Mame Khan is an Indian playback and folk singer from Rajasthan, India. He has been playback singer for numerous Hindi films such as Luck By Chance (2009), I Am (2010), No One Killed Jessica (2011), Mirzya (2016) and Sonchiriya (2019). Khan was featured on Coke Studio @ MTV (second season) along with Amit Trivedi, the duo performed the folk song Chaudhary. He received the Best Folk Single Award at Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GiMA) 2016. Mame Khan was first ever Folk artist to walk the Red Carpet at The Cannes Film Festival in 2022 and to perform at the Indian pavilion at Cannes. Mame Khan's most recent folk, Sufi, fusion album named "Desert Rose" was released on 13 October 2022.

Early life and background

Mame Khan was born in Satto, a small village near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. He belongs to the Manganiyar community of Rajasthan, India. He was exposed to the folk music of the Manganiyar community since childhood. His father, Ustad Rana Khan was also a Rajasthani folk singer. At the age of 14, he was given a six-year scholarship by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to pursue his studies in music and arts.

Career

Mame Khan at Auditorium du musée Guimet in 2012

Khan made his singing debut in Bollywood with Shankar Mahadevan for the film Luck By Chance in 2009. However, he shot into the spotlight, when he appeared in an episode of Coke Studio @ MTV (season 2), featuring the song Chaudhary in collaboration with music director Amit Trivedi in 2012. Mame also performed another title Badri badariya at Coke Studio @ MTV, where he collaborated with singer Mili Nair. He sang for movies like Mirzya, I Am, No One Killed Jessica and Sonchiriya. He also lent his voice for a Hindi song in Malayalam film, Monsoon Mangoes.

In October 2015, Khan released his debut album, Mame Khan's Desert Sessions, which was crowd funded. He sang the national anthem for Hotstar and Star Sports's 2015 Pro Kabaddi League season. In December 2016, he released a single, Sanu Ik Pal Chain Na Ave, which was a combination of Punjabi and Rajasthani folk music. In December 2017, he had collaboration with composer duo Salim–Sulaiman for McDowell's No.1's No.1 Yaari Jam's Yaari song. He also sang for television commercials for clients such as Samsung and Tanishq. Mame Khan has been the voice for the nutrition campaign "Mhari Champion" by ICDS and the Government of Rajasthan.

He was also a part of Shankar Mahadevan's folk project titled My Country, My Music. He was the lead vocalist of Roysten Abel's show, The Manganiyar Seduction, which has been touring the world since 2006. He has performed at some of India's most popular festivals including the NH7 Weekender, Mood Indigo, Repertwahr Festival, Rajasthan Partnership Summit and Sahitya Aaj Tak. In June 2018, he performed with his troupe at the Mumbai's National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), where he also collaborated with Kaushiki Chakraborty. First folk singer to play the opening act at NMACC's Studio Theatre in 2023.

Discography

As a playback singer

YearFilmSong(s)Co-singer(s)Composer(s)Notes
2009Luck by Chance"Baware"Shankar MahadevanShankar–Ehsaan–Loy
2010I Am"Baangur"Kavita SethAmit Trivedi
2011No One Killed Jessica"Aitbaar"Vishal Dadlani, Robert Bob Omulo
2016Monsoon Mangoes"Beete Din"Abhishek IyerJakes BejoyMalayalam film
Mirzya"Chakora"Suchismita Das, Akhtar Chinnal, Shankar MahadevanShankar–Ehsaan–Loy
"Aave Re Hitchki"Shankar Mahadevan
"Doli Re Doli"
2019Sonchiriya"Baaghi Re"SoloVishal Bhardwaj
"Baaghi Re" (Remix)
The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir"Maila Maila"Amit TrivediEnglish film
2020Bandish Bandits"Bandish Bandits Theme Song"Web series
2022Turtle"Ram Bharose"Kunaal Vermaa, Rapperiya Baalam
Dasvi"Nakhralo"Sachin-Jigar
Nikamma"Tere Bin Kya (Reprise)"Shirley SetiaGourov Dasgupta
2023Afwaah"Aaj Yeh Basant"SoloShameer Tandon
2024Chandu Champion"Jamoore"Kailash WaghmarePritam
Baby John"Bandobast"SoloThaman S

TV shows

YearShow(s)TrackMusicSinger(s)SeasonChannel(s)
2012Coke Studio"Chaudhary"Amit TrivediMame KhanSeason 2, ep. 3MTV India
2012Coke Studio"Badari Badariyan"Amit TrivediMame Khan, Mili NairSeason 2, ep. 3MTV India
2016The Dewarists"Mitho Laage"Mame KhanMame Khan, Dhruv GhanekarSeason 5, ep. 4MTV India
2025Zee Cine Awards 2025"Mere Desh Ki Dharti"Mahendra KapoorMame Khan, Mithoon Sharma, Palak MuchhalSeason 23rd, ep. 2Zee TV, Zee5
2025Ek Aur Baar Kishore Kumar"Saagar Kinare"Mame KhanSeason 1, ep 1Sony Liv

Singles

YearTrackArtist(s)Composer(s)Label
2016Kesariya BalamMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2016Mitho LaageMame Khan & Dhruv GhanekarMame Khan, Dhruv GhanekarDewar's India
2017Rail GaadiMame Khan, Salim-SulaimanMame Khan,Salim-SulaimanNo.1 Yaari Jam
2018JogiyaMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2018Laal Peeli AnkhiyanMame KhanMame KhanPehchan Music
2019GaneshaMame KhanMame KhanHungama Artist Aloud
2019SifarMame Khan, Tajinder Singh, Shatadru KabirTushar LallTushar Lall
2019Power Is PowerMame Khan, Clinton Cerejo, Bianca GomesShor PoliceShor Police, Clinton Cerejo
2019Dance GaneshaMame KhanMame KhanTamashaa Mediabox
2020RasilaMame khan & Shalini AdhikaryKapil JangirKS Records
2020SajaniyaMame khanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2021BichhudoMame khanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2021LoleeMame khanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2021Shri KrishnaMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2021Holi Aa GayiMame Khan & Manesha A AgarwalShailesh DaniTimes Music
2021MalharMame Khan & Manesha A AgarwalRavi PawarT-series Pop Chartbusters
2021MoochMame Khan & Ruchika ChauhanAmit TrivediAmit Trivedi Azad
2021ShukranMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2021Ik Tere BinMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2021KrishnaMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2021MoomalMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2021BullahMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2022Darare DilMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2022JudaaiyanMame Khan & Anirudh BholaGD (Gaurav Dagaonkar)Songfest India
2022Samjhe NaMame Khan & Ruchika ChauhanAmit TrivediAmit Trivedi Azad
2022Kesariya BalamMame Khan & Gul SaxenaAmjad BagadwaTips Rajasthani
2022Gori Matwali Ori ChoriMame KhanRavi PawarT-series Rajasthani
2022GoriMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2022Rangeelo ChokroMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2023Umad GhumadMame KhanRavi PawarT-series Rajasthani
2023Halla BolAmit Trivedi, Mame Khan, Sharvi YadavAmit TrivediRajasthan Royals
2023Majnu Bheeg GayeMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2024Laagi Re LaganMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2024Dama Dam Mast QalandarMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2024Tu Boond BoondMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2024Garba Ghoomar DholMame Khan & Vandana GadhaviMame KhanFolk Phonic
2024Surilo RajasthanMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2025ShivaTriology - (Shiv Mantra, Mahadeva & Bam bole)Mame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2025Tu Boond Boon - RepriseMame Khan & Roope KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2025Dama Dam Mast Kalandar 2.0Mame Khan & AJRapsMame KhanFolk Phonic
2025Hu Ru Ru LoleeMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2025Jug Jug JiyoMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic
2025Banjara JhoomMame KhanMame KhanFolk Phonic

Albums

YearAlbums's NameLabel
2015Mame Khan's Desert SessionsMusic Today
2016Summer Nights on the DunesLiving Media
2017No. 1 Yaari JamMame Khan & Salim–Sulaiman
2021Unbounded (Abaad)Mame Khan, Shankar Mahadevan
2022Desert RoseMame Khan

Awards

YearAward CeremonyCategorySongResultRef.(s)
2016GiMA AwardsBest Traditional Folk SingleSaawanWon
2021WBR CORPIconic Folk/ Sufi Singer of the Year-Won
2023Sangeet Natak AkademiBest Traditional Folk Singer Of Rajasthan-Won
2023Clef Music Awards 2023Best Traditional Folk ArtistHalariya - Janam MubarakWon
2023Boogle Bollywood - Ballistic 2023Ballistic International Vocalist-Won
2023Rajasthan Film FestivalBest Traditional Folk Singer of Rajasthan.-Won
2023Jaipur Idol Music Awards - Season 7Best Solo Album Of 2023-Won

External links