Klang to Kollywood: Thivan Sreetharan’s Journey to International Stardom

A Dream that Sparked a Destiny

Thivan began by humming melodies and writing lyrics in secret, sharing them with close friends who encouraged him with positive feedback. Step by step, he built the courage to perform, first in front of two people, then ten, until eventually he could stand on stage. But his early foray into music was not met with open arms. After finishing school, he began posting covers online, only to face waves of trolling and ridicule. The cruel comments broke him at times, but they never broke his will.

Determined to improve, he studied Carnatic and contemporary music, training his voice and sharpening his skills. He threw himself into competitions and live events, enduring rejections, humiliations, and even broken promises from producers. Every setback forged resilience. Slowly but surely, the shy boy from Klang grew into a confident performer.

An Unexpected Path into Acting

In 2022, fate offered a detour. Urged by a casting director, Thivan participated in an acting competition. To his surprise, he won. That victory unlocked a new avenue of opportunity. He began posting acting videos on social media, including a recreation of a scene from Sarpatta Parambara that caught the attention of Kollywood actor Arya, who praised him publicly.

From there, auditions and casting calls poured in. Thivan landed his first television project with Tholainthe Kathal on RTM and later stunned audiences as the main villain in Astro’s Dejavu 375, where his seven-minute, single-take climax performance left the crew in awe. He continued to build his career with roles in Kutty Vaathiyaar (Astro telemovie), as well as feature films Mr & Mrs and Vijay LLB. Commercially, he appeared in Shopee’s TNGO advertisement and achieved recognition as third runner-up in the Colours of India singing competition organized by GM Indians.

But even as acting flourished, music remained his first love.

The Birth of Last Bencher

In 2025, after years of waiting, learning, and enduring, Thivan finally brought his musical dream to life. He launched SaPaSa Production and produced his debut Tamil indie track, Last Bencher. Unlike his earlier cover songs, this was entirely his own: written, composed, and sung by him.

The project became a cross-border collaboration. Malaysian music producer Shane Extreme arranged the music, while Indian artists contributed their talents. The track featured acoustic & bass work by Joseph Vijay, with mixing and mastering by A. R. Rahman’s engineer Suresh Permal. The video was directed by Govind Singh, the first director to give Thivan an acting opportunity, and starred Chandhine Kaur, who made Malaysia proud through Zee Tamil’s Mahadigai.

What makes Last Bencher historic is its release. It became the first independent Tamil song by a Malaysian artist to be launched under SaReGaMa Tamil India, one of the most prestigious labels in the Tamil music industry. To crown the moment, the music video poster will light up the screens of Times Square in New York, an achievement that positions Thivan not just as a local success, but as an international figure.

A New Icon for Malaysia

Thivan Sreetharan’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience and faith can transform even the most unlikely dreamers into pioneers. From being trolled and rejected to being recognized by SaReGaMa Tamil India, his journey proves that persistence beats talent when talent refuses to persist.

Today, Thivan stands as a new icon for Malaysians, breaking barriers for the local Tamil community and placing Malaysian artistry on an international stage. With Last Bencher, he hasn’t just released a song, he has redefined what is possible for artists from Klang, from Malaysia, and beyond.

Experience Last Bencher, follow Thivan’s journey on Instagram and TikTok,, and witness the rise of a Malaysian artist who dared to dream.

Song Credits

• Melody Composer | Vocal | Lyrics | Arrangements: Thivan Sreetharan

• Music Arranged by: Shane Extreme (Malaysia)

• Flute: Kuzhal Kesavan

• Violin: Sriram

• Acoustic & Bass: Joseph Vijay (India)

• Mixing & Mastering: Suresh Permal (India)

Music Video Credits

• Starring: Chandhine Kaur

• Director: Govind Singh

• DOP: Veknesuaran Thiagarajan

• Editor & Conformist: Kevin Manickam

• VFX: Aadit Maran (India)

• Colorist: Kowshik KS (India)

• Art Director / Production Designer: Kishenprashanth Sathiavelu

• Choreographer: M.S. Vemal

• Makeup Artists (MUA): R. Gunavathy

• Stylist: Sai Geerthanjaly

• Wardrobe: Priya Sundram