Shreekumar Vakkiyil is on a musical high. The romantic tracks that he crooned for Angamaly Diaries ( Ayalathe and La Vettam/Do Naina ) and Sakhavu ( Madhumathiye ) are topping popularity charts.
The happiness is palpable in his voice as he speaks to MetroPlus from Bengaluru where he is currently based. Shreekumar, who has his roots in Thrissur, became quite a sensation with the melodious Anuragavilochananayi in Lal Jose’s Neelathamara . But when he couldn’t repeat the magic, many wrote him off as a one-song wonder. He says: “After making my debut as a playback singer in Mulla , I was always a part of the industry. However, the songs that I sang later didn’t become as popular as Anuragavilochananayi .”
Some of the songs sung by him were in films such as Arjunan Sakshi, Oru Nunakkatha, City of God and Nee Ko Njaan Cha . In Oru Nunakkatha , he had rendered a duet with veteran Sadhana Sargam, which was her debut in Malayalam. “But the films either didn’t do well, or, in some cases, my name was wrongly spelt,” says Shreekumar.
Own band
He was also busy with his band, Sopanam Ensemble, a Vedic fusion band that he co-founded with his father, Sadanam Rajagopalan, also his first guru. The band plays Sopanasangeetham (songs played in temple for rituals) in an orchestrated form. It was this venture that led to his association with composer Prashant Pillai, which eventually gave him a fresh innings in Mollywood. He sang for Prashant in City of God , Amen , and Chandrettan Evideya , before Angamaly Diaries and Sakhavu .
“Prashant got in touch with me after watching a performance of Sopanam Ensemble. Later we collaborated to launch Filmy Breaks — a project where we made original songs based on movies that inspired us.” They came up with songs inspired by movies such as Bombay Velvet, Piku and OK Kanmani .
Soon Shreekumar started working in Prashant’s film projects, as additional rhythm manager in Angamaly Diaries and vocal arranger in Sakhavu .
The right voice
Shreekumar says he had no plans of singing in these films. Lijo Jose Pellisherry, director of Angamaly Diaries ), hadn’t planned any romantic tracks, as he wanted only raw, folk songs. “But he changed his mind and fortunately I was chosen to sing those songs. In Sakhavu , it was Sidharth [Sidhartha Siva, director of the movie] who wanted me to sing after listening to me during music sessions,” says the ecstatic singer.
So has the good times arrived? “That’s how I would like to see it. But it is too early to say anything,” Shreekumar avers. Winner of the music reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee TV (2003), he remembers the phase when he knocked at the doors of several musicians for an opportunity.
“Reality shows were a different affair then. The only benefit I got from the win was that I could introduce myself as the winner of the show when I called up musicians. It has been a long struggle,” he adds.
Right now, Shreekumar’s focus is on his new music project, ‘Music and Myth’.
“It is an online platform where I will share Indian mythological stories with music buffs and present a musical interpretation of the same. I want to explore the different music genres of India. Instead of well-known artistes, it will feature lesser-known but brilliant artistes who have dedicated their life to safeguarding their musical tradition,” he says.
He is launching the project this week with Kathakali padams rendered by his father.
Music milestones
* Shreekumar has worked with composers such as Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Ranjit Barot, Ismail Durbar and Shantanu Moitra
* He has composed and sung ad jingles and has sung for season I of the show Satyameva Jayathe, hosted by Aamir Khan. He has also tuned the team anthem of Bengaluru Top Guns for Premier Badminton League 2016.
Track record
Kanalukaladiya (Mulla)
Anuragavilochananaya (Neelathamara)
Nee akaleyano (City of God)
Ee Solamanum Soshannayum (Amen)
Ayalathe (Angamaly Diaries)
Do naina/La vettam (Angamaly Diaries)
Madhumathiye (Sakhavu)
