By Saurav Mehra Super Singer is one of the most popular Tamil-language singing reality shows on Star Vijay. The programme was created as a talent hunt to discover talented singers and provide them with an opportunity to perform before established playback singers, composers and other personalities from the Tamil music industry.
The senior version of Super Singer premiered in 2006 and has produced several singers who later entered playback singing and the professional music industry. The programme was earlier popularly known as Airtel Super Singer because of its title sponsor. Over the years, its hosts, judges and competition structure have changed, but the basic aim of finding talented singers has remained the same. As of 2026, 11 seasons of the main Super Singer competition have been completed, while preparations for Season 12 have begun.
Super Singer Winners List of All Seasons
| Season | Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Main Host |
| Season 1 | 2006 | Nikhil Mathew | Anitha V. Karthikeyan | Chinmayi |
| Season 2 | 2008–09 | Ajeesh | Ravi | Chinmayi, Hayma Malini, Yugendran |
| Season 3 | 2010–11 | Saicharan | Santosh Hariharan | Divya Vijayagopal, Sivakarthikeyan |
| Season 4 | 2013–14 | Diwakar | Syed Subahan | Ma Ka Pa Anand, Priyanka Deshpande, Bhavana |
| Season 5 | 2015–16 | Anand Aravindakshan | Fareedha | Ma Ka Pa Anand, Priyanka Deshpande, Bhavana |
| Season 6 | 2018 | Senthil Ganesh | Rakshitha Suresh | Ma Ka Pa Anand, Priyanka Deshpande |
| Season 7 | 2019 | Murugan | Vikram | Ma Ka Pa Anand, Priyanka Deshpande |
| Season 8 | 2021 | Sridhar Sena | Bharat K Rajesh | Ma Ka Pa Anand, Priyanka Deshpande |
| Season 9 | 2022–23 | Aruna Sivaya | Priya Jerson | Ma Ka Pa Anand, Priyanka Deshpande |
| Season 10 | 2023–24 | John Jerome | Jeevitha | Ma Ka Pa Anand, Priyanka Deshpande |
| Season 11 | 2025–26 | Nikhil | Saran Raj and Dishathana | Ma Ka Pa Anand, Priyanka Deshpande |
Super Singer Season 1 Winner – Nikhil Mathew
The first season of Super Singer premiered on 28 April 2006 on Star Vijay. It was presented as Airtel Super Singer – Thamizhagathil Brahmaanda Kuralukkaana Thedal.
Playback singer Chinmayi hosted the inaugural season. The permanent judging panel consisted of Anuradha Sriram, P. Unnikrishnan and Srinivas.
Nikhil Mathew emerged as the first Super Singer winner. Anitha V. Karthikeyan finished as the runner-up and was also recognised as the Viewer’s Choice, while Sowmya Mahadevan received the Jury’s Choice recognition.
The season concluded in August 2006. Nikhil’s victory also gave him an opportunity to begin his journey in playback singing.
Super Singer Season 2 Winner – Ajeesh
Super Singer Season 2 premiered on 7 July 2008.
Chinmayi initially hosted the season before Hayma Malini and Yugendran Vasudevan Nair took over presentation duties. Sujatha Mohan, P. Unnikrishnan and Srinivas formed the main judging panel.
Ajeesh won Season 2, while Ravi finished as runner-up and Renu secured third place.
The grand finale took place on 3 June 2009 at YMCA Royapettah in Chennai.
Ajeesh later received an opportunity from composer Yuvan Shankar Raja and entered Tamil playback singing.
Super Singer Season 3 Winner – Saicharan
Season 3 premiered on 12 July 2010.
Divya Vijayagopal hosted the programme, with Sivakarthikeyan also appearing in the hosting role during the competition and grand finale. Srinivas, Sujatha Mohan and P. Unnikrishnan were the permanent judges.
Saicharan, also known as Saisharan, emerged as the Season 3 winner after returning to the competition through the wildcard route.
Santosh Hariharan finished as the first runner-up, while Sathyaprakash secured the second runner-up position.
The grand finale was held on 23 September 2011 at Chennai Trade Centre. Saicharan received an apartment as the winner’s major prize and later went on to sing in Tamil films.
Super Singer Season 4 Winner – Diwakar
Super Singer Season 4 premiered on 4 February 2013.
The season was hosted by Ma Ka Pa Anand, Priyanka Deshpande and Bhavana Balakrishnan. The main judges included Sujatha Mohan, Mano, P. Unnikrishnan and Srinivas.
Diwakar emerged as the winner after securing the highest audience vote.
Syed Subahan finished as the first runner-up and was also recognised as the Judges’ Choice. Sarath Santosh finished as the second runner-up.
The grand finale took place on 1 February 2014 in Chennai. Diwakar received an apartment worth around ₹60 lakh as the championship prize.
Super Singer Season 5 Winner – Anand Aravindakshan
Season 5 premiered on 1 June 2015.
Ma Ka Pa Anand, Priyanka Deshpande and Bhavana Balakrishnan returned as hosts. The main judging panel included Srinivas, P. Unnikrishnan, Usha Uthup and Mano.
Anand Aravindakshan emerged as the winner of Super Singer Season 5.
Fareedha finished as the first runner-up, while Rajaganapathy secured the second runner-up position and was also recognised as the Judges’ Choice during the finale.
The grand finale was held on 18 March 2016 at DB Jain College in Chennai. Anand received an apartment worth approximately ₹70 lakh.
Super Singer Season 6 Winner – Senthil Ganesh
Super Singer Season 6 premiered on 21 January 2018 and marked an important phase in the programme after Airtel was no longer the title sponsor.
Ma Ka Pa Anand and Priyanka Deshpande hosted the season.
The judging panel consisted of Anuradha Sriram, P. Unnikrishnan, Benny Dayal and Shweta Mohan.
Folk singer Senthil Ganesh emerged as the winner.
Rakshitha Suresh finished as the first runner-up, while Malavika Rajesh Vaidiya secured the second runner-up position.
The grand finale took place on 15 July 2018 at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai.
Senthil Ganesh’s victory was particularly notable because his performances brought Tamil folk music prominently into the competition. He also received an opportunity to sing for composer A. R. Rahman.
Super Singer Season 7 Winner – Murugan
Season 7 premiered on 27 April 2019.
Ma Ka Pa Anand and Priyanka Deshpande returned as hosts, while P. Unnikrishnan, Anuradha Sriram, Shweta Mohan and Benny Dayal formed the judging panel.
Murugan, popularly known as Mookuthi Murugan, won Super Singer Season 7.
Vikram finished as the first runner-up. Sam Vishal and Punya shared the next position among the finalists.
The grand finale was held on 10 November 2019 at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex in Coimbatore.
Murugan’s victory also brought him an opportunity to sing in a musical composition by Anirudh Ravichander.
Super Singer Season 8 Winner – Sridhar Sena
Season 8 premiered on 24 January 2021.
Ma Ka Pa Anand and Priyanka Deshpande once again served as hosts. The programme continued during a period when television production was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sridhar Sena emerged as the Season 8 champion.
Bharat K Rajesh finished as the first runner-up, while Abhilash Venkatachalam secured third place.
The grand finale aired on 26 September 2021.
Sridhar Sena received a cash prize of ₹10 lakh along with an opportunity to sing in a future film song composed by Anirudh Ravichander.
Super Singer Season 9 Winner – Aruna Sivaya
Super Singer Season 9 premiered on 19 November 2022 on Star Vijay.
Ma Ka Pa Anand and Priyanka Deshpande returned as hosts. The judging panel consisted of Anuradha Sriram, P. Unnikrishnan, Benny Dayal and Shweta Mohan.
Aruna Sivaya emerged as the winner.
Priya Jerson finished as the first runner-up, while Prasanna Adhisesha secured the second runner-up position.
The grand finale was held on 25 June 2023.
Season 9 continued the programme’s established combination of public voting, judges’ evaluation, themed performances and wildcard opportunities.
Super Singer Season 10 Winner – John Jerome
Super Singer Season 10 premiered on 16 December 2023.
Ma Ka Pa Anand and Priyanka Deshpande hosted the season. The judging panel featured Anuradha Sriram, Sean Roldan, Mano and Sujatha Mohan.
John Jerome emerged as the winner of Super Singer Season 10.
Jeevitha finished as the first runner-up, while Vaishnavi secured the second runner-up position.
The grand finale was held on 23 June 2024.
John Jerome received the title trophy along with an apartment worth approximately ₹60 lakh.
Super Singer Season 11 Winner – Nikhil
Super Singer Season 11 premiered on 2 August 2025 on Star Vijay.
Ma Ka Pa Anand and Priyanka Deshpande continued as hosts.
The season initially featured Anuradha Sriram, P. Unnikrishnan, Mysskin and music composer Thaman S on the judging panel. Gangai Amaran later joined the programme in place of Thaman during the season.
Season 11 introduced contestants representing different regional identities and styles of Tamil music and eventually produced seven grand finalists.
Nikhil emerged as the Super Singer Season 11 winner during the grand finale on 1 February 2026.
Saran Raj and Dishathana shared the first runner-up position, while Meenatchi finished as the second runner-up.
Nikhil received the Super Singer trophy along with an apartment worth around ₹60 lakh. Saran Raj and Dishathana received cash prizes as joint first runners-up.
Super Singer Hosts Over the Years
Super Singer has had several presenters since its launch.
Chinmayi hosted the first season and much of Season 2. Hayma Malini and Yugendran later presented Season 2.
Divya Vijayagopal and Sivakarthikeyan were associated with Season 3.
From the later seasons, Ma Ka Pa Anand and Priyanka Deshpande became the hosting pair most strongly identified with Super Singer. Bhavana Balakrishnan also hosted Seasons 4 and 5 alongside them.
Ma Ka Pa Anand and Priyanka have continued as the regular hosts through most recent editions, including Season 11.
Super Singer Judges Over the Years
A large number of respected playback singers, composers and musicians have judged Super Singer.
Regular and prominent judges across different seasons have included Anuradha Sriram, P. Unnikrishnan, Srinivas, Sujatha Mohan, Mano, Usha Uthup, Benny Dayal, Shweta Mohan, Sean Roldan, Thaman S, Mysskin and Gangai Amaran.
Several major personalities from Indian music have also appeared as guest judges or special guests, including A. R. Rahman, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra, Ilaiyaraaja and other established artists.
Super Singer Format
Super Singer is primarily a singing talent competition for contestants seeking a platform in the Tamil music industry.
The competition begins with auditions held across different regions. Selected contestants progress to the main televised rounds.
Participants perform songs from different genres, including Tamil film music, classical music, folk songs, melody, Western-influenced music and compositions associated with major music directors.
Judges evaluate contestants based on factors such as vocal quality, pitch, expression, technique, versatility and overall performance.
The programme also uses elimination rounds and wildcard opportunities. Audience voting has played an important role in determining finalists and winners during many seasons.
Several winners and finalists have later received opportunities to sing for established Tamil film composers.
Super Singer and Super Singer Junior
Super Singer and Super Singer Junior are separate competitions.
The regular Super Singer series primarily features older contestants, while Super Singer Junior is designed for children.
Super Singer Junior has its own season numbering and separate list of winners. Therefore, winners of the Junior programme should not be included in the regular Super Singer Season 1 to Season 11 winners list.
Super Singer Season 12 Status
As of August 2026, 11 seasons of the regular Super Singer competition have been completed.
Super Singer Season 12 has entered the audition stage, with online auditions being opened for aspiring contestants.
Since the competition has not yet produced a Season 12 champion, Nikhil remains the latest Super Singer winner following his Season 11 victory in February 2026.
Final Words
Super Singer has remained one of Tamil television’s most important singing reality programmes since its debut in 2006. Nikhil Mathew became the first champion, followed by singers including Ajeesh, Saicharan, Diwakar, Anand Aravindakshan, Senthil Ganesh, Murugan, Sridhar Sena, Aruna Sivaya and John Jerome.
The latest champion is Nikhil, who won Super Singer Season 11 on 1 February 2026, while Saran Raj and Dishathana shared the first runner-up position.
With Super Singer Season 12 auditions now underway, the programme is preparing to discover another group of singers who will compete for the next title.