She went from singing during school breaks in Sydney to collecting over a billion streams with a single song. Dhee, born Dheekshitha Venkadeshan, is one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive playback voices, celebrated for her deep alto tone, Filmfare Award win, and the cultural phenomenon that is “Enjoy Enjaami.” In 2026, she remains a prominent name across Tamil and Telugu music while steadily carving out a solo pop identity.
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Dheekshitha Venkadeshan |
| Date of Birth | 26 June 1998 |
| Age (2026) | 27 years |
| Birthplace | Sydney, Australia |
| Hometown | Sydney, Australia (raised); Chennai, India (based professionally) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Religion | Not publicly confirmed |
| Caste or Community | Sri Lankan Tamil (father’s side); Indian Tamil (mother’s side) |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
| Weight | 54 kg (approx.) |
| Eye Colour | Dark brown |
| Hair Colour | Dark brown |
| Profession | Playback singer, independent artist |
| Known For | “Enjoy Enjaami”, “Rowdy Baby”, “Kaattu Payale”, Filmfare Award win |
| Father’s Name | Venkadesan (biological father) |
| Mother’s Name | Meenakshi Iyer |
| Siblings | Sudheekshanan (elder brother) |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Husband | Not applicable |
| Children | None |
| School | Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School, Sydney (2010–2016) |
| College or University | Not publicly confirmed |
| Degree or Qualification | Not publicly confirmed |
| Political Party | N/A |
| Current Position or Role | Playback Singer and Independent Artist |
| Net Worth (estimated) | $1 million – $5 million (USD) |
| Monthly Income (estimated) | Not publicly confirmed |
| Twitter/X | Not publicly confirmed |
| @dhee___ (1 million followers) | |
| dhee.venka | |
| YouTube | Dhee (channel via maajja and individual releases) |
| Official Website | Not publicly confirmed |
Dhee Discography (Selected)
| Year | Title | Film / Release | Language | Notes |
| 2013 | Disco Woman | Pizza II: Villa | Tamil | Debut playback song |
| 2014 | Naan Nee | Madras | Tamil | Filmfare and Vijay Award nominations |
| 2016 | Ey Sandakaara | Irudhi Suttru | Tamil | Critical acclaim; SIIMA nomination |
| 2016 | Usuru Narumbuley | Irudhi Suttru | Tamil | Solo; praised for emotional depth |
| 2017 | Oo Sakkanoda | Guru | Telugu | Telugu debut |
| 2018 | Rowdy Baby | Maari 2 | Tamil | Viral hit with Dhanush; Behindwoods Gold Medal |
| 2019 | Idharkuthaan | Bigil | Tamil | Collaboration with A.R. Rahman |
| 2020 | Kaattu Payale | Soorarai Pottru | Tamil | Filmfare Award for Best Singer |
| 2021 | Enjoy Enjaami | Independent (maajja) | Tamil | Over 1 billion streams globally |
| 2022 | Rowdy Baby (remix) | Independent | Tamil | DJ Snake remix; viral redux |
| 2023 | Jujubee | Jailer | Tamil | Collaboration with Anirudh Ravichander |
| 2024 | Viduthal | Anweshippin Kandethum | Malayalam | Malayalam language debut |
| 2024 | I Wear My Roots Like a Medal | Independent | English | First English solo single |
Dhee Career Timeline
| Year | Event |
| 2013 | Debut with “Disco Woman” in Pizza II: Villa |
| 2014 | Breakthrough with “Naan Nee” in Madras; Filmfare and Vijay Award nominations |
| 2016 | Critical acclaim for Irudhi Suttru; quit school to pursue music full-time |
| 2017 | Telugu debut in Guru |
| 2018 | “Rowdy Baby” with Dhanush and Yuvan Shankar Raja goes viral |
| 2020 | “Kaattu Payale” for Soorarai Pottru |
| 2021 | Won Filmfare Award for Best Singer; released “Enjoy Enjaami” on maajja |
| 2023 | “Jujubee” in Rajinikanth’s Jailer with Anirudh Ravichander |
| 2024 | Malayalam debut; released first English single independently |
| 2026 | Featured as playback singer in Parasakthi |
Dhee Awards and Achievements (Selected)
| Year | Award | Given By | Notes |
| 2015 | Best Female Playback Singer (Nomination) | Filmfare Awards South | For “Naan Nee” in Madras |
| 2015 | Best Female Playback Singer (Nomination) | Vijay Awards | For “Naan Nee” in Madras |
| 2016 | Best Female Playback Singer (Nomination) | SIIMA Awards | For “Ey Sandakaara” in Irudhi Suttru |
| 2019 | Best Singer | Behindwoods Gold Medal Awards | For “Rowdy Baby” in Maari 2 |
| 2021 | Filmfare Award for Best Singer | Filmfare | For “Kaattu Payale” in Soorarai Pottru |
Dhee Early Life and Family
Music was not something Dheekshitha Venkadeshan discovered later in life. It surrounded her from birth. She was born on 26 June 1998 in Sydney, Australia, to a Sri Lankan Tamil father, Venkadesan, who hails from Jaffna, and an Indian Tamil mother, Meenakshi Iyer, a trained Carnatic musician.
Meenakshi Iyer later remarried prominent Tamil film composer Santhosh Narayanan, making him Dhee’s stepfather. The family connection to Narayanan became the bridge that led Dhee into Indian cinema.
Dhee Father
Her biological father, Venkadesan, is of Sri Lankan Tamil origin. Details about his profession and current whereabouts are not publicly confirmed.
Dhee Mother
Meenakshi Iyer is a respected Carnatic singer and musician. Dhee has spoken about learning Carnatic music informally through her mother and grandmother, both of whom came from deep musical traditions. Her great-grandmother was also a musician, making Dhee the fourth generation in a musical lineage.
Dhee Siblings and Family Background
Dhee has one elder brother named Sudheekshanan. The family is rooted in both Sri Lankan Tamil and Indian Tamil heritage, giving Dhee a cultural background that later found its way into her music, particularly in “Enjoy Enjaami.”
Dhee Education
Dhee attended Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School in Sydney, where she studied from 2010 to 2016. The school’s arts-focused curriculum aligned well with her musical inclinations.
She took breaks from her studies to record songs for her stepfather’s film projects in Chennai. In 2016, she made the decision to leave school entirely and commit to a full-time singing career.
Further academic qualifications, if any, are not publicly confirmed.
Dhee Career
Dhee’s professional singing career began quietly. At fourteen, during school holidays, she recorded “Disco Woman” for the Tamil horror film Pizza II: Villa in 2013, composed by Santhosh Narayanan. A year later, another school-break session produced her track for the film Cuckoo.
The real turning point arrived in 2014, when she sang “Naan Nee” alongside Shakthisree Gopalan for Pa. Ranjith’s Madras. The duet earned both singers nominations for Best Female Singer at the Filmfare Awards and Vijay Awards, placing Dhee firmly on the Tamil music map.
Dhee Playback Career in Tamil Cinema
After leaving school in 2016, Dhee devoted herself entirely to playback work. Her contribution to Sudha Kongara’s Irudhi Suttru that year brought her the most critical recognition of her early career, with solo numbers “Ey Sandakaara” and “Usuru Narumbuley” drawing wide praise. Behindwoods called one of the songs a classic and noted the other displayed an emotional depth that was a revelation.
She expanded into Telugu cinema in 2017 with Guru, a remake of Irudhi Suttru. A string of high-profile films followed: Kabali (2016), Vada Chennai (2018), and Kaala (2018), all featuring her alongside Narayanan’s compositions.
Dhee and the Rowdy Baby Moment
Her collaboration with composer Yuvan Shankar Raja on “Rowdy Baby” for Maari 2 in 2018, performed alongside actor Dhanush, became one of the most-watched Tamil songs on YouTube. The track’s energy and reach introduced her voice to an entirely new generation of listeners outside the traditional playback circuit. The Behindwoods Gold Medal recognised it as the year’s best song.
Dhee and Soorarai Pottru
Her work on “Kaattu Payale” for the 2020 aviation drama Soorarai Pottru became the song that earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Singer. The recognition cemented her as one of Tamil cinema’s leading playback voices.
Dhee Independent Career and Enjoy Enjaami
On 7 March 2021, Dhee released “Enjoy Enjaami” under A.R. Rahman’s independent label maajja, featuring rapper and lyricist Arivu from The Casteless Collective. The track drew from Tamil Nadu’s Oppari tradition and carried anti-oppression themes rooted in the histories of Dalit indentured labourers on Sri Lankan tea plantations. Within weeks of release, the music video crossed 50 million views on YouTube. It has since surpassed one billion total streams.
In the years following, Dhee continued contributing to Tamil cinema, including “Jujubee” for the 2023 Rajinikanth blockbuster Jailer, composed by Anirudh Ravichander, marking her first collaboration with him. She made her Malayalam debut in 2024 with “Viduthal” in Anweshippin Kandethum, again composed by Narayanan.
In October 2024, Dhee released “I Wear My Roots Like a Medal,” her first English-language solo single, independently composed, written and performed by her without any label involvement.
Dhee Discography, Hit Songs and Collaborations
Dhee’s catalog spans three languages: Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, with her first English solo arriving in 2024. Her most streamed work includes “Enjoy Enjaami,” “Rowdy Baby,” and “Kaattu Payale.” She has worked with composers including Santhosh Narayanan, Yuvan Shankar Raja, A.R. Rahman, and Anirudh Ravichander.
Her 2021 collaboration with DJ Snake on a remix of “Rowdy Baby” brought her music to international electronic audiences. The maajja label, which she was the first artist to release under, was conceived to represent rising South Asian talent globally.
Dhee Religion and Community
What is Dhee Religion
Dhee’s religious affiliation is not publicly confirmed. She has not made public statements about her personal faith.
What is Dhee Caste or Community
Dhee comes from a Sri Lankan Tamil background on her father’s side and an Indian Tamil background on her mother’s side. Her music, particularly “Enjoy Enjaami,” draws from Dalit cultural heritage and folk traditions, reflecting a deep connection to Tamil historical identity.
Dhee Personal Life and Relationships
Dhee is unmarried as of 2026, and there are no publicly confirmed details about any romantic relationship.
Is Dhee Married
No. Dhee has not married, and no engagement has been publicly announced.
Dhee Husband
Not applicable. Dhee does not have a husband.
Dhee Children
Dhee has no children.
Dhee Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Dhee stands at 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) and weighs approximately 54 kg. She has dark brown eyes and dark brown hair. She has cited her mother as a major influence on her personal style and fashion choices.
Dhee Net Worth and Earnings
Dhee’s estimated net worth ranges from $1 million to $5 million (USD), according to multiple entertainment sources. Her income comes primarily from playback singing fees, streaming royalties, and brand associations.
“Enjoy Enjaami” and “Rowdy Baby” have together generated enormous streaming numbers, contributing significantly to digital royalty income. Her independent releases from 2024 onward suggest a shift toward retaining greater creative and commercial control over her work.
| Source | Estimated Net Worth |
| TheCityCeleb (2026) | $1 million – $5 million USD |
| Multiple entertainment databases | $1 million – $5 million USD |
Dhee Social Media
| Platform | Handle | Followers | Notes |
| @dhee___ | 1 million | Active; posts music updates and personal content | |
| dhee.venka | Not publicly confirmed | Present but less active | |
| YouTube | Via maajja / personal | Millions of views across songs | No standalone figure confirmed |
Dhee uses Instagram as her primary social platform, sharing music announcements, behind-the-scenes moments, and personal expressions of her artistic identity. Her presence reflects her evolving direction from film playback work toward independent artistry.
Dhee Controversies
Enjoy Enjaami Credit Dispute
The success of “Enjoy Enjaami” led to a sustained dispute over credits and recognition. Rapper and lyricist Arivu publicly stated that he wrote the lyrics, composed the main vocal melody, and performed the song based on his own cultural history and lived experience. The controversy was initially sparked when Rolling Stone India’s August 2021 issue and a DJ Snake Spotify remix omitted Arivu’s name. In August 2022, Dhee responded by stating she had credited Arivu at every opportunity. The dispute resurfaced publicly in March 2026, when Arivu stated there had still been no fair credit, compensation, or royalties, and Santhosh Narayanan responded publicly disputing those claims. The matter remains unresolved and ongoing as of the time of writing.
Lesser Known Facts About Dhee
- Dhee never received formal music training. She picked up Carnatic music informally from her mother and grandmother, neither of whom formally insisted she learn.
- At the age of six, she bought her first album after hearing Destiny’s Child in a cousin’s car. That moment, she has said, sparked her lifelong interest in music.
- Her great-grandmother was a musician, making her the fourth generation of musically inclined women in her family.
- She quit school in 2016, before completing her final years, to commit fully to a career in playback singing.
- “Enjoy Enjaami” was the very first song released under the maajja label, the independent initiative launched by A.R. Rahman to promote South Asian artists to a global audience.
- Her first English-language single, released in October 2024, was entirely self-written, composed, and performed, and released without involvement from any label.
- Dhee grew up in Sydney but later relocated to Chennai to be closer to the Tamil film industry.
- Her 2023 song “Jujubee” for Jailer marked her first collaboration with composer Anirudh Ravichander, one of Tamil cinema’s biggest current composers, despite her decade-long career in the industry.
Dhee stands today as a voice that has crossed languages, continents, and genres. From a school hall in Sydney to a Filmfare stage and a billion-plus streams, her career arc has been built on an instinctive connection to music rather than formal credentials. With solo work and her first English release marking a new artistic chapter, her most interesting work may still be ahead.
Dhee FAQ
Who is Dhee?
Dhee, whose full name is Dheekshitha Venkadeshan, is an Australian singer of Sri Lankan and Indian Tamil descent. She works primarily as a playback singer in Tamil and Telugu cinema and is also known for her independent music. She is the stepdaughter of music composer Santhosh Narayanan.
How old is Dhee?
Dhee is 27 years old as of 2026. She was born on 26 June 1998 in Sydney, Australia.
What is Dhee’s net worth?
Multiple sources estimate Dhee’s net worth at between $1 million and $5 million USD, earned through playback singing, streaming royalties, and digital releases.
Is Dhee married?
No. Dhee is unmarried as of 2026 and has not publicly confirmed any romantic relationship.
What is Dhee’s religion?
Dhee’s religious beliefs are not publicly confirmed.
How tall is Dhee?
Dhee stands at 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm).
Who are Dhee’s parents?
Her biological father is Venkadesan, a Sri Lankan Tamil from Jaffna. Her mother is Meenakshi Iyer, a Carnatic musician. Her mother later remarried Tamil film composer Santhosh Narayanan, making him Dhee’s stepfather.
What is Dhee known for?
Dhee is best known for “Enjoy Enjaami” (2021), a Tamil independent track that crossed one billion streams, and for “Rowdy Baby” from Maari 2 (2018). She also won the Filmfare Award for Best Singer for “Kaattu Payale” from Soorarai Pottru (2020).
What is Dhee’s most famous song?
“Enjoy Enjaami,” released in 2021 featuring rapper Arivu, is her most globally streamed track with over one billion streams across platforms.
What is the latest news about Dhee in 2026?
In 2026, Dhee contributed as a playback singer to the Tamil film Parasakthi. The long-running credit dispute over “Enjoy Enjaami” between rapper Arivu and composer Santhosh Narayanan also resurfaced publicly in March 2026, with Arivu stating that credit and compensation remained unresolved.
Sources
Wikipedia – Dhee (singer) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhee_(singer)
Instagram – @dhee___ — https://www.instagram.com/dhee___/ The News Minute – Enjoy Enjaami row — https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/enjoy-enjaami-row-returns-still-no-credit-compensation-or-royalties-arivu-says