Inno Genga
{{short description|British playback singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Inno Genga
| image =
| image_size =
| birth_name = Innogen Gengatharan
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1993|11|08}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| instrument =
| genre = Playback singing
| occupation = Singer
| years_active = 2015–present
| website =
}}
Innogen Gengatharan, known professionally as Inno Genga, is a British playback singer who has worked in Tamil language films. After becoming noticed through his song covers on YouTube, Inno Genga has sung songs in albums composed by musicians including Anirudh Ravichander, D. Imman and Leon James.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03665p2|title=BBC Asian Network - Ashanti Omkar, Inno Genga|website=BBC|accessdate=20 July 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://citytoday.news/english-version-of-aaluma-doluma-to-be-released/|title=English version of 'Aaluma Doluma' to be released |website=Citytoday.news|accessdate=20 July 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/inno-genga-writes-an-english-version-of-aaluma-doluma.html|title=Inno Genga writes an English version of Aaluma Doluma|date=13 June 2017|website=Behindwoods.com|accessdate=20 July 2020}}
Career
Innogen Gengatharan was born to Sri Lankan Tamil immigrants Rajagopal and Chandrika Gengatharan on 8 November 1993. He was educated at Tiffin School, a grammar school in Kingston upon Thames in southwest London and later moved on to study Mathematics with Finance at the University of Southampton.{{cite web|url=http://www.tiffinfriends.org/design/pdfs/Pages%20from%20The%20Tiffinian%202012-2013%20Low%20Res-37-72.pdf|title=Pages from the Tiffian|website=Tiffinfirends.org|accessdate=20 July 2020}} During his time at university, he was able to raise his profile as a singer through appearances in shows arranged by the London Tamil diaspora and notably won the "Raise Your Voice" event organised by TSI & LSE Tamil Society in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/tamil-talent-takes-centre-stage-lse|title=Tamil talent takes centre stage at LSE | Tamil Guardian|website=Tamilguardian.com|accessdate=20 July 2020}} He also regularly made YouTube covers of RnB and Tamil songs under the stagename of Inno Genga, which won the notice of Tamil music composers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/night-remember-tamil-comedy-takes-stage|title=A night to remember as Tamil comedy takes to the stage | Tamil Guardian|website=Tamilguardian.com|accessdate=20 July 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://starcentralmagazine.com/featured/2012/07/24/inno-genga/|title=YouTube Artist Of The Month For July 2012 |website=Starcentralmagazine.com|date=24 July 2012 |accessdate=20 July 2020}}
Inno made his debut as a playback singer in the Tamil film industry through the song "Kannamma", a duet alongside Chinmayi, in the album for Ko 2 by Leon James.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/ko2-music-director-leon-james-talks-about-his-music-journey/article7927396.ece|title=From Kanchana-2 to Ko 2|first=Chitradeepa|last=Anantharam|date=28 November 2015|accessdate=20 July 2020|website=Thehindu.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/KO2-Kannamma-song-promo/articleshow/49088001.cms|title=KO2 Kannamma: song promo|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=20 July 2020}} After his work on the film, he was invited by Anirudh Ravichander to be a part of his world tours as an opening artiste.{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-column/anirudh-brings-thamizh-edm-to-toronto.html|title=ANIRUDH BRINGS THAMIZH EDM TO TORONTO, Anirudh, Anirudh Toronto concert|date=13 December 2015|website=Behindwoods.com|accessdate=20 July 2020}} Inno Genga then sang the song "Come Closer", a reprise version of "Sirikkadhey" in Anirudh's album for Remo (2016). As a result of his association in the film, he was also featured in the promotional video for the original song alongside other cast and crew members including Anirudh, Sivakarthikeyan and Keerthy Suresh.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thamarai.com/music/kollywood/british-tamil-artist-inno-genga-features-kollywood-song|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819195430/http://www.thamarai.com/music/kollywood/british-tamil-artist-inno-genga-features-kollywood-song|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2016|title=British Tamil artist Inno Genga features on Anirudh Ravichander latest project|date=19 August 2016|accessdate=8 February 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/sirikkadhey-promo-music-video-on-august-18-imagegallery-kollywood-qirjLvgjjbgej.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818141217/http://www.sify.com/movies/sirikkadhey-promo-music-video-on-august-18-imagegallery-kollywood-qirjLvgjjbgej.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 August 2016|title='Sirikkadhey' promo music video on August 18|website=Sify|accessdate=20 July 2020}} In 2017, Inno Genga notably sang in the albums for Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru (2017) and Gulaebaghavali (2018), with composers Ghibran and Vivek–Mervin.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/music-review-gulaebaghavali/articleshow/62305399.cms|title=Music Review: Gulaebaghavali|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=20 July 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/music-review-theeran-adhigaram-ondru/articleshow/61689411.cms|title=Music Review: Theeran Adhigaram Ondru|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=20 July 2020}}
In 2017, after graduating from university, Inno relocated to Chennai to continue to pursue his music career. His most high-profile work during the year was the baila song "Ullaalla" for Anirudh's soundtrack in the Rajinikanth-starrer, Petta (2019). Performing alongside Nakash Aziz, critics referred to the song as the "most fun song" of the album.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/music-review-petta/articleshow/67024659.cms|title=Music Review: Petta|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=20 July 2020}}
Discography
;Singer
| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#f5f5f5;" | |||||
| Year | Song title | Language | Film | Music Director | Co-Singer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "Kannamma" | Tamil | Ko 2 | Leon James | Chinmayi |
| rowspan="3" |2016 | "Come Closer" | English | Remo | Anirudh Ravichander | Solo |
| "En Pulse Yethitu Poriye" | Tamil | Kavalai Vendam | Leon James | Leon James, Andrea Jeremiah | |
| "Senthooran" | Tamil | Bogan | D. Imman | Solo | |
| rowspan="2" |2017 | "Oru Veettil" | Tamil | Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru | Ghibran | Shashaa Tirupati |
| "You're The One" | Tamil | Gulaebaghavali | Vivek–Mervin | Solo | |
| rowspan="1" |2018 | "Ullaalla" | Tamil | Petta | Anirudh Ravichander | Nakash Aziz |
| rowspan="1" |2019 | "Prapanchame Alaa" | Telugu | Jersey | Anirudh Ravichander | Shashaa Tirupati |
| rowspan="1" |2019 | "Hoyna Hoyna" | Telugu | Gangleader | Anirudh Ravichander | Solo |
| rowspan="1" |2020 | "Unnaal Penne" | Tamil | Dharala Prabhu | Inno Genga | Solo |
| rowspan="3" |2021 | "Andham Vadi Choopera" | Telugu | Master | Anirudh Ravichander | Solo |
| "Amigo" | Telugu | A1 Express | Hiphop Tamizha | Solo | |
| "ABCD"
|Telugu |Anirudh Vijay |Solo | |||||
| 2022 | "Nannu Nenu Adiga" | Telugu | Karthikeya 2 | Kaala Bhairava | Solo |
| 2022 | "Maatram" | Tamil | Coffee with Kadhal | Yuvan Shankar Raja | Solo |
;Composer
| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#f5f5f5;" | ||
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Dharala Prabhu | One song "Unnaal Penne" |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|7763108}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Genga, Inno}}
Category:Alumni of the University of Southampton
Category:British Asian musicians
Category:British male singer-songwriters
Category:British people of Sri Lankan Tamil descent
Category:People educated at Tiffin School
Category:Sri Lankan Tamil musicians
Category:Sri Lankan Tamil people
Category:Tamil playback singers
Category:21st-century British singers