From Kamal Haasan's Hey Ram to Mohanlal's Ravanaprabhu: Meet Vasundhara Das, voice of Shakalaka Baby—here's where she is now

On October 10, 2025, a re-release of Mohanlal's 2001 smash hit Ravanaprabhu (2001) brought Vasundhara Das back into the spotlight. Many moviegoers still remember the actor from her role as the energetic Dr Mundackal Janaki Nambiyar in the blockbuster Malayalam film. Nevertheless, her path has been marked by deliberate progression; she has gone from being a renowned backing singer and actor to a committed composer, entrepreneur, and trailblazer in the realm of rhythm-based community development.

Vasundhara Das' foundations in classical music

Music has always been an integral part of Das' life from her birth on October 27, 1977, in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Hindustani classical music laid the groundwork for her artistic journey; she started studying it with her grandmother, Indira Das, when she was six years old. She went on to study the Keherwana Gharana under Pandit Parameshwar Hegde, who continued her rigorous musical training. Her strong academic background, which included degrees in economics, statistics, and mathematics from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, provided a counterpoint to her passion for classical art.

There were several facets to Das's innate musical talent. She gained fame as a soprano in the university choir and lead singer for a girl band while she was a student. In spite of a humorous anecdote about being "booed off" the stage during her debut performance—a setback that only served to strengthen her determination—she became an expert musician and developed an extraordinary talent for languages, becoming fluent in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, English, and even somewhat Spanish. Her bilingual adaptability would define her professional life.

ALSO READ: Ravanaprabhu re-release: Netizens call rewatching the Mohanlal-starrer 'a lifetime experience'

Accidental foray into acting with Hey Ram

Although her first goal in life was to become a musician, her magnetic stage presence led to an unanticipated foray into acting, which she frequently attributes to chance. In 1999, she made her acting debut in the lead role of Mythili Iyengar in the ambitious political drama Hey Ram (2000), directed and produced by Kamal Haasan. Her career took off after her breakout appearance in the film, which showcased her fearlessness in the face of challenging roles.

The year 2001 was a watershed moment that solidified her place in cinematic history across several genres: In the sequel to Devaasuram, the smash hit Ravanaprabhu starring Mohanlal, she made her Malayalam acting debut. Her role as Aditi Verma in Monsoon Wedding, Mira Nair's highly acclaimed English-Hindi film that was nominated for a Golden Globe, catapulted her to international stardom. She received a great deal of international attention as a result of the film's box office and Venice Film Festival successes. In the Tamil action flick Citizen, she co-starred with Ajith Kumar.

Shifting focus and formal retirement from acting

Das continued to be selective with her filmography, which included the 2003 Kannada film Lankesh Patrike and subsequent Hindi films such as Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana (2006), despite the critical acclaim for her parts. She decided to focus on her first love, music, and formally retired from acting in 2006.

At the same time as her acting debut, Das launched her playback career, which was an instant and enormous success. The high-energy Tamil song Shakalaka Baby from A. R. Rahman-composed Mudhalvan was her breakout.

Film songs and commercial hits

Her fruitful partnership with Rahman culminated in a once-in-a-lifetime chance to perform the English song O Re Chhori for Rachel Shelley's British role in the legendary film Lagaan (2001). Her voice was immediately associated with energetic, contemporary Hindi film scores. Songs like It's The Time to Disco (Kal Ho Naa Ho), Where's The Party Tonight? (Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna), and the Salaam Namaste title track were among her many commercial successes.

Das has dabbled in both solo and group musical endeavours, in addition to his movie career. In the early 2000s, she and her long-time companion and then husband, Roberto Narain, became founding members of the global music group Arya. The band performed all over the world before breaking up in 2004. Their eclectic fusion sound combined aspects of Indian classical music with jazz, Latin, rock, and pop. In the years that followed, she set up a studio in Bengaluru called The Active, where she composed and produced creative independent soundscapes. She made her composing debut in the 2014 film Paranthe Wali Gali and collaborated with Sufi vocalist Mir Mukhtiyar Ali on an album called The Shah Hussain Project.

Transition to social entrepreneurship

Das has made a unique contribution to social entrepreneurship through rhythm and community facilitation since leaving the mainstream cinema industry. She married Narain in 2012, and since then, this work and her husband have been the rock of her professional life.

Drumjam, which Das co-founded, is an organisation that uses the healing and bringing-together properties of rhythm and music to foster business growth. After completing rigorous training with drum circle pioneer Arthur Hull, she is recognised as an authority in the discipline. Group rhythm and drumming are at the heart of Drumjam's corporate training, team-building, and leadership programmes. The idea behind music as a tool for experiential learning is to encourage teamwork and originality through listening rather than talking.

Rhythm therapy

Das and Narain founded the Community Drumjam Foundation, a natural extension of Drumjam's mission. The mission of this group is to provide rhythm therapy to underserved communities that do not have access to government programmes. For a variety of populations, including at-risk youth, people with disabilities, the elderly (especially those coping with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia), and those in palliative and hospice care, the foundation hosts free, agenda-free drum circles.

Das has discovered a way to combine her lifelong love of music with her strong desire to help others lead healthier lives. She calls music a "shortcut to mindfulness and meditation" that can alleviate mental health issues like anxiety and stress in today's technologically isolated society.

Legacy of artistry and community innovation

Residing in Bengaluru and also holding the position of certified trainer for the international Village Music Circles organisation, Das is an artist who deftly manoeuvred through the pressures of mainstream fame to carve out a more significant and niche career. Her acting career is brought to light when viewers revisit Ravanaprabhu 20 years later, but her present work solidifies her legacy as an innovator in rhythmic collaboration and community.

FAQs:

Q: Who did Vasundhara Das play in Ravanaprabhu?

A: Vasundhara Das played the role of Dr. Mundackal Janaki Nambiyar, the spirited doctor who becomes the love interest of Mohanlal's character, Karthikeyan, in the 2001 Malayalam blockbuster film, Ravanaprabhu.

Q: What famous songs did Vasundhara Das sing?

A: Vasundhara Das is a highly successful playback singer. Her massive hits include the Tamil track Shakalaka Baby (Mudhalvan), which won her a Filmfare Award; It's The Time to Disco (Kal Ho Naa Ho); Where's The Party Tonight? (Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna); and the title track of Salaam Namaste.

Q: Did Vasundhara Das act in Monsoon Wedding?

Yes, Vasundhara Das achieved global recognition for her role as Aditi Verma in Mira Nair's critically acclaimed, Golden Globe-nominated English-Hindi film, Monsoon Wedding (2001).