The latest track from Varun Dhawan’s highly anticipated film Baby John, titled Nain Matakka, has taken the internet by storm, and much of the credit goes to the mesmerizing voice behind it – Dhee. Following the buzz around Pushpa 2‘s item song Kissik, Dhee has emerged as the next young singing sensation from the South, captivating audiences nationwide with her energetic performance in Nain Matakka. This song is rapidly becoming the new party anthem, placing Dhee firmly in the spotlight as the voice to watch out for.
Who is Dhee? Unpacking the Journey of the Nain Matakka Singer
Dheekshitha Venkadeshan, popularly known as Dhee, was born on June 26, 1998, in Sri Lanka. Her family background is rich in Tamil heritage, with a Sri Lankan Tamil father, Venkadesan, and an Indian Tamil mother, Meenakshi Iyer. Dhee’s upbringing was primarily in Sydney, Australia, where she spent her formative years and completed her education. She also has an elder brother, Sudheekshanan. Adding to her musical lineage, Dhee is the stepdaughter of renowned Indian composer Santhosh Narayanan. Her foray into playback singing began in 2013, while still in school, contributing to Narayanan’s albums Pizza II: Villa and Cuckoo, released in 2014.
File photo of Dhee
In this image, Nain Matakka singer Dhee is captured in a candid moment, showcasing her vibrant personality that resonates in her energetic performances, much like in the Baby John track.
Her move to Chennai marked a significant turn in her career as she gained widespread recognition for the song Naan Nee from Santhosh Narayanan’s soundtrack for Pa. Ranjith’s critically acclaimed film Madras (2014). This duet with Shakthisree Gopalan was highly praised, earning both singers nominations for Best Female Singer at prestigious award ceremonies like the Filmfare Awards and the Vijay Awards. Dhee’s talent quickly transcended Tamil cinema, leading her to Telugu film industry in 2017 with contributions to Sudha Kongara’s Guru, a remake of the Tamil film Irudhi Suttru.
From Chartbusters with Dhanush to Collaborations with A.R. Rahman: Dhee’s Musical Ascent
Dhee’s collaboration with Santhosh Narayanan continued to flourish, as she lent her voice to soundtracks for notable films like Kaala (2018) and Vada Chennai (2018). However, it was her partnership with Yuvan Shankar Raja for the electrifying track Rowdy Baby in Maari 2 (2018) that propelled her to unprecedented fame. Singing alongside actor Dhanush, Rowdy Baby became a global phenomenon, amassing over 1.5 billion views on YouTube, making it the most-watched Tamil music video and one of the most-viewed Indian videos of all time. This viral hit solidified Dhee’s position as a leading voice in the industry. In 2020, her exceptional talent was further recognized when she won her first Filmfare Award for Best Female Singer for the song Kaattu Payale from Soorarai Pottru (2020), composed by G.V. Prakash Kumar.
A vibrant stage presence is evident in this image of Dhee, the voice behind Nain Matakka from Baby John, highlighting her dynamic energy which she brings to both live performances and studio recordings.
Expanding her musical horizons, Dhee ventured into independent Tamil pop with her debut track Enjoy Enjaami on March 7, 2021. This song, featuring Arivu from The Casteless Collective, was released under the prestigious Maajja label founded by A.R. Rahman, showcasing her versatility and innovative approach to music. In subsequent years, Dhee continued to enrich Tamil cinema with her voice, reuniting with both Santhosh Narayanan and G.V. Prakash Kumar for various projects. She also collaborated with Anirudh Ravichander for the first time on the popular track Jujubee featured in the 2023 blockbuster Jailer, starring Rajinikanth and directed by Nelson. In 2024, Dhee marked her entry into Malayalam cinema with the song Viduthal in Darwin Kuriakose’s film Anweshippin Kandethum, once again with music by Santhosh Narayanan.
Now, Dhee’s collaboration with Punjabi music icon Diljit Dosanjh for Nain Matakka in Baby John marks another exciting chapter in her career. While the song Kissik from the upcoming Pushpa 2: The Rule is already generating significant buzz, with singer Sublahshini receiving accolades, Nain Matakka and Dhee’s energetic rendition are quickly capturing hearts and playlists everywhere. As Pushpa 2 gears up for its release, the anticipation for Baby John and the magic of Nain Matakka continue to build, promising a thrilling end to the year for music lovers.
