In 2002, Kannathil Muthamittal released and everyone was humming ‘Oru Deivam Thantha Poove’. That song was crooned by Chinmayi, who went on to become big in Kollywood.
In 2013, Kadal released and everyone was humming ‘Nenjukulle’. That song was crooned by Shakthisree Gopalan, who subsequently became one of the most sought-after singers in tinseltown.
And now, the audio of Oh Kadhal Kanmani is here. And Shashaa Tirupati comes along with it. Shashaa was born in Kashmir and spent some of her childhood in Canada. The young musician has three songs in this album that sees filmmaker Mani Ratnam joining hands with A.R. Rahman yet again. It’s a dream-come-true for her.
“I’ve grown up adoring the brilliant songs that this team has come up with…and to be singing now for them is awesome,” says the excited 27-year-old.
‘Paranthu Sella Vaa’, ‘Naane Varugiraen’ and ‘Kaara Aattakkaara’ are the three songs she has rendered in this album that releases today. “I’d worked on albums like Raunaq and was called for the ‘Parandhu Sellva Vaa’ number first. As the team liked my voice, I was called yet again on ‘Naane Varugiraen’, which is perhaps the most difficult song I will ever sing!”
It was many years ago at a Coke Studio recording that the Oscar-winning music composer spotted Shashaa. “I was part of a chorus and after the song, he asked, ‘Who is Shashaa in this?’” Hesitantly, she raised her little finger. He just smiled at her and went on with his work.
That night, she couldn’t sleep. “I mustered the courage the next morning and walked up to him to apologise if I’d sung anything wrong. He said that my voice sounded like a musical instrument.”
At that time, she didn’t know if it was a compliment or not. A few months later, when she got a call from Rahman’s Chennai studio, she knew it was.
She sang ‘Vaada Vaada’ from Kochadaiiyaan at that time. And followed it up with the ‘Aye Mr Minor’ number in Kaaviya Thalaivan.
Her strong base in Hindustani music, which she learnt for several years in Allahabad and Benaras, comes in handy when she has to sing songs that are a challenge. “There are many forms in Hindustani and learning them has given me a solid base,” she says.
Shashaa, who is a big fan of singers Chitra and Chinmayi, has recently picked up a few words in Tamil. “I love languages. I know Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and a smattering of Italian too. I’m hoping to learn Tamil soon.”
