I love acting, singing and composing; want to keep doing it all: Singer Sree Rama Chandra
Whether it's recording songs in multiple languages, experimenting with indie sounds, or lighting up the stage with live performances,
Sree Rama Chandra
continues to explore multiple avenues without being confined to one role.
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In a candid chat with
Hyderabad Times
, the Hyderabad-born artiste talks about his connection to the city, balancing music and acting, exploring new genres, and more.
'Acting, singing, performing — I want to keep doing everything'
Over the years, Sree Rama Chandra has built a diverse profile — recording songs in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil, hosting shows, performing live, and acting. But he doesn't see the need to pick one lane. 'I don't think anybody's going to put a gun to my head and ask me to choose,' he says.
'I enjoy everything — acting, singing, composing, and performing. I want to continue doing all of it.'
'Every South Indian wants to be an actor'
Though Sree Rama Chandra began his career as a singer, he ventured into acting with the show called
Papam Pasivadu
. Reflecting on his love for acting, he shares, "While growing up I was always mesmerised by the stars on screen. I think every South Indian wants to be an actor- we grew up watching legends like NT Rama Rao and Chiranjeevi.
I'm thankful I got some good opportunities and would love to do more, especially with music videos that blend story, dance and performance."
'Reality shows are just the beginning — we still have to prove ourselves'
With hits like
Subhanallah ( Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani )
and
O Rendu Prema Meghaalila (Baby)
, Sree Rama Chandra has become a familiar name among audiences across multiple languages. However, he points out that even after winning
Indian Idol
in 2010, his path to playback singing was filled with challenges. 'Coming from a reality show background, it's often hard to break into playback singing,' he notes, adding, 'But Indian Idol gave me visibility.
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I didn't have any connections, so it was my way to show people what I could do. That's how songs like
Subhanallah
and
Balma
happened.'
One of my recent tracks, Rama 2.0, let me revisit my Carnatic roots in a new way. I tried blending electronic sounds with the Krithi Sri Rama Padama, which I had learned from my gurus, the Hyderabad Sisters
'The indie scene has finally come into its own'
The indie music space in India, according to him, has changed considerably. 'There's been a shift in the last few years. Independent artistes are building their own identity, separate from film music. That's important, because opportunities in playback are limited. I've always believed musicians shouldn't be restricted to cinema alone.'
For young artistes, he recommends focusing on refining their skill and staying committed. 'There's no shortcut — just keep practicing and be ready when the opportunity knocks.'
'I've got folk, Punjabi, and Hindi tracks on the way'
Looking ahead, Sree Rama Chandra has a packed independent music calendar. 'I have a folk song called Bangaru that I shot in Dubai, a Punjabi track titled Chhen, and a Hindi single, Sang Tere. These are lined up for release this year.'
- Divya Shree
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