Artist Profile
Shweta Subram – Canadian-Indian Playback Singer, Bollywood Vocalist & Live Performer
Shweta Subram is an award-winning Canadian-Indian singer, songwriter, playback vocalist, and live performer known for her work in Bollywood, Indian pop, fusion music, and South Asian contemporary music. She is recognized for her versatility across Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Sindhi, and English music and has built an international career spanning India, Canada, the UAE, the United States, and other countries.
Shweta gained wider international recognition through her Bollywood playback work, her collaboration with The Piano Guys, her performances with renowned Bollywood composers Salim–Sulaiman, and her contribution to Tesher's viral global hit “Jalebi Baby.”
Early Life and Musical Background
Shweta Subram was born in Mangalore, Karnataka, India, and spent part of her early childhood in Dubai before moving to Ottawa, Canada, during her teenage years. Her multicultural upbringing exposed her to Indian classical and Bollywood music alongside Western musical influences.
Although singing initially began as a hobby, Shweta's talent was recognized through numerous competitions and awards in Dubai and Canada. Her success eventually encouraged her to pursue music professionally.
She graduated from Merivale High School in Ottawa and later earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from Carleton University.
Her musical training and exposure to different traditions contributed to what she describes as a fusion-oriented musical identity, combining Indian music with Western contemporary sounds.
Shweta Subram's Musical Style
Shweta Subram is known for combining Indian classical and Bollywood vocal techniques with contemporary Western production.
Her repertoire includes:
Rather than restricting herself to one genre, Shweta has developed a versatile performance style that allows her to move between Bollywood playback singing, independent music, live concerts, acoustic performances, and international collaborations. Canada's National Arts Centre describes her work as focusing on Hindustani and Carnatic musical styles.
Career Beginning and IIFA Performance
One of the important early milestones in Shweta Subram's professional career was her performance at the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) Rocks in Toronto in 2011, where she performed alongside Bollywood music directors Salim–Sulaiman.
The opportunity helped introduce Shweta to a larger Bollywood and international audience and opened doors to further collaborations and playback opportunities.
Her early independent releases included songs such as “Jee Le Live Life” and “Ajooba.” These projects helped establish her presence in the North American South Asian music community before she moved further into Bollywood playback singing.
Bollywood Playback Singing
Shweta Subram made her Bollywood playback debut with the 2015 film Hawaizaada, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Sharda.
She performed “Dil-e-Nadaan” alongside Ayushmann Khurrana. This marked a significant step in her transition from independent and live music into mainstream Indian film music.
Her playback career subsequently expanded into additional Indian film and television projects, including work in Hindi and South Indian productions.
Tamil Cinema and Regional Indian Music
Shweta has also worked in South Indian cinema.
Her Tamil playback debut came through “Mella Mella” for the film Maayavan, with music composed by Tamil composer Ghibran.
Her ability to perform in multiple Indian languages has become an important part of her professional profile. Her recorded work has included Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Sindhi, and English, among other musical projects.
Jalebi Baby – Global Breakthrough
One of the biggest milestones in Shweta Subram's career came through her contribution to Tesher's “Jalebi Baby.”
Released in 2020, the Punjabi-English song became a global viral hit, with Shweta contributing the recognizable vocal hook. She recorded her part in her home studio in Dubai.
The song became particularly successful on social media platforms and streaming services. The National reported in 2021 that the track had generated millions of TikTok videos and tens of millions of streams and YouTube views.
Importantly, Shweta has explained that “Jalebi Baby” represents only one part of her broader musical career, which includes Bollywood playback singing, independent music, classical influences, and international collaborations.
Collaboration with The Piano Guys
Another major international milestone was Shweta's collaboration with the American musical group The Piano Guys.
She contributed vocals to their Indian-language adaptation of “Don't You Worry Child,” released as “Khushnuma.”
The project became highly successful online and was reported by Canada's National Arts Centre as receiving more than 21 million YouTube views.
The collaboration introduced Shweta's voice to audiences beyond the traditional South Asian music market and demonstrated her ability to work within international crossover productions.
Major Collaborations
Throughout her career, Shweta Subram has worked with artists, composers, and producers from India, Canada, the United States, and the wider South Asian music industry.
Her notable collaborations and associations include:
Salim–Sulaiman
Ayushmann Khurrana
The Piano Guys
Tesher
Shankar Tucker
Karthik
Ghibran
Shafqat Amanat Ali
Josh
Shaan
Sonu Nigam
Her collaboration with Shankar Tucker produced “Mere Saajan Sun Sun,” while her work with The Piano Guys gave her an important international crossover platform.
Independent Music
In addition to playback singing, Shweta has maintained an independent music career.
Her early original releases included “Jee Le Live Life” and “Ajooba.” She has also released independent singles and collaborative projects such as “Piya” with Karthik and “Rasiya” featuring Purbayan.
Her independent work demonstrates her interest in blending Indian vocals with contemporary urban and Western production.
Shwetapella
Shweta also developed “Shwetapella,” a vocal-focused music series featuring her own arrangements and vocal interpretations.
Her official biography highlights Shwetapella as one of her projects that received significant audience appreciation, alongside her Bollywood covers and original music.
Television and Media Career
Before establishing herself primarily as a recording and live vocalist, Shweta also worked in television and radio.
She was a participant in Sunsilk Gang of Girls, a singing reality program broadcast on Zoom TV, where she was mentored by Leslie Lewis and Baba Sehgal.
She also worked in Canadian South Asian media, including television and radio. Her broadcasting experience included hosting and reporting roles, giving her additional experience as an on-camera personality and presenter.
International Performances
Shweta Subram has developed an extensive international live-performance career.
Her official biography states that she has performed in more than 50 cities across countries and regions including India, Canada, the United States, UAE, Czech Republic, Japan, Indonesia, the Caribbean, and other locations. Audience sizes for these performances have ranged from hundreds to large-scale events with audiences of up to 25,000 people.
This international performance experience makes Shweta particularly relevant for South Asian cultural festivals, diaspora events, corporate entertainment, weddings, private functions, and multicultural celebrations.
Carnegie Hall Performance
One of Shweta Subram's most notable international achievements is her performance at Carnegie Hall in New York.
The National Arts Centre describes her as the youngest vocalist of Indian origin to have performed at Carnegie Hall. Her official biography also highlights this performance as a major career milestone.
Her Carnegie Hall appearance is an important part of her international recognition as an Indian-origin vocalist performing on a prestigious global stage.
Performance for Indian and Canadian Prime Ministers
Shweta Subram has also performed national anthems at a major diplomatic reception in Canada.
Her official biography states that she was honored to sing the Indian National Anthem for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his reception in Canada and also performed the Canadian National Anthem during a grand reception involving the leaders of both countries.
This represents one of the more distinguished ceremonial performances of her career.
Awards and Recognition
Shweta Subram has received recognition from several music and cultural organizations.
Her career honors include:
North American Best Singer Award from the Sangam Kala Group.
Best Singer Award through a Shankar Mahadevan Academy talent competition judged by Shankar Mahadevan.
South Asian of the Year recognition from Zee TV Canada and Maple Diversity.
Lokvani Spotlight on Excellence Award in the “Amazing Artist” category.
Best Singer recognition from the Dubai Arts Lovers Association.
Recognition and honors associated with her artistic and academic achievements.
The Sangam Kala Group is particularly notable in her career because it has also been associated with the early recognition of prominent Indian singers.
Shweta Subram as a Live Performer
Shweta's background makes her particularly versatile for live entertainment.
She can perform Bollywood classics, contemporary Hindi songs, Punjabi music, Indian fusion, popular covers, romantic numbers, upbeat dance tracks, and multilingual repertoire.
Her live performance experience includes both intimate musical settings and large-scale international events.
Suitable Events for Shweta Subram
Bollywood concerts
Corporate events
South Asian cultural festivals
Indian diaspora events
University and college events
Weddings and wedding celebrations
Private parties
Gala dinners
Brand activations
Government and diplomatic receptions
Multicultural festivals
International concerts
Community events
Luxury entertainment programs
Artist Profile
Artist Name: Shweta Subram
Profession: Singer, Playback Singer, Songwriter, Performer
Origin: India / Canada
Musical Base: Bollywood, Indian Pop & Fusion
Genres: Bollywood, Hindi Pop, Indian Fusion, Hindustani & Carnatic Influences
Languages: Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Sindhi, English
Known For: “Jalebi Baby,” “Dil-e-Nadaan,” “Khushnuma,” “Mella Mella”
Major Collaborations: Tesher, The Piano Guys, Salim–Sulaiman, Ayushmann Khurrana, Shankar Tucker, Ghibran
Major Venues/Events: IIFA, Carnegie Hall, international concerts and cultural festivals
Performance Experience: 50+ cities internationally according to her official biography
Why Book Shweta Subram?
Shweta Subram brings together Bollywood playback experience, multilingual vocals, Indian classical influences, contemporary fusion, and international live-performance experience.
Her repertoire can appeal to both Indian and international South Asian audiences, making her suitable for events where organizers want a vocalist capable of moving between Bollywood favorites, contemporary pop, Indian fusion, and high-energy live entertainment.
Her association with “Jalebi Baby,” Bollywood playback singing, The Piano Guys, IIFA, and Carnegie Hall gives her a distinctive international profile within the South Asian entertainment industry.
Book Shweta Subram Through Fankar Online
Event organizers looking to book Shweta Subram for concerts, corporate events, weddings, cultural festivals, university programs, private functions, international South Asian events, or special entertainment programs can submit their event requirements through Fankar Online.
Booking enquiries can include the event date, city/country, event type, expected audience, performance duration, and entertainment requirements.
