A singer's rising note
K. Pradeep
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Playback singer Sudeep Kumar was one of the five young voices introduced by G. Devarajan.
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Photo: Mahesh Harilal
SMOOTH DEBUT: Sudeep
Unlike many young singers, Sudeep Kumar has been fortunate. The opportunity to meet some of the legends in Malayalam film music enabled his career to take off without too many problems. On the flip side, some of the promises of his close friends and associates have somehow never materialised.
Years of classical training and stage shows helped Sudeep to make his mark in the music world. The Punapra-born Sudeep, who has now settled down in Kochi, even practised law for a year before he decided to focus on music.
It was music director Kalavoor Balan who first had Sudeep's voice recorded. "That was for a professional drama troupe." Right from his college days, Sudeep was a member of ganamela troupes in Kerala. It was during this time that he got a chance to sing three songs in an album.
"It so happened that Johny Sagarika was in the studio when the recording was going on. He heard me singing and later was introduced to him. Johny Sir offered to drop me home on his way back. We talked a lot on music. That was the beginning of our friendship which turned so important in my career."
Sudeep was given a chance to sing in the film `Thalolam.' "It was a `repeat' of a song sung by Sujatha. The song beginning `Thennilavilin... ' came out only in the cassette of the film. But one song `Orangallil... ' that I had sung in the earlier album was included as a filler. The songs in the film were a huge hit. Though my film career had to wait my entry into the field of audio-cassettes was assured with this."
One event that helped launch Sudeep's career was a music programme conducted at Tagore Theatre, Thiruvananthapuram, in 2000. That was a show in which the eminent music director G. Devarajan introduced five young voices of the millennium. Another person who helped his career was director Vinayan. Two songs by Sudeep in `Oomapennin Uriyadapayyan' were finally included in the film. Songs in films like `Kaatuchembakam,' `Vellinakshatram,' and `Adbudhadweep' followed. To date Sudeep has sung in 12 films.
Keeping him busy are regular stage shows and a variety of audio albums.
"Singing on stage and breathing life into some lovely melodies for albums gives such a lot of satisfaction. One such album, which will always be special, is `Gurudeepam,' which was released recently."
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