For over two and a half decades, Manasa Holla’s voice has echoed across Karnataka’s soundscape—from love ballads to devotional hymns, she’s been the trusted voice behind hundreds of tracks. But lately, Manasa’s not just singing the tune—she’s setting it. The seasoned playback singer has now stepped boldly into the world of music direction, and her latest work for the film Thaane has struck a powerful chord. The heartwarming track “Baalinali Bharavaseya Belakanu Nee Hoodu…”—a lullaby of hope featuring the tender voices of children—has melted hearts and gone viral. Penned by her long-time friend and lyricist Remo, the song has turned into an anthem of innocence and light.

What makes Manasa’s journey even more remarkable is her deep-rooted versatility. The daughter of veteran artist Shankhanada Aravind, she’s not just a singer and composer but also a skilled keyboardist, programmer, and sound engineer. The success of Thaane now places her among the rare but rising tribe of women music directors in Kannada cinema.

With over 1500 songs to her name—including over 500 film tracks across hits like 99, Adhyaksha, Shivalinga, Ravike Prasanga, Rajinikanth, Dhamaka, Super Ranga, and Darling—Manasa’s voice has been a familiar companion to Kannada cinema lovers. Now, as a composer, she has created music for films like 6 to 6, Kanasu Maratakkide, Kempu Deepa, Manasagide, Masanada Hoovu, Bayalu Seeme, and Chirathe Banthu Chirathe. Her score for Kanasu Maratakkide earned her the Best Music Director award at the Goa Film Festival, while Masanada Hoovu brought her a Special Jury Award at the Bengaluru Film Festival.

Beyond the big screen, she’s shaping sound for the digital world too—crafting background scores for web series like Vanaja, Ganda Gundi, Honey Trap, Parcel, and Chiranjeevi Naveen, along with a host of TV serials.