It took Naveen Anthraper 18 long years to compose and sing his first Malayalam song. The singer-composer-guitarist who gained international acclaim with his music video Lonely I’m Crying has released the music video Ninakkathen the English version of which is Brand New Face . And both these versions have gone viral, standing out for its sensitive lyrics, energetic music and Naveen’s magnetic singing.
Apart from the Malayalam and English versions, which have already been released Naveen has also created a Hindi version. “For the video I have sung each line of these versions and shot them separately. This meant me singing all these three versions completely in the same setting, which was painstaking at times,” says Naveen who did his schooling and college in Kochi before moving to Mumbai.
What makes Ninakkathen and Brand New Face different is the clever blend of Western and Indian classical styles. The music video was shot in locations at Munnar and Kuzhupilly beach. Why did Naveen wait for so long to do a Malayalam song? “It was a deliberate decision. When I forayed into music the Malayalam music scene was very rich, especially film music. Independent music was not very popular and most of it was again created by the masters. Moreover, I was comfortable singing English songs. Now, I feel that I can contribute, for most of what I hear today is simulation.”
The lyrics of Brand New Face are by T.S. Abhilash and the Malayalam song by Anu Elizabeth Jose, which is basically a translation from the English version.
Naveen’s musical journey took off from Rajagiri Public School, Kalamassery.
“It was at Rajagiri that I sang on stage for the first time. I was there singing and playing the guitar for every school function. In 1997 we won the first place in the Kerala School Kalolsavam for vrindavadya sangeetham (orchestra). My father Joseph Anthraper taught me the basics of guitar and from then on it was learning on my own.”
It was Maharaja’s College, where Naveen studied that gave wings to his musical dreams. Along with three others he formed a band, White Dove, in which he was the lead singer and played the rhythm guitar. “I was still learning. Slowly I realised that all that we were doing was simply imitating say Eric Clapton or others. And then to keep a band going you had to have three or four members with one heart, one thought. That’s when I decided to go solo.”
Naveen began performing solo under the banner of The Naveen Anthraper Show. “I used to get the musicians to accompany depending on the venue where I was performing. During this time I released my first English album, Christmas Melodies that had four music videos. I sung the songs and also acted in it. It was directed by Anwar Rasheed, whom I knew from my Maharaja’s days.”
In the five years that Naveen was in Kerala he composed music for a television show, performed across the State and brought out a single Your Tenderness . “The music video of Your Tenderness was directed by Anwar Rasheed and cinematography by Shyju Khalid, both now reputed names in Malayalam film industry.”
Then Naveen moved to Mumbai and to Dubai all the while keeping his music alive. “It took me some time to settle down in Mumbai. But life changed after my first show in Bandra. By the time I left to Dubai I had performed in almost every known venue in Mumbai. That was the time when I released Lonely I’m Crying .”
That music video was aired by almost all the music channels in India and even abroad. The song won for Naveen the ‘I Like It’ World Talent Award.
“This song written by T.S. Abhilash, is about any ‘child’ who is lonely. Here the child is a metaphor for any individual. It is an attempt to create awareness about those left alone, uncared, giving them a glimmer of hope. It was shot on locations in Rohtang Pass, Manali, mixed and mastered at the famous Yash Raj Films studio.”
Naveen is now gearing up for the upcoming live shows to be staged in various cities that will see him performing Ninakkathen and Brave New Face .
Listen and watch these new songs on www.naveenanthraper.blogspot or www.youtube.com/
naveenjanthraper.
