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Versatile and vibrant

Film playback singer Anoorada is at ease with all types of music

A gifted singer that she is, her ability to modulate her voice effortlessly has made her adapt different styles of music.

Essentially a classical singer, this Chennai girl's hallmark is her versatility, which has catapulted her to the top ranks of playback singing today.

Her peppy and lively numbers are so pulsating and vibrant that audience of all ages get attracted.

And not only within the country but abroad too, where she gives stage performances.

Her rendition of either a melodious classical, Hindustani raga or racy high-pitched song are both done with equal ease. This is 35-year old Anoorada Sriram.

Accomplished artiste

A highly accomplished playback singer and pop artiste, music has been integral part of her life ever since she started to learn it from the age of three from her mother Renuka, a Tamil and Malayalam playback singer of the 60s.

Anoorada, however, secretly nurtured a desire to become a doctor during her school days.

But her father's words that "music can heal more hearts" prompted her to take up music as a subject seriously later.

"I never wanted to be a playback singer then," she recalls. Having trained under renowned Gurus in Carnatic music like Thanjavur S. Kalyanaraman, Dr. T. Viswanathan and T. Brinda, Anoorada also got trained in Hindustani classical music under Pandit Manikbua Thakurdas.

Though she did not focus much on film music during her college days, she was much in love with Ilayaraja's numbers. So much so that her M.A. thesis was on the Maestro.

World music exposure

Her two-year stint in the United States where she completed her Masters in World Music from Wesleyan University, Connecticut, exposed her to the world of Jazz, West African music and Western Opera.

"My voice really improved after learning the West African and Jazz," says Anoorada, who enjoys doing Jugalbandhis with her violinist husband Sriram.

Music composer, Mahesh, did a demo cassette with her, which was heard by music director A.R. Rehman. And she was initiated into film music.

Though she hummed for Mani Ratnam's film "Bombay", her first break came in 1994 with the maiden solo song "Acham Acham Illai" for the Tamil movie "Indira".

Thereafter, there was no looking back for this artiste who has had her share of hits singing regularly for top music directors in Tamil, Hindu, Telugu, Malayalam films in the last one decade.

Also in her list are Bengali and Sinhalese songs.

She received the coveted Best Female Playback Singer Award for her song in the film "Aasai" presented by the Tamil Nadu State Cinema Kalai Manram in 1996.

Pop album

Her Tamil Pop Album titled "Chennai Girl", which was the first of its kind in the South, was a super hit and favourite on MTV and Channel V. "Chennai Girl" was awarded the Screen-Videocon award for Best Pop Album of 1997.

Anoorada herself composed the music and penned the lyrics for this album.

"Film music has given me success, satisfaction and fulfillment," she says.

"It has given me perfection and visibility too", she adds with gratitude. Besides this, music has also taught her the breathing technique.

The success in tinsel town has not prompted her to give up classical music, which she continues to perform and enjoy even today. "I love classical music", she asserts.

"It is very important to value music as it appeals to the soul." Has the advent of young singers built a pressure on her? "There is tremendous competition now. Any new comer with a decent voice gets a chance," she acknowledges.

However, the competition hasn't really shaken her.

"I am content with singing four songs a month," she says emphasising on quality.

And how about working with top class music directors? "I was a wee bit shaky when I first sang for Raja Sir (Illayaraja). Every music director's temperament is different and each has his own way of working. Working with Raja Sir, Deva, Rehman has been extremely great. It is essential to have that temperament and the ability to communicate," she notes.

Every time she sets foot on stage to perform or enters into the recording studio she thinks of her well wishers and fans. "Music connects people".

Anoorada attributes here success and fame to her parents and gurus. "I miss my gurus who were all stalwarts. Their achievements are huge than mine," she says before stepping on stage for yet another performance in the City recently.

R. RAJARAM

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