Working with AR Rahman is any singer’s dream. Sanah Moidutty hit a jackpot when she crooned for him in 24 , sang duets with him in Hrithik Roshan-starrer Mohenjo Daro , and performed with him in MTV Unplugged . Malayalis had much to celebrate then because her parents hail from Kerala.
Now Sanah is in the limelight again. She has sung the duet, Afeemi in Meri Pyaari Bindu for composers Sachin and Jigar. This Parineeti Chopra-Ayushman Khurrana starrer is slated to release next week.
Ask her about these big breaks and Sanah says, “I think my journey has only begun. I feel blessed to have sung for a composer like Rahman sir early in my career. It is even more special because I sang duets with him. Even though I haven’t struggled much for opportunities, I think this is only a beginning. Now people have certain expectations from me and so I have to work harder. I have a responsibility towards the listeners,” says Sanah, a computer engineer.
She owes it all to the strong foundation she has in music, thanks to her mother, Razia, also a singer. Sanah says her training in Carnatic, Hindustani and Western music has helped her immensely.
“Plus, music has been a constant in my life. I have not taken any breaks because of studies or any other reason.”
Turning point
However once she finished her engineering, it was decision time. “I was a good student, but when it came to taking up a job or pursuing music, I realised that music is my calling. I felt I won’t be able to do justice to any other career. Thus I became a full-time musician,” she says.
Although she didn’t know how to go about it, Sanah was advised to start with live shows. She sang for bands and worked with musicians such as Vishal-Shekhar and Ash King. The next step was starting her own YouTube channel, where she posted videos of cover versions of popular songs. Beginning with Manmarziyan from Lootera, she has been regularly posting videos of her covers. She sent the link of O Rangrez (Bhaag Milka Bhaag) to Rahman, he liked her voice and then she found herself singing for Rahman himself.
“I almost goofed up when I first met him in Chennai. He had asked me to sing in different styles and I was extremely nervous. But he was considerate,” she smiles.
Besides Hindi and Tamil, she sings in Marathi, Punjabi, Telugu, Bengali, and Kannada. “That’s the advantage of being a Malayali. If you know Malayalam, you can master any language!”
Recently she posted her first Malayalam cover on her YouTube page — Ponveene from Thalavattam .
“I am a huge fan of old Malayalam songs and movies. I can speak Malayalam fluently and visit my relatives in Kerala at times. My mom is from Malappuram and father, Moidutty, belongs to Pattambi. I would love to sing in Malayalam films one day,” she says.
Looking ahead, Sanah wants to write songs for herself, play instruments and make music.
“I want to come up with good videos. My aim is to work on not just my voice, but my whole personality,” she signs off.
