Connoisseurs of classical music who browse YouTube channels might have spotted a new channel ‘Sangeetha Pushpanjali.’
Aswathy Mohandas, a 17-year-old-girl from the city, has launched the channel and uploaded her maiden video a couple of months ago. Born and brought up in Kerala, Aswathy has been in the city for the last four years and learning Carnatic vocal from renowned classical singer Peddada Suryakumari.
Being a poet from her childhood, Aswathy penned a devotional song in her mother tongue Malayalam and composed it on her own in the raga Kharaharapriya. The video was shot at the famous temple of Srikrishna in Guruvayur. “I have a penchant for romantic songs. But to begin my YouTube channel, I have started with a devotional number that received accolades from many elders,” says Aswathy, an Intermediate student.
The girl, who grew up listening to the songs of film playback singers S. Janaki, Vani Jayaram and legendary K.J. Yesudas, has developed interest in music from her childhood. “I received good support from my family. My mother Indira started attending music classes along with me and both of us practising at home together,” she says.
One of her teachers in Kerala, who knew about her interest in poetry and music, advised Aswathy to pen and compose songs of her own. Since then, she started penning songs.
“I felt that most of them are lacking something. When it comes to this particular number, I liked it the most and thought of making a video,” she says.
Bhavana Unnikrishnan, the official photographer of Guruvayur temple and a close friend of Aswathy’s father Mohandas, directed the video and completed the entire work in one day. Aswathy is currently pursuing diploma in classical music from Andhra University and planning to work on the music videos continuously.
“I got the opportunity to sing in the presence of renowned playback singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and lyricist ‘Sirivennela’ Seetarama Sastry here. When I rendered ‘Vidhata talapuna,’ Mr. Sastry joined me to finish the song, which is one of the most memorable moments of my life,” she says.
I got the opportunity to sing in the presence of renowned playback singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and lyricist ‘Sirivennela’ Seetarama Sastry here. When I rendered ‘Vidhata talapuna,’ Mr. Sastry joined me to finish the song, which is one of the most memorable moments of my life
Aswathy Mohandas
Intermediate student
