My re-entry through Anju Vanna Poove has opened many doors: Charulatha Mani

Time of India

23-06-2025

Although I left the country and was absent for eight years, the songs I sang have had a life of their own, says Charulatha Mani.
Playback singer and classical musician Charulatha Mani is elated with the love coming her way for Thug Life's Anju Vanna Poove . Charulatha, who has notable songs like Chillax (from Velayudham ) and Kannukkul Pothivaippen (from Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah ) in her discography, talks to us about collaborating with AR Rahman, relocating to Chennai from Australia, aspirations to compose and act, and more…
'ALTHOUGH I WAS ABSENT FOR EIGHT YEARS, MY SONGS HAVE HAD A LIFE OF THEIR OWN'
I left India in 2015 to go to Australia.
There, I did my PhD in Western opera and Carnatic music. My postdoctoral fellowship was on lullabies. My project was with refugee and migrant mothers, and they would sing lullabies and share their experiences of overcoming challenges in life. Little did I know then that I'd sing a lullaby for Rahman sir in such a film. So, life has come full circle. Although I left the country and was absent for eight years, the songs I sang have had a life of their own.
That's important for a singer. As there are many talented voices, it's easy for someone to fall by the wayside if they're not given that love from the fans. And my reentry through this song has opened many doors for me.
'WHEN I SAW MANI SIR IN THE STUDIO, I WAS HAPPY I WAS SINGING FOR HIS FILM'
On my YouTube channel, I talk about classical ragas and film songs. While I was in Australia, I got an email from Rahman sir asking, 'Where are you these days? I've been following your YouTube videos.' Then, he asked for my number; we spoke about ragas and my research.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
CVS Is Fuming Over New 87¢ Generic Viagra — See Why
Health Alliance by Friday Plans
Learn More
Undo
After that, when I came here to sing during the music season in December, we met and recorded Anju Vanna Poove . I just went to say 'Hello', and he didn't inform me that there was a recording.
It was a pleasant surprise. I didn't know which film the song was for. But when I saw Mani sir in the studio, I realised it was for a Mani Ratnam film and felt happy. My reentry through Thug Life has opened many doors for me. '
ANJU VANNA POOVE IS A RARE GEM THAT YOU GET IN YOUR CAREER'
Mani sir and Rahman sir guided me on an emotional journey because the song has a sense of chaos, childhood, and peace.
It's a mélange of emotions. A song like Anju Vanna Poove is a rare gem that you get in your career, as it's a solo, and it's for Rahman sir. He used to sing a line, and I repeated his intonation and expression. But there was a point when we wanted to amplify the emotion. So, I brought in a vocal ornamentation technique called the tremolo that I learnt in Italian opera during my PhD.
It is a technique used to elicit an emotional and dramatic response from the audience.
When I threw that in, Rahman sir said that technique is working here. The vision for Anju Vanna Poove was entirely Rahman sir's, and I realised the vision to the best of my ability.
'WHEN I STUDIED OPERA, THEY TAUGHT ACTING ALONG WITH SINGING'
One of the beautiful traits about Indian ragas is that they sound great when fused with Western sensibilities. I'd love to explore that as a composer. People before me have already done it beautifully. But what I want to put out would be from my personal perspective.
We all have a story to tell as an artiste. I would even be interested in acting. When I studied opera, they taught singing with acting. To perform opera is to sing and act.
Nowadays, we can also look beyond stereotypical roles in cinema. There are interesting storylines and characters on screen.
'I stand on the shoulders of giants like Bombay Jayashri'
Charulatha says, 'Often, in films, there's stereotyping of the vocal technique that a Carnatic artiste produces. But that has been broken over the years. I stand on the shoulders of giants like Bombay Jayashri. When Vaseegara came out, little did anyone know that a Carnatic singer could sing such a song and elevate it to a different level. So, she has been an influential part of my life.'