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Anupamaa & AR Rahman: A Musical Reunion After 20 Years
5 Mar
Summary
- Anupamaa reunited with AR Rahman on stage after two decades.
- She recalled her early days singing for Rahman, mistaking a song for a jingle.
- Anupamaa shared her struggles with indie music and walking out of recordings.
Singer Anupamaa, famous for the classic track Chandralekha from the 1993 film Thiruda Thiruda, recently reunited on stage with AR Rahman during a concert in Chennai. Reflecting on the experience, she noted that it was her first time performing with him since 2003, describing his stage as the premier space for an artist to showcase talent.
Anupamaa recalled her early days working with Rahman in 1992, admitting she initially did not realize he was a film composer. She began by recording jingles and mistakenly thought the song July Matham from Pudhiya Mugam was also a jingle. While many singers at the time tried to emulate established vocalists like Chithra or Janaki, Anupamaa insisted on maintaining her unique style. This individuality defined Chandralekha, a track she and Rahman envisioned with a Michael Jackson influence. Despite early concerns that it might sound too Western for audiences, the song became a timeless hit.
Despite her early success, Anupamaa felt that many subsequent film offers did not suit her soulful, feel-based singing style. This dissatisfaction led her to focus on composing jingles and independent music. However, the journey was difficult. She faced deep depression when her independent project, Naan Nee, faced a 21-year delay before its eventual release in 2023. She noted that for a long time, the industry showed little interest in independent music, though she is encouraged by its recent resurgence.
Her career was also shaped by her personal principles. Anupamaa revealed she previously walked out of recording sessions due to vulgar lyrics. Although this led some to label her unprofessional or difficult, she maintains no regrets about her choices.
After a long hiatus from playback singing, including her last film track in 2008 for Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, Anupamaa is navigating a different industry landscape. She admits she has never been one to lobby for work or focus on self-promotion, but she recognizes that making a modern comeback requires a more proactive approach to networking with musicians.
