{{Short description|Indian playback singer and musician (1972–2022)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Bamba Bakya | image = Bamba Bakya.jpg | caption = Portrait of Bakya | birth_name = Bhakkiyaraj | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1972|10|31}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2022|09|02|1972|10|31}} | death_place = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India | occupation = {{hlist|Playback singer|musician}} | spouse = Sivagami }}
'''Bhakkiyaraj''' (31 October 1972 – 2 September 2022), popularly known by his stage name, '''Bamba Bakya''', was an Indian Tamil<ref>{{Cite news |title=Tamil playback singer Bamba Bakya passes away at 41 in Chennai |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/tamil-playback-singer-bamba-bakya-passes-away-at-41-in-chennai/articleshow/93943506.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2022-09-03}}</ref> playback singer and musician. He predominantly worked alongside music composer A. R. Rahman on numerous collaborations in films.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Bamba Bakya who sang opening lines of 'Ponni Nadhi' from 'Ponniyin Selvan' passes away |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2022/sep/02/bamba-bakya-who-sang-opening-lines-of-ponni-nadhi-from-ponniyin-selvan-passes-away-2494093.html |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=The New Indian Express|date=2 September 2022 }}</ref> He received the name Bamba Bakya after A. R. Rahman asked him to sing songs for him just like popular South African musician Bamba. It later went onto become a stage name as well as an identity of him. He was well known for his unique baritone.
A. R. Rahman included him in the 2010 film ''Raavanan'', during which he sang in the song "Kedakkari" (at the time he was credited as Bhakyaraj).
In 2024 A. R. Rahman revealed that with the help of AI, voice models of Bamba Bakya and other Late singer Shahul Hameed were used in composing the track '<nowiki/>''Thimiri Yezhuda''' from the upcoming film ''Lal Salaam''.<ref name="AR Rahman uses AI voice models of late singers Bamba Bakya and Shahul Hameed for ‘Lal Salaam’ song">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=AR Rahman uses AI voice models of late singers Bamba Bakya and Shahul Hameed for 'Lal Salaam' song |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ar-rahman-uses-ai-voice-models-of-late-singers-bamba-bakya-and-shahul-hameed-for-lal-salaam-song/article67792296.ece |access-date=24 April 2025 |work=The Hindu |date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424142635/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ar-rahman-uses-ai-voice-models-of-late-singers-bamba-bakya-and-shahul-hameed-for-lal-salaam-song/article67792296.ece |archive-date=24 April 2025 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
== Career == Bakya made his debut as a playback singer in S. Shankar's directorial ''2.0'' and sang his first single titled "Pullinangal" which became an instant hit and became a chartbuster. Prior to his entry into film industry, he mostly sang devotional songs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-02 |title='Simtaangaran' singer Bamba Bakya passes away, he was 41 |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/simtaangaran-singer-bamba-bakya-passes-away-he-was-41-167486 |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=The News Minute |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Prior to his untimely demise, he also rendered his voice for Mani Ratnam's historical drama film ''Ponniyin Selvan: I''.<ref name=":0" />
== Death == Bakya died on 2 September 2022, at age 41 due to cardiac arrest.<ref name="Singer Bamba Bakya passes away at 49">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Singer Bamba Bakya passes away at 49 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/singer-bamba-bakya-passes-away/article65839723.ece |access-date=24 April 2025 |work=The Hindu |date=2 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424141507/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/singer-bamba-bakya-passes-away/article65839723.ece |archive-date=24 April 2025 |language=en-IN}}</ref> He had been admitted to a hospital at Chennai after he complained of having a severe chest pain.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-02 |title=Singer Bamba Bakya, known for songs Pullinangal and Simtaangaran, dies at 41 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/singer-bamba-bakya-known-for-songs-pullinangal-and-simtaangaran-dies-at-41/ |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=The Indian Express |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
== Discography == {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:70%;border=1" !Year !Song title !Film name !Language !Music director |- |2010 |"Kedakkari" |''Raavanan'' | rowspan="16" |Tamil | rowspan="4" |A. R. Rahman |- | rowspan="5" |2018 |"Pullinangal" |''2.0'' |- |"Simtaangaran" |''Sarkar'' |- |"Dingu Dongu" |''Sarvam Thaala Mayam'' |- |"Raati" |''Raati (Independent)'' |Santhosh Dhayanidhi |- |- |"Ey Dummy Pattaasu" |''Silukkuvarupatti Singam'' |Leon James |- | rowspan="3" |2019 |"Kaalame" |''Bigil'' |A. R. Rahman |- |- |"Kondattam" |''Raatchasi'' |Sean Roldan |- |"Maula Maula" |''Action'' |Hiphop Thamizha |- | rowspan="2" |2020 |"Or Inam" |''Or Inam (Independent)'' |John A. Alexis |- |"Kanmani Anbodu" |''Time Up'' |Dheepan Chakravarthy |- | rowspan="2" |2021 |"Middle Class" |''Sivakumarin Sabadham'' |Hiphop Thamizha |- |"Kaasu" |''Raame Aandalum Raavane Aandalum'' |Krish |- | rowspan="4" |2022 |"Kalangathey" |''Anbarivu'' |Hiphop Thamizha |- |"Bejara" |''Iravin Nizhal'' | rowspan="4" |A.R. Rahman |- |"Ponni Nadhi" | rowspan="2" |''Ponniyin Selvan: I'' |- |"Ponge Nadhi" '''(D)''' |Telugu |- |2024 |"Thimiri Yezhuda" (AI Generated Voice) |Lal Salaam (2024 film) |Tamil |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{imdb name|9544069}} * {{discogs artist|Bamba Bakya}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bakya, Bamba}} Category:1972 births
Category:2022 deaths Category:21st-century Indian male singers Category:Tamil-language playback singers Category:Indian male playback singers Category:Singers from Tamil Nadu Category:Indian male folk singers Category:Indian folk singers Category:Musicians from Tamil Nadu