Hariharan`s message to his fans remains, as has always: "Keep listening to good music, and hope to see you all at my shows, when I tour, as it is the platform where I can connect with each and every one of you, on many levels, even though I am on a stage which is many meters away. God Bless you all". The musical scene of India has been stormed in the year 1996 with the phenomenal success of the music album "Colonial Cousins". This music album was launched by Hariharan along with Leslie Lewis. It was an Indian-English fusion album that captured the number one position of the Indian musical charts in that year. The album also fetched the honor of being featured on MTV Unplugged. And this album earned Hariharan the international fame that he could rarely earn from his 15 years recording career.

Hariharan was born on 3rd April in the year 1955, at Puthan Theruvu or Thiruvananthapuram, Indian state of Kerala. But he was raised in Mumbai (then known as Bombay). He obtained his educational degree of Bachelors in science and law. He was born to renowned Carnatic vocalists, Shrimati Alamelu and the late H.A.S. Mani (full name:anantha Subramani Iyer). He has received his introductory training from Shrimati Alamelu who was his mentor. Under her expert tutelage he has learnt the nuances of carnatic music.

From a very young age, Hariharan has also received training in Hindustani music. But later on, he was moved by the Mehedi Hassan and Jagjit Singh and developed a passion for it. Afterwards he received training in Hindustani music from Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan. Hariharan decided to pursue his career in ghazal singing. He sharpened his skills by learning Urdu. His rendering of Urdu ghazals were so amazing that his Lucknow resident audiences have been mesmerized with his performances. Hariharan actually did not compromise with the quality. Perhaps this is the reason why to tone up his Urdu he stayed at his Urdu teachers home till the time his Urdu became satisfactory. On his own words, "Urdu is simply a beautiful language which has a tone quality that draws the ears to listen to it being uttered, whether in poetry or song, I practically lived at my Urdu Teacher`s home, until my Urdu became satisfactory."

Hariharan in the year 1977, bagged the honor of achieving the top prize at the All-India Sur Singaar competition. And after that competition the late music director Jaidev signed him for playback for the Hindi movie Gaman. "Ajeeb Saane He Mujh Par Qarar" was his debut song. This song became a huge hit and for that Hariharan was awarded an Uttar Pradesh state award. He was also nominated for the Best Singer National Award. His career as a playback singer geared up then after.

Hariharan is a playback singer of Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, & Telugu movies as well as an established ghazal singer. He has been also regarded as one of the pioneers of Indian fusion music. But at the beginning of his career, he has performed in many concerts as well as performed on TV programmes. He has also lent his voice for a number of TV serials like famous Junoon. He has also released many ghazal albums to his credit and of which most of the ghazals are written by himself. "Abshaar-e-Ghazal" with Asha Bhonsle was the first ghazal album by Hariharan. "Gulfam" was another hit album by Hariharan. In sales, this album cut hit double platinum. It also earned the Diva Award for Hariharan and became the Best Album of the Year in the year 1994.

In the year 1992, with the introduction of debutant music director A.R Rehman, Hariharan made his entry to the world of Tamil films. The patriotic song "Thamizha Thamizha" of Maniratnam`s film Roja was a super hit. In the year 1995, he was honored as the best male playback singer by the Tamil Nadu State Government Film Awards. This award has been given to him for his outstanding rendition of song "Uyire Uyire" also by music director A.R Rehman in Maniratnam`s Bombay (Hariharan sang the song with K.S. Chitra). In its Hindi version "Uyire Uyire" is better known as "Tu Hi Re". For the soulful rendition of the song "mere dost mere bhai" from the Hindi movie Border, composed by Anu Malik, Hariharan was conferred the national award for the best playback singer.

The fusion album Colonial Cousins with Bombay-based composer cum singer Leslie Lewis in the year 1996 was a milestone for Hariharan`s career. The album fetched the string of awards including that MTV Indian Viewers` Choice award. Hariharan has also playacted in a Tamil film with actress Khushboo. The movie was titled Power of Women & also played a cameo role in the Tamil film Boys. Some Tamil songs sung by Hariharan are, `Thamizha thamizha`-Roja; `Kucchi kucchi raakkammaa`-Bombay; Hai rama ohr vaaramaa - Rangeela; Nilaa kaaygiradhu - Indra; Konja naal poru thalaivaa - Aasai; Manameh thotta chinnungi-- Thotta Chinnungi; Oru thedhi paarthaal -- Coimbatore Maapillai; Kannil kannil-Mustafa; Vidukathaiyaa - Muthu; En manadhai kollai aditthavalleh-- Kaloori Vaasal; Ucchi mudhal paadham varai - Sengottai; Telephone mani pol-Indian; Udaiyaadha vennilaa-Priyam; Class Roomila-- Idhayame Idhayame; Kaloori saalai-- Kadhal Desam; Malargalleh malargalle-- Love Birds; Uthatorra Sivappe-- Paanchalang Kurichi; Romeo aattam pottaal-- Mr Romeo; Kaadhali kaadhali (duet & solo)-- Avvai Shanmugi; Taj mahaleh-- Periya Thambi; Vennilaveh vennilaveh -- Minsaara Kanavu; Kannai katti kollaadheh-Iruvar; Poothirukkum vanameh--- Pudhayal; Kaadhal kaadhal-Aravindan; Oru mani aditthaal -- Kaalamelaam Kadhal Vaazhga; Paapa papa, Indhumahaa samuthirameh - Mannava; Nagumo hei.. sugamo - Arunachalam; Kaadhalaa kaadhalaa, Rosaapoo chinna rasaapoo-- Suriya Vamsam; Neeyillai ninaivillai, Vaaliba vayadhukku-Poochoodavaa etc.

Some major ghazal albums by him are, Shamakhana (concert recording; includes songs by Anuradha Paudwal); Mausam (same concert recording as Shamakhana; slightly different song selection); Sukoon in the year 1983; Aab Shaar-e-Ghazal (with Asha Bhosle; music for all eight tracks composed by Hariharan; in the year 1985; Reflections in the year 1987; Dil Nasheen in the year 1988; Dil Ki Baath in the year 1989; The Very best of Hariharan ghazals (compilation album; in the year 1989); Hariharan in concert in the year 1990; My Favourite Hits (compilation album; in the year 1990); Hazir (with Zakir Hussein on Tabla; in the year 1992); Gulfam in the year 1994; Paigam in the year 1995; Qaraar in the year 1995; Saptarishi (concert recording; in the year 1995); Visaal in the year 1996; Jashn in the year 1996; Aathwan Sur -- The Other Side of Naushad (in the year 1998), written & composed by Naushad; Kaash in the year 2000; Lahore Ke Rang, Hari Ke Sang in the year 2006; Waqt Par Bolna in the year 2007.

For his outstanding contribution in music he was conferred the prestigious Padma Shri and Yesudas Award in the year 2004. For a track called "bolo bolo" Hariharan also collaborated with Pakistan based band Strings. With Punjabi / bhangra artiste Daler Mehndi, Hariharan has released an album called destiny. Latest ghazal album by him, "Lahore ke rang, Hari ke sang" along with celebrated ghazal composers from Pakistan. This album of his inside and outside India won him rave reviews and critical acclaim. "Urdu Blues" a terminology that is coined by him with his vastly successful album "Kaash". His album "Kaash" has been featured musicians like Anandan Sivamani the percussion maestro, Ustaad Rashid Mustafa on tabla, Ustad Liyaqat Ali Khan on Sitar & Ustad Sultan Khan on Sarangi. On his ghazal album Haazir Hariharan also cultivated with tabla maestro Zakir Hussain.