A familiar voice in the South Indian film industry, Ranjith started off with playback singing in 2002. Sixteen years and over 150 songs later, the singer talks to MetroPlus about his journey, independent music and his new single, ‘Pachondhi’.
You’ve been a playback singer for 16 years. How has the journey been?
In 2001, after winning a singing talent show, I thought I’d have offers to sing in films pouring in. But it took a year for that to happen. That’s when I started taking any opportunity that came my way. I was singing in the chorus for music directors like Yuvan Shankar Raja, Ilaiyaraaja sir, and Rahman sir. I wasn’t very confident about my potential as a singer. So, singing in a chorus was a safe zone for me. It gave me an opportunity to understand what a music director demanded from a singer and the concept of singing in front of a mic. That’s when I met Mani Sharma, my godfather. He’s the one who identified me from a group of five singers during a chorus recording. When he heard my voice individually, he asked me what I was doing singing in the chorus and gave me a song. That’s how I got my break.
Was playback singing your goal?
I’ve been training in classical music since I was a kid. But Carnatic felt alien to me I didn’t understand why I was learning it. It was my parents who pushed me to go for classes. They were particular about me spending one hour every day practising music. Today, I’m thankful for that because it gave me an edge when I entered the industry. I never saw myself in film music because it was a place for the legends. Winning in competitions gave me a boost and when I needed to pick a career path, I realised the only subject I was good at was music. So I decided to focus on that. I underwent vocal training and took music more seriously and it’s been constant learning since then.
Has a lot changed in the music industry from when you started out?
Today, everything is social media-driven and anyone can become a sensation. So when kids ask me how to meet music directors, I tell them not to waste their time and to just put out their music. If your content is good you’ll have your own following and based on that, anyone would be ready to collaborate with you. If you have the talent, voice, and attitude, I believe anyone can make it today. Everyone gets a fair shot.
You’ve worked with so many music directors, how has your relationship with them been like?
Mani Sharma was the university I learned everything from. His studio was like a music factory with every room having some production going on. Yuvan Shankar Raja can only be described in one word — ‘chill’. Working at his place is casual and fun. Imman has a more serious work ethic. He’s a man of plans and sticks to them no matter what. When you work with him, you know everything is going to be perfect and structured. As a playback singer, I like to be the employee and have the music directors tell me what to do. I think with playback singing, your job is to deliver the music director’s vision. It’s like acting, but with your voice.
You’ve stepped into the independent music circuit by releasing your single. How did that happen?
All these years as a playback singer I’ve fulfilled other people’s musical vision. I felt it was time I did something that’s entirely me. With independent music, I’m trying to discover what I can do and the kind of music that excites me. I’ve always been fascinated with composing but ‘Pachondi’ was an accident. The idea struck me when I was with my friends in Yercaud and one of them was talking about a relationship gone bad. The phrase ‘you’re such a pachondhi (chameleon)’ stuck with me and I composed this song. A lot of people believed in it so that’s how we were able to release it. I’ve enjoyed the entire process of its creation so that’s the aim; to make music that excites me and hope people can connect to it.
