Saturday, December 03, 2011

Another post with a title block

I am invariably asked to sing at all the dubbing sessions. Recently its been chotta chotta/saarakathu.At the dub session today, the director asked me to sing Deivam thandha.., and he said you will always be the Deivam Thandha poo. And he said it moves him to tears each time. That's the genius of that composition. A lot of people asked how did you sing with such emotion/pain? I guess mom had gone through enough in life and I had watched it silently, that sadness was usually my default emotion. Nothing ever exhilarated me. Except maybe the first calls from Rahman sir's office. 


I never understood why Rahman sir chose to give such an amazing composition of his to a 15 year old novice.When I recorded for Mr SJ Surya (If you wanna..) just before the session was to begin, he asked "What have you sung before?" and he gawked when I said Deivam thanda poove.. He asked YOU??!
He said he expected the singer to be at least in her 30-s. Not a teenager. People used to ask what did you think of during KMI. Nothing. I didn't think of anything. I didn't know about emoting for the mother in the film. I didn't know who I was singing for/situation for Kannathil Muthamittal.  So yes, I knew nothing. And I guess I am glad I didn't know anything. Rahman sir knew how to make magic happen without saying much.


I was only concerned about singing well. I had no clue if my voice would be retained. Actually, even today when I record, I never know if my voice will be retained. People might change their mind. Which is why I dont talk about the film I have recorded for until it releases. 
I am thankful and grateful to the grace God has shown to me/us (mom and I), the opportunities that composers gave me.However,if you think people will welcome you just because you are talented, please Know that it is otherwise. No one lays out the red carpet. People will make your life tough. Attempt to make your life a living hell. Succumbing or succeeding would be the only options. For me, how I succeed is imperative. At the end of my life, I know I'll be known for never bending in my values. That's how I can make mom proud. And myself. 

The past few years of professional life have given me unparalleled experiences. The rosy path was probably 5/100th.  (If that fraction is mathematically wrong, I am sorry, fractions were never my thing. For that matter.. maths wasnt my thing after 7th std. That was when my 100s started their downward journey :p )

In some film that I forget the title of, the elder lady of the house says "Response under pressure is the best judge of character" Today when people are trying to express themselves in 140 characters, I am wondering if I can judge them based on that or just watch the space. If someone could be judged that way, then a lot will fall into racial/sexual abuse category. 
Yesterday I was listening to Mr N Ram of the Hindu and he happened to mention that a Gentleman from somewhere met him at his office and he added "I will not reveal who because I do not have his permission to do so". While I listened to Mr Ram, the more I felt that I am meeting less and less people who have their basic etiquette, ethics, values and more than anything else, their manners in place. 
And today people are racing to be the first to say, I met him/her. S/he said this/that. Without even checking first. Many a time, I have admonished - and I use the word admonish, because that is exactly what I did - those who publish gossip. Or publish news about someone without verifying first. What is with this sudden wannabe I want to be a news-breaker disease that people are into? Is it the quest to feel important, if only for a few minutes?

Why are people not able to debate on issues without bringing up unnecessary and totally unrelated parameters today? My mom always told me that disagreement / fights are on issues and not with the person.

Recently someone told me that they didn't want to have children because the world is a terrible place to bring in a baby. And I understand where the thought is coming from. If you had to really look and observe the world seems to be disintegrating at a very rapid pace. Sooner or later, some like minded people might form groups and decide to be by themselves like in the 'Village'. Anything is possible.

However, though this post may have started somewhere and head somewhere else, it is just a random log of various thoughts that decided to present itself in my head.

A lot of times, in despair have I turned to my mother and asked why is it that God is using us for his entertainment? Everyone who seems to be on the opposite end of honesty and ethical seems to be doing so well.. and way better. But maybe, as I had blogged earlier on the same lines, I would not have been able to be any other way. But then I still ask God the same question. That he seems to be punish the just more than anyone else and that there has to be an end to this 'testing'. What else can one do anyway? And at times it is not even God. The question goes out to the Universe, to Whomsoever it may concern.
I guess I ll take a lifetime and the time after this lifetime to know for sure, why I was born this way. And was to have lived this way. 
And, with my mom's blessings, it would have been a lifetime that spoke of unbending principles.
I shall look forward to my epitaph.

24 comments:

Indian Quotes said...

We disagree with people mostly, not with issues. Our reaction to advice/talk given by parents, spouse, colleagues and friends differ widely.

Knowledge is all said...

Really amazing :) blessed with such a nice talent. and sarakathu i was not beliving it was u at all. :O totally struck. now again :O deivam thantha poove?? :O i was kid so far should start collecting the details atleast my fav songs,
and akka ur voice, talent, spirtuality chanceless.. becoming a fan really :)
u rock..\m/

பவித்ரா said...

but u r really blessed. Think there are lot of people who wants to achieve but they are not getting d platform to achieve. Hope u got d platform. So u r always blessed.

your_secret_admirer said...

Most people don't find it easy to express something in 140 words. Its likely that they would be often misconstrued. But then again like a wise woman once said "People's favorite exercise nowadays I guess is jumping to conclusions." ;)

Anonymous said...

Regarding your last point, you are not alone in thinking this way. Without going into the concept of God, if you feel that good people in this world are punished, it means you have a conscience(rather sensibility). (It follows that) Being dishonest and unethical to achieve what you want to would only make you guilty and hence unhappy.Now who would want to be unhappy? :)You can take it as universe's built in safeguard to prevent you from being worse (everyone is sad sometime or the other).

Somasundaram said...

Nice compilation of thoughts.. I can so relate to the fact that honesty and ethics has become a rarity these days.. nevertheless there are many sincere people whose voices you will never hear unless they are in public spotlight.. Their voices are mostly suppressed by the noisy yet successful lot.. I see them everywhere when at work.. I just laugh at their ways and leave it right there.. I believe in God and also believe in hope.. Hope has been my only companion for a long while now.. I optimistically try to believe that the world functions normally only because of good hearts everywhere.. I hence don't crib about my failures (or) the unfair successes of others.. it isn't good for one's heart anyway... I don't know if I have added anything useful here.. I think I just meant to say "Life is unfair to some people but may be that is just to test your ability to sail beyond those high tides so that you eventually develop greater skill in dealing with stuff. May be it's God's way of giving a tougher test to certify specific souls with something higher" ! Good luck with your ventures !

saravanan207 said...

your multitalent person...

Nathan SP (நாதன்) said...

Valid point - when we discuss issues, we associate issues with people and then those people tend to become issues. We have to be careful to avoid that.

Chitra Sivasankar said...

Like the one above said. Saarakaathu is an awesome song. probably the awesomest I have ever heard.

Never really thought you had gone through so much pain, which is very audible from voice of your words. But the best is to see that, the pain you have had brought you to this level. I hope you go to greater heights, and just you know like they say, never listen to the gossipers, because they are not gonna do anything other than that but you have huge population of followers who are so so so so in love with you what you sing. And, I am the first in the list.

Vanisha Manoharan said...

Your blog posts never fail to motivate me somehow.
We have something in common. I always ask my mom why does God play with our fate? Are we His full time entertainment? The questions remain unanswered but life goes on with His blessings of course. You are one good example that behind every successful person's life, there is an untold sorrow. (you are successful young lady from my view-always)

GOD said...

God will answer all of our prayer.. Girl you have to be strong in this man's world.

.. said...

Whats this chinmayi!? At the end of the day u r a celebrity and there are people who are ready to follow ur footsteps.. So never underestimate ur downs, the way u transform from downs to ups woah, there are so so many who are to be admired on u and get energized by u. Wish u were a strong public speaker as wel.. I take u as a strong rolemodel in many cases and have mentioned u in 3 of my speeches!

Rajesh alias Balasubramanian said...

True.

Anonymous said...

those song lines in salangai oli -manithan thinamum alayil alayum kumizhi
theriyum therinthum maname kalangaathiru nee.

Kothai said...

U may not predict d answer when dis 'testing' is going to end.. But trust God that he makes everything with a purpose.. You are inspirational to many of us not just with ur sweet voice but with ur never bending attitude at these testing times.. For that I have to say a big thanks to aunty.. U are always sweet because of a strong adorable mom..

Maddy said...

Keep Questioning, answers comes in random.

Gokul2014 said...

Hi akka your true efforts & blessings of ur mom making u the best ever... U keep rocking with ur magical voice of peace & power which keeps as ur followers even though we are separate with boundaries through u sing we listen...U tweet we reply... U blog we comment... till as u we with uuu...

Unknown said...

You are really blessed to have such a soothing voice, which makes others happy. Dont be worried about this world at all, it has everything in it, and let us be the master of ourselves to take out what we are really looking for and lets take only that. At times, God is so ruthless to us that means that he is preparing us for something so let the life unfold before us to know, what He is having on cards for us.

A small concern is that whatever happens to you please dont take it heart and be happy always. For, thats what the others who are troubling you wants to have from you, your sorrow, your tears, dont let them win. :)

I am sorry if i have hurted you in anyways.

Saradha said...

Hi Chinmayi,

My mother says, greater difficulties come to people who are destined to achieve greater things. You have achieved so much at this age and already inspiring so many people...

The fact that you have lived a righteous life and achieved so much on your own in itself an inspiration for many....

I am sure.. God is listening.

Cheers.

Kaladevi ( bubbly_gurly ) said...

Hey Chin,

You are blessed in everyway. Not everyone could achieve where you stand now. Proud of you girl! :)
I always saw you as a young talented friend that I wanted to get to know and I did. You will get all the blessings and supports from all your dearest friends/well wishers/fans.
Don't let anyone bring you down, they just envy you and hate themselves because your a reflection of what they can't achieve.
God always tests us the good people in many ways but he never neglects us when we are on our right path !
Keeping going on higher with amma's blessings, I want to see you achieving further :))

$uperman kutty said...

What I'm about to say might irk a few. We know, God likes us all to be happy; including the satan himself! :D Sorry for the mokkai

Something worth sharing: My professor says, "Any patchy phase in life is temporary. It sticks to a person, just as long as he or she wants it to". This came up when we discussing about "How frustrating is it to repeat a mistake?". In all a great conversation...... Anyway it is a challenge to be a moralist in this World..... Lets repose and make it easier in WorldII by struggle in this!
keep us posted

Archanth said...

hi chin,

within you there is some spiritual cosmic power living. you mingle within the eternal parts in this world. that is giving you all the fortune in your life...

Anonymous said...

I think this is better place to comment since you decided to switch completely to blogging. Please dn't quit twitter:) this is not a opinion, it's a request.Hope you leave twitter temporarily.we dn't want to miss you.Thanks for Ur reply so far.Where ever you go, your fans ll follow you. Keep good work. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Lord Vishnu took various Avatars to teach the humans on earth how to live and not to live. Being God Himself, He could have made Rama to be the perfect human. For all that matters, even Ravana need not have been created. That was not the point for the Rama Avatar. Rama, as a Human is shown with all his strengths and weaknesses because thats how it happened. It is to send a message to the human race on how to navigate through tougher times but still try to keep up the Dharma. Not to forget that the Yuga Dharma changes with time and what was right in one Yugam may not be right in the next one..Rama did according to what was the Dharma of the period that He was living. Or for all that matters, he might have been on the wrong side too.. so that people in Kaliyuga still keep debating on what Lord Rama should have done and get some insight from His story!
Happy to note that this real Story of King Rama is being read, understood and debated upon by today's generation. Probably if Ramayana was to happen today, then Sita might have hit back at Lord Rama to vindicate Himself too and it still does not matter..What we learn from the life of Rama and how we are applying our knowledge acquired in our everyday life is only important and it does not matter how one wants to interpret it.