Vallamai Tharayo

It is one of those rare occasions that singers are invited to the audio release, at least in Chennai. I was invited to the audio launch of Vallamai Tharayo that happened this evening at Rani Meyyammai Hall. The hall was aesthetically decorated and everything was meticulously planned - and most importantly - executed.
Madhumitha, the director of the movie, is as old as I am, and she got to know me through a very good common friend. She wanted me to see whether I would suit this track and she finally got my number and I was only too glad to know that I was to sing for Bharadwaj Sir. It has been quite a long while since I sang for him. I sang first sang for him in a movie called 'Oru Murai Sollividu" a duet with Unnikrishnan anna and another was a duet with Harish Raghavendra.
Madhumitha explained what she expected of me from this song and what was going through the heroine at that point in the movie. Something that has never been done before.
Madhumita has been a part of the POC 3 crew, she had interned with them for a few weeks and she was explaining how everyone and anyone is given their due respect and given enough chances to prove oneself. I guess there is no bracket of a 'woman' director as long as Hollywood is concerned. Madhu did not have anything to say whether being a 'lady' director was a tough thing here in Kollywood, coming to think of it, I never got around to quizzing her on that. Maybe I should.
I was lucky enough to get some time to rehearse the song before Bharadwaj sir came in to the studio and once I finished he said that I sound radically different from the last time he heard me.
When I first met him, or rather, the Pre-Airtel Super Singer days, I was a timid girl, who hardly spoke. How I transformed into someone who talked shop in front of the camera, God knows, and I guess Pradeep (Milroy Peter), Vijay TV should know. But of course I have no idea how he decided to select me as the anchor of the show. Anyway...
This evening, Sri Vikku Vinayakaram and Sri P B Srinivas were among those who were honoured. Sri PBS received the first copy of the audio.
Though a lot of us have grown up listening to old songs, it sometimes requires some kind of an 'aha' moment for a song to come to us, in a rush and its surprising how we suddenly perceive a certain magic in it that we had previously failed to notice. One such moment happened to me when I heard Kalangalil Aval Vasantham. As PBS Sir was going up on stage, the AV immediately showed Gemini Ganeshan and Savitri on the screen. And Wow. Whatta song! And what a singer PBS was... its good that somethings and some voices cannot be repeated. Like PBS or P Susheela ji. Truly inimitable. And it will be great if it remains that way. Maybe musical clones are not the most wanted thing. But then hey, what do I know....
I also met Anuradha Sriram, Srinivas sir, Harish Raghavendra at the event. As soon as we entered, we followed protocol and I gave quite a few video bytes. I truly wish this movie turns out to be a super success for Madhu.
The only thing I could not do for this movie was dub for Chaya Singh. I gave it a try, they almost zeroed in on me but then at the studio I somehow felt and knew I won't be able to get it right. Somehow I felt something was missing in me. And when I told Madhumita, I was so glad she understood.
Beautiful days are ahead.
Oh, by the way, the song is in my audioblog.