On a high note
SARASWATHY NAGARAJAN
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`Seethakalyanam' marks Srinivas' arrival as a music director.
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The songs have been inspired by my love for Carnatic and Hindustani music and ghazals.
PHOTO: S. GOPAKUMAR
CELEBRATIONS: A.R. Rahman, left, releases the audio CD of `Seethakalyanam.'
A gala event, which was an aesthetic marriage of showmanship and creativity, marked playback singer Srinivas' arrival as a music director in Mollywood. It was none other than A.R. Rahman who released the audio CD of `Seethakalyanam' by handing over the first copy to the hero of the film Jayaram.
As the sonorous notes of Behaag filled the air, an overwhelmed Srinivas, who has scored the music of the film `Seethakalyanam,' remarked that it had been a labour of love for him.
Directed by T.K. Rajeev Kumar and produced by MenakaSuresh Kumar, `Seethakalyanam' is set against the backdrop of a Tamil Brahmin wedding. The trio plan to remake it in Tamil soon.
Universal theme
Says Srinivas, "It has a universal theme and Rahman also felt that it should be made into Tamil."
Rahman feels that the album shows the "mark of a mature composer. Sreenivas is going to go places and this is just one step of his musical journey."
An elated Srinivas explains the circumstances that led him to compose the music for the film.
"Suresh, Rajeev and I have been friends since our school days and so when Rajeev told me the story of the film, I promised to find someone suitable for him to do the music for the film," recalls Srinivas.
Although he had composed a couple of songs for Rajeev Menon, it came as a surprise when Rajeev Kumar told him to score the music for the film.
The result is an album that has six numbers; a melodious fusion of Hindustani and Carnatic.
"I have not stuck to any one particular raga. While one number is a mix of Behaag and Jog, another one is based on Bahaar raga. The songs have been inspired by my love for Carnatic and Hindustani music and ghazals. Hariharan and Sujatha have a fusion with a ghazal touch. Karthik, Dinesh, whom we last heard in Vaishali, and Mathangi are some of the singers in this album."
He adds that what made his work enjoyable was the total freedom Rajeev gave him to compose the music to suit the situation and also select the singers for the numbers written by Beeyar Prasad.
"I made my debut as a lyricist with `Seethakalyanam' but `Kilichundanmambazham' was released first," recalls Prasad.
"It is a project close to my heart and I was disappointed when the film, which was made in 2002, got delayed. Now it is in the final stages of editing and dubbing and should reach the theatres by August," says Srinivas. Will his incarnation as composer be the end for the singer who gave us hits like `Ethrayo jamayi nine njan thedunu' in `Summer in Behtlem' and the soulful number in `Dil Chahta Hai.'
But Srinivas emphasises that he loves singing and will remain a singer. The album is another high note in his musical journey.
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