[9mm_fan]

Livingston turns music director
IndiaGlitz [Wednesday, March 17, 2010]

At a time when many directors have become actors, here is an actor who has taken the avatar of a music composer. He is Livingston, who will sit in front of the keyboard for a film titled ‘Thandachoru’.

Apart from scoring the music, the actor will take care of story, screenplay and dialogues departments of this comedy movie, which will be directed by Irudhayaraj, a newcomer. Besides, he will also play an important role in it.

“I was initially a singer. I had performed in many stage shows before becoming an actor. I am scoring music for ‘Thandachoru’ with this experience and hopeful that my songs would be liked by one and all,” says Livingston.

On the film, he says, “the story will convey a message that beauty of the heart is more important than beauty of the face. Newcomers are playing the lead roles. The shooting will start by May and plans are on to release the film by this year end.”


http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/t...cle/55340.html

[Big A]

Playback singing in Tamil cinema is getting younger and spunkier by the day. But that is in no way upsetting veteran singers! Karuna Amarnath does a voice check…

"There's nothing wrong with change… if it is in the right direction," said Winston Churchill, and we can't agree more. But even if change is inevitable, it isn't always sweet. Especially when it is forced and not by choice; when you have to make way for a younger lot to take over the mantle…

Of late, we've seen this kind of change take over the playback singing industry in Tamil cinema. A host of regular, notable voices are now being replaced by younger, spunkier and more enthusiastic singers - a trend that has introduced the industry to a whole new genre of music and a generation of newer talent.

In fact, most among the renowned singers have been relegated to judging TV reality and talent hunt shows and making appearances as celebrity guests on talk shows, while the youngsters are crooning their way to success.

But award-winning singer Sujatha Menon is not perturbed. "I think change is always good. In fact, I feel that bringing in new talented singers is great because they have the energy and enthusiasm to get the best out of a song. I'll be happy if my daughter (Swetha Menon) replaces me for a song. As far as judging goes, only if you bring an experienced singer will the competition hold any value, right?"

What's interesting is that thanks to this change, the sound and quality of music that's being rendered has also changed tremendously over the years. Oscar award-winner, Tanvi Shah analyses, "Playback singing has changed because directors are open to diff erent tones and voices. The singer who comes in doesn't only have the usual 'husky' or 'high-pitched' tone. There is also more scope for world music, and that's because the public wants that kind of thing."

Sujatha goes on to add, laughing, "Can you imagine me singing Kodaana Kodi (from Saroja)? It won't sound good at all! I was off ered Kaatrin Mozhi' (from Mozhi) because that song needed a more mature voice. It's nothing to feel bad about. Everyone needs to move ahead graciously."

Could this change be because younger music directors feel insecure about working with experienced singers? Twenty two year old music director, GV Prakash denies it instantly, "In fact, it makes our job much easier to have experienced singers. It's just that most fi lms today require more 'attitude' and a 'freestyle' kind of singing. And the younger singers are willing to play around and experiment. For us, it is about the voice matching the song and not the person."

However, Suchitra Karthik, who was one of the fi rst few to make an entry with an unconventional voice is realistic. "There's no competition when it comes to experience!" she smiles, "Let's just say that the music trend right now is leaning more towards young and spirited voices because the fi lms demand that. When it changes back to mature and 'real,' everything is going to go back to the way it was."

While competition between the younger and older breed of musicians still remains stiff , singing sensation, Benny Dayal feels that replacing more experienced singers is very optimistic. It in no way means we are losing respect for anyone. "We won't be here if we didn't grow up listening to their songs or singing them at competitions! At the end of the day, we are all making music, not war. We don't have ego clashes because everyone is happy for each other. I hope it remains that way." Great camaraderie, oodles of respect for each other's space and encouragement means there's no room for insecurity. And, that's what makes the playback singing industry soar ahead – young and experienced working together like clockwork…

[Drugmachine]

"Maalai Mangum Neram" singer Ranina Reddy

.. a Telugu girl, born and brought up in Bangalore and now settled in Chennai. Veera, Rangam, Sarai Veerraju, U & I, Engeyum Kaadhal and more, the lady has 26 Tamil and 8 Telugu songs in her kitty and is now looking to spread her wings in the Telugu music field.

"Singing is in my gene, appa is into theatre and amma is into light music," says the effervescent young lady who became a thorough professional at the age of three when she sang for a Kannada tele serial Nanaganada Hero.

She started performing on stage regularly when she was 14 years old and became the first Minus Track singer in Bangalore. She explains the word Karaoke is wrong, it is actually termed a Minus Track where there is no live band on stage, the music is played on CD and there is live singing. At that point of time she couldn't afford a live band, wasn't that famous so she took up dances as a back up. Very passionate about a career in singing, she was busy 365 days and doesn't lament neglecting her studies; did not complete her graduation.

While her first break as a playback singer came through Silanthi, she became a celebrity overnight through Kodana Kodi, a hit number from Saroja. She followed it up with Devisri's number in Current and the 'Ola Olaala Ala' helped her get a zillion followers on Facebook.

She recollects, "I was at the gym when Harris Jayaraj called and asked me to be there in half an hour. I thought it was a prank call and disconnected but again my phone buzzed and it was for real. I was asked to write the rap." Ranina Reddy's forte is hip hop. She says pop is more girly, our films are more based on R & B (Rhythm and Blues) plain compositions without too many percussions. Hip hop has a rap, singing is less. There is more importance on rthym though the tempo is less. It is groovy.

On the personal front she freaks out Sufi music and adds, "I love the rawness, the message it carries, the original and divine feel." The singer is glad at the number of opportunities being given to youngsters and gives the entire credit to the parents, she says earlier they would stress only on studies, would be narrow-minded and they now understand that their kids are far more mature, expressive and have their priorities right which is very good."

[Slonopotam845]

Prakash nikki - md of rowthiram

Video interview -

song link - http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/T0003083.html

[HedgeYourBets]

megha - singer of mun andhi - 7aam arivu

Megha is a blessed great grand daughter of Late Papanasam Sivan, a legendary Carnatic composer. She is fortunate to have music running in her genes,Born in Chennai, she relocated to Bangalore where she did her most of her schooling. She was also at Hyderabad for a brief while between the ages 4-7,She did her Bachelors in Commerce in Chennai and pursued her Masters in Human Resources whilst making an active foray into the field of playback singing in 2007,She has been pursuing Carnatic Music since childhood and then took to other genres in the course of her musical journey,Megha has completed Grade 8 from Trinity College London in Western Classical music under the guidance of one of the most renowned musician Augustine Paul from Chennai. She actively performs in western classical concerts in Chennai, Megha has also learnt Hindustani classical music. She has also been associated with the legendary Madras Music Association choir for the last few years


Her mother Gowri Ramachandran and father S. Ramachandran, spotted her talent early on just as became her schools and college’s favorite pick for anything related to music – being representing her school/college in various competitions to concerts in house.

http://www.singermegha.com/biography

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

who is singer malaysia shaila??? sings in mambattiyan

[Fegasderty]

engeyum eppothum MD sathya

i was doing jingles and was a keyboard programmer with vidyasagar. my debut
was in 'aadugiran kannan' serial. then got md chance in 'yen ippadi mayakkinai'.
but 'engeyum eppothum' became my first break.

[S.T.D.]

Marina Md krishji

Pandiraj who had hit a sixer with small kids in the films Pasanga is now directing a film titled Marina. This film is also about the kids who sell peanuts and chick peas in the Marina beach in Chennai. Pandiraj has now flown to London. He has gone there to meet the music composer Krishji who also looks like a school boy.

When asked Pandiraj that whether going to London would make the producers budget escalate, he said, "Though I am making the film in Marina, I felt that the music should be focal point in this film. The reason for this is the story is filled with comedy and at the same time it will narrate the emotional side of the kids.

So the back ground score is important for this film. I was in search of a suitable music composer. It is very difficult to extract work from the present day leading music composers. I needed a new music composer who could compose music as per my requirement. I got Krishji while I was searching for a music composer. He was the protégé of Lalgudi Jayaraman. Actor Shiva Karthikeyan only introduced me to him. He has learnt music from the age of 8. Now he is staying in London and composing music for albums. All the songs and back ground score of Marina will be recorded in London. Krish has already composed music for English stage plays in London. He has also composed music for short films and documentaries. After seeing his music composition in one of his short film, I gave him the opportunity to compose music for Marina."

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

"3" Music director Anirudh

Anirudh Ravichander, a 21-year-old Chennai lad, is one of the youngest music directors to enter films. Reportedly Anirudh has composed some brilliant tracks for his debut film 3.

He studied at PSBB and graduated from Loyola College. This brilliant young musician’s journey began when A.R. Rahman presented him with an award for the best instrumentalist in a reality show, Ooh la la la.

Now this youngster is chasing bigger dreams. He says, “I have composed music for Aishwarya Dhanush’s short films. We worked together for 12 short films. When she came up with her debut film, she wanted me to compose music for her film project as well. Aishwarya as a director is doing well. I am really excited about my debut film songs.”

Why this Kolaveri di is a song from 3 to be released today. The single-track release will exhibit a sample of Anirudh’s talent.
Related Articles

Dhanush's song leaked online

He says of the audio of 3, “Dhanush and Shruti Haasan have rendered a duet, which will be good to watch as they will be in the visuals as well. Mohit Chauhan of Rockstar fame has sung a song for the very first time in a South Indian film. Dhanush wrote the lyrics for six songs. The Kolaveri song happened in 10 minutes. It was effortless, we just casually worked on the song. The surprising part is that even Aishwarya has written a song in the film!”

On his working style, he says, “I follow an emotion-centric style of working. I compose emotions in my songs. I don’t sit and compose tunes. I believe certain songs just happen by themselves. As I have been born and brought up in Rahman’s era, I have learnt music with his songs. I just want to compose simple, soulful numbers.”

Anirudh’s musical roots stem from a music band in his school days.

He says, “I was a part of a school band called Zinx. I used to be the piano player in my band. The band inspired me to take up my musical journey. Now my dear friends are working with me as my music team. So it is amazing fun at work.”

His fingers are crossed as his debut music track hits the stores. His prediction: “I am confident and I hope I’ll rock!”

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...er-anirudh-780

[PhillipHer]

Mejjo Josseph

Composer Mejjo Josseph recently won hearts with his songs and background score for the film Traffic. He is now working on the background score of its Hindi version, too, the shoot of which will begin on November 24. Catch him next in Mollywood with the music of the Prithviraj-starrer Louis VI. "I'm now working on the five songs for the film," Mejjo says. Besides, there is a Tamil film as well. "It is actress Rohini's directorial which has a folk subject as its theme. Obviously, the tunes are going to be essentially tribal and folkish," he asserts. The shoot of the yet-to-be-titled film will begin in January.

TOI

[doctorzlo]

vijay prakash turns composer

The award-winning voice behind the Tamil hit Hossana, Vijay Prakash, gets up close and personal with DNA just before his concert in the city on December 2…

Performing in Bangalore…
Bangalore is my city, my home. Performing here will always be like performing at home. The response I’ve received from this city has been overwhelming in the past.

Encounter with Bollywood
I started off small. When AR sir (A R Rahman) gave me a break in Swades, it boosted my confidence. I have recorded songs for the Tamil, Telugu and Kannada industries but with the national reach of Hindi songs, I had a good platform to begin with.

The classical connect
I have been really privileged to have had Carnatic music training from within my family itself. I believe any classical form of training goes a long way in helping one analyse absolutely any genre of music to understand and therefore render it better. With my foundations, I am able to sing across genres. It also makes singing easier and more fun.

Projects on hand
I will be travelling to and performing in Dubai with AR Rahman. I will also be composing for a Kannada film Andar Bahar starring Shivrajkumar. I have some projects in Tamil and Telugu as well.

The concert
There have been some songs that have had a great impact on me while growing up. I will be performing these personal favourites at the concert. It is going to be a casual one-to-one evening with music that is both my own compositions as well as that of others.

[Beerinkol]

First tamil film featuring the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra

Music director Sundar C.Babu:Poraali is my first film with director Sasikumar as producer and my second with director Samudirakani. When I saw it I felt the background score needed more work and asked both the producer and director to work with a foreign orchestra. It took me two months to write the background score. During that period, I communicated with various foreign orchestras and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra agreed to play for me. I presented them with a bound score. This is the first Tamil film featuring the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and both of us were delighted with the outcome. Usually, a film has around six songs with a background score running for around half-an-hour. But Porali has a 45-minute score and only two of the songs are long. On the whole, the music has come out well.

[Lt_Apple]

Alaap Raju

He lives in Chennai and created waves in Kollywood with ‘Enamo aedho’ from Ko and the ‘Engeyum kaadhal’ title track. But the Kochi-born singer with his peppy and melodic voice likes to be called ‘a Mallu boy’ rather than a Tamil lad. “Music is in my genes, I never had to put in any extra effort,” says Aalaap Raju.

No one can argue with that. Son of J.M. Raju, a Tamil music director, and Lata Raju, a Malayalam playback singer of the late 60s, Aalaap also has the famous Malayalam singer of the 50s, Shanta P. Nair, as his maternal grandmother. The pull of music was so strong that he gave up his job to pursue it. “July 16, 2009, was the day when I decided to follow my heart and switch over from a career in software to music,” says Aalaap, who is also an electric bass player.

In fact, he started his musical innings by playing bass for the song ‘Vaarayo Vaarayo’ in Aadhavan while ‘Kuthu kuthu’ song from Iyyenar was his debut performance as a vocalist. It’s then that Harris Jayaraj invited him to lend his vocal charm to a track in the movie Ko which pitchforked him to the top singer’s hit. “Later when I got the ‘Engeyum Kadhal’ call, I was truly on cloud nine,” he says. Over a year after he took the plunge into playback singing, Aalaap Raju has two hits under his belt and is waiting for the release of a couple of films he has sung for, besides a combined album with Rahul Nambiar titled ‘Rahlaap.’ “My wife definitely contributes by not contributing much. She does not make it a big deal that I am a singer. That’s what I like about her. There are many occasions when I go through an emotional roller coaster but she is my leveler. She is firmly grounded and brings me down to terra firma,” says Aalaap about Dimple. Of course, however busy his recording schedule maybe, he finds time to play with his one-year-old daughter Dia.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tablo.../born-tune-026

[Big A]

Vijay prakash

Vijay Prakash has been a part of the Oscar-winning ‘Jai Ho!’ He also has several other accomplishments to his credit. Bindu Gopal Rao speaks to the singer on his musical journey so far.

Vijay Prakash dropped out of engineering after his first semester to pursue a career in music. He then moved to Mumbai and joined Suresh Wadkar’s music school and started training in Hindustani classical and light music like ghazals. It was here that Sonu Nigam spotted him and asked him to participate in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. To sustain himself, he started doing voice-overs for advertisements and singing jingles.

His vocals impressed A R Rehman, who offered him a chance to sing in Swades. The journey has continued since then and he has sung songs in several Indian and even foreign languages.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...ight-note.html

[Ifroham4]

Shweta Pandit

Shweta Pandit has only been credited with having sung one song in Kollywood, but insists that Chennai’s music fans are some of the best that she has ever seen. And that’s not just because the last time she performed here was alongside A R Rahman to kickstart the Jai Ho Tour. Not many might remember, but when she was all of five years old, she had to come down to namma Chennai to work with Ilayaraja on Mani Ratnam’s Anjali.
It was 1991, when the runaway success of Anjali, prompted the ace director to dub and release the film in Hindi, and that’s where Shweta came in. Now, two decades after she spoke as the endearing Anjali, across screens in North India, the exciting young singer is prepped to set the stage on fire at IIT-Madras, “College crowds are like one big party,” she gushes, “There is so much energy, it’s incredible!”
And she couldn’t have come at a better time. Shweta had her first song in Tamil in the Arya-Madhavan starrer Vettai, that released last weekend, and the reviews have kept her cheerful, “I was very excited after I sang Kattipudi, because working with Yuvan Shankar Raja was such an experience,” she says
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/would-lov...52-60-120.html

[Peptobismol]

Suchith Sureshan

En friendah pola yaaru macha! This chartbuster song from Vijay’s latest film 'Nanban' has been rocking the charts ever since the film’s audio was launched. Let us meet the voice behind the song, Suchith Sureshan who shot to fame with ‘Karikalan’ from Vettaikaran, which was incidentally, another Vijay film. However, that wasn’t his first song as a playback singer.

More recently he sang ‘Innum Enna Thozha’ with Naresh Iyer and Balram for 7am Arivu. The voice behind the award-winning jingle for Radio Mango belongs to Suchith with composition by Deepak Dev. He even made his presence felt in Mollywood through the soothing number ‘Pularumo’ from the movie Rithu.

It was quite lately that Suchith realised his passion for music. “My grandfather was a singer and a theatre artist as well. My dad’s siblings and cousins were trained in vocals and instruments. My dad was also a good singer but his focus was always on fine arts. So my brothers and I took classes in music. Later my brother Sooraj became a seasoned drummer and made a band of his own in college, while he was a student of medicine. I took up singing quite seriously as I realised that music was what I wanted to pursue,” says Suchith.

[Lillie_Steins]

Kolaveri Di was a sensational hit in youtube winning the Golden Award for maximum hits.Going the same way is the promo song Vanakkam Vaazhavaikkum Chennai in the movie Marina.It features several prominent actors from the Tamil film industry. It is uploaded in YouTube and is already proving to be a big hit .

'The only female voice is that of Shilpa. The other two singers are Mukesh and Ramshankar. Marina is actually the second film I signed up as music director; the first one is yet to be released,' informs Girish, who was till recently an associate conductor with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYOBG).

[doctorzlo]

Clinton Cerejo

Meet Clinton Cerejo, known for his contribution to various facets of the Indian film music industry. He is also the voice behind hit numbers like Kya Karoon from Wake Up Sid and I Love You from Bodyguard. With all these achievements, he stands out all the more for his charming, down-to-earth demeanor, as he explains, “I have never actively gone out and promoted myself and I don’t wish to be in the limelight.”

Born into an academically inclined family of no musical background, Cerejo was all set to pursue his MBA after completing his graduation in Commerce from Poddar College in Mumbai. Egged on by his friends, as well as being unable to imagine himself in a desk job for the rest of his life, he decided to pursue a career in the music industry.

he has lent his voice to over 1,500 jingles to date and has worked with the likes of A R Rahman, Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa, Lezz Lewis, Ranjit Barot, Vishal Bharadwaj, and Louis Banks among others. In fact, it was A R Rahman who offered Cerejo an opportunity to work with him. He has also sung several songs in Tamil for films such as Alaipayuthey and Kandukondain Kandukondain.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...ing-music.html