Professional Documents
Culture Documents
On - A - Light - Note - The - Hindu
On - A - Light - Note - The - Hindu
On - A - Light - Note - The - Hindu
Published: August 27, 2013 17:20 IST | Updated: August 27, 2013 17:20 IST
On a light note
K. JESHI
Voice trainer, jingle composer and vocalist G. Srinivas who runs The Hindu
G. Srinivas enjoys singing light music. Through his institute he teaches others to do the same
Ilaiyaraaja’s ‘Ilaiya Nila Pozhigirathey’ plays in the background, and the singer sounds very much like S.P.
www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/on-a-light-note/article5064757.ece?css=print 1/3
8/28/13 On a light note - The Hindu
Balasubrahmanyam. But, it is G. Srinivas of Gurubrahma Light Music Academy. “It’s a great opportunity to sing the
songs of legends,” he says. Srinivas has an academy in Saibaba Colony, which he set up in 2003 to offer professional
training to anyone who wants to learn light music.
A self-taught singer from the age of five, Srinivas has been singing for 25 years. He has participated in a number of
live music shows in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, as well as TV shows on popular channels. He has won awards, and
appreciation from legends such as S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and Mano. “When I was 18, I got an opportunity to share
the stage with Mano. He asked me to sing one of his popular songs of that time …‘chinna ponnudhaan vekka paduthu’
and applauded my singing. I have also performed with renowned singers such as Jikki, Deepan Chakravarthy, L.R.
Eswari, T.S. Raghavendra, Unni Menon and music director Dhina.”
At his institute, he trains singers in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam film songs, devotional songs, and bhajans. He first
conducts a voice test, selects songs that suit those voices, and then trains the singers. “Every voice has an aadhaara
shruthi. We identify the acoustics of a student’s voice, gauge his shruthi knowledge, identify his strength, and then
teach modulations, expressions, singing style, attitude as well as how to listen and observe a song as a professional
singer. But, we also emphasise on originality. They perform at school and college competitions confidently. Music is
also meditation, so the added perks are a good grasping power, concentration and breathing exercises,” he smiles
In the last 10 years, over 1000 students from the age of four to 60 have benefitted from the institute. It also includes
maamis in the neighbourhood, who learn bhajan singing. Srinivas also composes jingles for advertisements, re-
recordings and special sound effects for TV shows, TV channels and short films.
Reality shows have changed the perception towards film music, he says. “Earlier, singing films songs was considered
inferior. Now, parents are very encouraging. In one year, we teach them the basics. It’s a stepping stone. Then, they
hone their music skills professionally and make a career in music. They get good remuneration in terms of cash
awards, reputation, and are easily noticed by film directors and music directors and some of them enter films too,” he
adds.
Hogging the limelight
Sibi is one such star student. He got an opportunity to perform on A.R. Rahman’s show ‘Thaai Manney Vanakkam’.
Another student Madhumitha made it to the top 15 of Airtel Junior Super Singer, while Keerthana, Abhinaya, Dinesh
and Tejaswini sing regularly at live music shows. People from IT companies and corporates also learn from him and
when they go abroad they conduct music shows there. “Though anyone can sing, a background in music helps one
perform better,” says Srinivas, who is also learning Hindustani now. “We call shruthi as maadha and laya (thaalam or
beats) as pidha. A layman goes by the ear and sings. Those who have a base in Carnatic, Western, Classical or
www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/on-a-light-note/article5064757.ece?css=print 2/3
8/28/13 On a light note - The Hindu
www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/on-a-light-note/article5064757.ece?css=print 3/3