Malgudi Subha

{{short description|Indian playback singer (born 1965)}}

{{Notability|date=April 2025}}

{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Malgudi Subha

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name = Subhashini

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1965|10|17}}

| instrument = Vocalist

| genre = Playback singer, pop singer

| occupation = Singer

}}

Malgudi Subha (born 17 October 1965; also spelled as Malgadi Shuba) is an Indian playback singer. She has recorded songs in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi.{{cite web |url=http://www.indiamovieinfo.com/malgudishubhaa/index.htm |title=Malgudi Shubha.... |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725031732/http://www.indiamovieinfo.com/malgudishubhaa/index.htm |archive-date=25 July 2008 |df=dmy-all }} In a career spanning two decades, she has sung more than 3000 songs.{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/05/23/stories/2008052350361600.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125073029/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/05/23/stories/2008052350361600.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 January 2013 | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=My first break | date=23 May 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/01/17/stories/2006011700800100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124090638/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/01/17/stories/2006011700800100.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=24 January 2010 |title=The Hindu : Metro Plus Hyderabad : 'For me, the magical moment is now' }}

She began her career by providing vocals for ad jingles composed by people like A. R. Rahman and Viji Manuel. She debuted as a playback singer in the film Nadodi Thendral, with music by Ilayaraja. Prominent Indian composer A. R. Rahman's debut album, Set Me Free (also called Shubhaa Set Me Free), had all its songs sung by Shubha.{{Cite web|url=http://ww12.hummaa.com/music/artist/24410/Malgudi+Subha|title=hummaa.com|website=ww12.hummaa.com}} The album, which was released in 1989 and went unnoticed, but became a good seller when it was re-released in 1996 by the label Magnasound. She sang the song "Thayya Thayya" in the 1998 Mani Ratnam film Uyire, which was composed by A. R. Rahman.

Her first successful Telugu album, Chikpak Chikbhum, which was released in Chennai, sold ten lakh copies.{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/10/07/stories/1307078w.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020522153658/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/10/07/stories/1307078w.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=22 May 2002 |title=The Hindu : 'Aatam Kondattam' is her style }} The songs were composed by Raj–Koti, under whom A. R. Rahman was assisted.

She has appeared as a judge on the Malayalam language music competition program Idea Star Singer. She is a judge in Star Singer 2 (Kannada), airing on Asianet Suvarna from 7-8 pm on weekdays. She is also a judge in the Tamil music competition program Super Singer in Star Vijay.

The South Indian actress Priyamani is her niece, and Hindi actress Vidya Balan is her relative.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/06/13/stories/2008061351250100.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125091618/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/06/13/stories/2008061351250100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 January 2013 |title=Friday Review Chennai / Interview : Director's actor |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |date=13 June 2008}}