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s a student of carnatic music, I have always loved film music until I gradually came to realize the importance of the raga based classical film music and true to my sensibilities got to present the popular TV show “Isai Payanam” on Jaya TV, says Charulatha Mani –a young classical vocalist who has blazed a trail by popularizing classical music through films. “This program is a huge success among all sections of the audience and especially caters to the younger generation. I deal with 3 to 4 ragas per concert and sing the classical, semi-classical and film pieces in the same raga,” she explains the concept behind the program. With versatility and flair she uses film music to complement the ‘classical ‘ or the ‘traditional’. A recipient of the MS Subbulakshmi Endowment Award for the outstanding achievements in the music field from the Narada Gana Sabha in December 2008, and a Yuva Bharathi awardee from the Bharat Kalachar, Charulatha Mani fits the bill of combining serious scholarship with personal construction of the varied elements of music. Drawing on ritual and community on one hand and far more certainly and frequently on ‘film’ and ‘cult’ on the other she is emerging as one, for whom recognition of different genres of music in her own life is a personal matter. Trained in both classical and western modes, Charulatha remembers using karaoke to sing along with Carpenters and Abba and even win the gold medal in the Opus Musifest pop music contest. She fondly recalls getting an award from Sri L. Shankarthe noted global musician & violinist. She sings several styles with ease including Pop, R&B, Jazz, Latino and Arabic and listens to all forms of music. This has really helped her when it comes to singing in films and she is a much sought-after play back singer today having sung the hit number Kaakka Kaakka from the film Naan Avan Illai tuned by Vijay Antony. Yako Yako from the Kannada movie Budhivanta, and the recent song in the Malyalam movie Bagawan a Mohanlal featuring the music of Thashi. These are enriched by her debut recordings in international albums like Soukha composed by V Selvaganesh while performing with stalwarts like Ustad Zakir Hussain and John McLaughlin. Acclaimed for her carnatic renditions which have taken her to Toronto to perform at the Bharathi Kala Manram on the Canada Day in July 2008, she has also done a fund raiser for the Tamil Orphans Trust at UK. back home she just performed for the Tamil Sangam in Delhi bringing back to mind her refreshing concerts during the December season which at any point of time are a complete sell out. Her live commercial recordings for HMV Saregama of the December season last year, proved a rich and nourishing medium in which she has showcased her collective talents. With a degree in Engineering from the Anna University and a Masters in Music from the Madras University, Charulatha Mani is all set to conquer new horizons!
Seeking new
horizons Jyoti Nair
Rising notes: Carnatic vocalist Charulatha Mani
Photo: T Selvakumar