcoming Female Vocalist of the Year "Rock A Bye Baby" (Mimi) Radio Mirchi 2022 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Best Female Playback Singer "Kaayam" (Iravin Nizhal) Government of Tamil Nadu 2024 IMW Indian Award Best Debut Music Director of the Year Minmini Indian Media Works 2024 Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards Best Music Composer (Songs) Minmini Ananda Vikatan 2025Devi AwardsFor remarkable contributions to music and art –The New Indian Express 2025 SIIMA Best Music Director – Tamil Minmini Vibri Media 2025 12th Annual Raindropss Women Achievers Awards Excellence in Music and Arts – Raindropss Charity Foundation
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