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Gayathri’s Mantra

PHOTO: S. MAHINSHA

Gayathri Asokan is in an animated discussion with Asif Ali, one of the new actors in ‘Ritu,’ when we join her for an interview. Her soulful romantic duet ‘Pularumo…’ in Shyamaprasad’s latest film, ‘Ritu,̵ 7; has won her rave reviews and the playback singer is in an ebullient mood. Her eyes sparkle and her face is wreathed in smiles.

With her kind of looks, it was but natural that she should get offers aplenty from Mollywood. But Gayathri says she always wanted to be heard and not seen on the silver screen. And she made herself heard with her very first song ‘Deenadayalo Rama…’ for ‘Arayanangalude Veedu.’ The doctors’ daughter who had chosen to become a singer arrived in style.

The song became a big hit and her melodious voice stood out in the clamour of wannabe singers all trying to sing in the high octaves a la reigning sopranos in the world of film music. Awards, hits and more melodic numbers followed. ‘Pularumo…’ has already climbed the charts even before the film reached theatres.

“Yes, films have given me a great deal of exposure and I do enjoy my assignments. But in another six or seven years, I want to become a competent Hindustani vocalist,” asserts the student of Bangalore-based Hindustani vocalist Vinayak Torve and Alka Marulakar. She adds that she furthers her learning by tuning in to all kinds of music on youtube. “I think the Net is a fantastic place for any serious student of music. Indian classical, Western, Jazz , ghazals, rock, instrumental… there is so much that is easily available,” smiles Gayathri

In keeping with her eclectic taste in music, Gayathri’s taste in literature is equally Catholic. “I enjoy a wide range of books and authors. I am a fan of Milan Kundera. But my all-time favourites are Latin American authors, particularly Mario Vargas Llosa, Jose Saramago, Marques… Of Llosa’s books, ‘Way to Paradise,’ which delves into the life of artist Paul Gauguin, is a particular favourite. It is about the angst, elation and intensity of being an artist; a little like Somerset Maugham’s ‘The Moon and the Sixpence,’ but I find this much deeper,” says Gayathri with the passion and enthusiasm of a true bibliophile.

The literature postgraduate says airports are a great place to pick up books. “Some of them turn out be trash but I have also discovered some gems,” adds Gayathri, an avid traveller thanks to her concerts and stage programmes. Her sojourns to different places on the globe have also whetted the foodie in her.

“A vegetarian foodie who did not know how to cook,” laughs Gayathri. She says she used to feel “very unfeminine” as she equated cooking as something all women did and to her dismay she could not cook even a single dish.

“Usually, it a shishya who looks after the guru. But in my case, it was my gurus, both excellent cooks, who kept feeding me all kinds of goodies. Recently, my parents built a traditional house near Mulamkunnathukavu and I go there for a break. I do riyaz, go for long walks in the countryside, watch the grass grow and cook simple dishes. I enjoy cooking now,” says Gayathri with all the zeal of the newly initiated.

However she adds that the kitchen is not where she hangs out in Thrissur. “Jyotsna (playback singer) and I are great pals and cine buffs. We love watching all the latest Bollywood flicks. I have another group of friends in Bangalore. We hangout in restaurants, play snooker… I try to spend a few days in Bangalore every month as both my gurus are there,” says Gayathri, a disciple of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Tracing her evolution as a singer, Gayathri says although music is in her genes with two trained Carnatic musicians (her grandmother Ammukutty and aunt Thulasi) in her family, she used to see it as a hobby and not a vocation.

“I used to win several prizes for music during my student days. My plan was to do a post graduation in management or mass communication and perhaps take up a job after that,” recounts Gayathri. “But,” she adds laughing, “while still in college I joined a band that used to belt out film songs for various stage programmes in and around Thrissur. It was considered pretty scandalous then.”

It was during the same time that the late Philip Francis, a ghazal singer and tabla player, introduced her to Hindustani music and that “made me yearn to learn Hindustani.” Gayathri remembers meeting Alka Marulkar after a concert in Kochi. “I requested her to make me her student. She told me to sing a bhajan and that must have given her hope for she told me to come to Pune to learn in the gurukul tradition.”

Philip was again the one who introduced her to music director Raveendran Master during a short vacation in Thrissur, her home town. That led the way to filmdom. “After that I began to get many assignments in Kerala and found it difficult to continue in Pune. Luckily, I found Vinayak Torve and so I was able go on with my lessons,” explains Gayathri.

The singer has already composed the song in her album ‘Vishuddhi.’ Her ambition is make a mark in world music and as a classical singer. And a role on the silver screen?

“Well, there is a shot of me singing in ‘Madhavenal’ and I have also dubbed for a short film ‘Chaulatayude Baaki.’ But, as an actor, well, I have not made up my mind. My focus is all on my music,” says Gayathri.

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