As city musician Srinivasa Sarma’s independent album Shiv Chalisa sung by Shankar Mahadevan hits music stores, he talks of being born at a time when Ramgopal Varma’s Siva released. The reason behind him specifying the timeline is because ‘ Botany Patamundi’ was among the first few songs he started humming, when he was three. Music was of interest to him also because of his elder sister’s (Sridevi) inclination. Surprised to see his early inclination for music, his parents got him to learn under a guru when he turned five. That same year, Srinivasa first grabbed a prize at a cultural event hosted by the staff of SBI (where his father worked). He hasn’t looked back since, emerging victorious in most public competitions he participated in.
Eventually prospering as a classical vocalist under the tutelage of Modumudi Sudhakar, Srinivasa was also part of popular reality shows including Priya Priyatama Raagalu , Andhra Super Star , Padalani Undi and Super Singer .
“It’s been a dream collaborating with Shankar Mahadevan sir for this album. We were part of a memorable event few years ago, when we performed together on stage and did an alaap extempore. He instantly agreed when I had requested him to sing for Shiv Chalisa,” Srinivasa reveals.
The album has been produced by Nasik-based Dr Krishna Bhatta, for whom this was a dream project for long. “Seeing my previous works on Hanuman Chalisa and the track on the ‘Make in India’ campaign (for which he received a congratulatory note from PM’s office), he was sure that I could pull this off. Shankar sir’s presence has bolstered the album’s reach,” he adds.
For many who take the classical route and pursue it with certain divinity, films aren’t their first choice. But this is not the case with Srinivasa’s music career. It was his performance in front of Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna and his subsequent encouragement that gave him the confidence to take his musical energies forward. His television stint got him to work with Vandemataram Srinivas for a film titled Gajibiji. Even as he gave regular classical performances, he sang for films like Dammunnodu, Lion and Vangaveeti . Next, he debuts as a film composer with Ala , where Vijay Yesudas, Unni Krishnan, Karthik and Chinmayi croon his numbers.
A B.Com graduate, he has completed his Cost Accountant, Company Secretary courses and is a certified lawyer now. “Academic focus comes naturally to music students, the sharpness that it ensures is such,” he avers.
Srinivasa Sarma also has his own music group and is coming up with a nine-song album focusing on Annamaya’s kirtanas based on Lord Krishna and several phases of his life.
The album is due for a release in the latter half of 2017.
