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Life looks good

From playback singing to private albums, Hemachandra wants to make the best of offers

PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

ON A SONG Hemachandra plans to launch a band

The world knows that Hemachandra, his sister Hima Bindu and their cousin Karunya are bright singers.

"But, 15 people in our family are into music - as composers, singers and even as a keyboard player. I learnt it from my mother," says Hemachandra.

"Life has changed since Sa Re Ga Ma. It's almost like the black and white era giving way to colour. When I used to sing for weddings and other events earlier, I was paid Rs 500 or 1,000. Now, the same people ask who my manager is, if I have dates and how much I expect," he says.

Despite all this, Hemachandra remains on firm ground.

"Talent hunts give you a platform and after that, everything depends on how well you make use of the opportunities," he says.

No wonder he now spends most of his time in Mumbai. He has sung for the Telugu films Vamsam and Premante Intena and has recorded a song composed by Himmesh Reshammaiya for the Hindi film Dil Diya Hai.

There are also concerts in the US organised by the American Telugu Association coming up.

Having been groomed by composer Aadesh Shrivastava and having sung for his album Alag, Hemachandra says, "Aadesh is like my godfather. I will be singing for his next album too. Singing apart, he helped me in personality training and grooming."

The youngster knows that life after a talent hunt is not easy.

"Until the show is on, people keep watching you. But after that, people will remember you only if you are a good singer. That thought keeps me on my toes."

Hemachandra has begun work on his private album.

"I want to balance between playback singing and Indipop. Music is what I love; the form is immaterial. Period."

Soon, he also plans to launch a band with his group of friends. Acting offers have also come his way, but Hemachandra is content with singing.

In Mumbai, Hemachandra plans to study B. Sc Animation and Multimedia through correspondence, but admits he was never keen on books. "In school, I used to grasp my lessons in class but browsed through my books only on the eve of exams. A day before my C++ exams, learning that I didn't have my books, my father went out to get them for me," he recollects.

Do Hemachandra and Hima Bindu review each other's performances?

"We just fight a lot. See, I still have scratch marks from our last fight," he laughs.

SANGEETHA DEVI. K

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