Tuning Into a Male Bastion

While there are many male music composers in Kollywood, one wonders why there is a dearth of female music composers. Breaking the stereotype that talented women composers do not come to the forefront to compose music is SJ Jananiy, who has just finished composing music for the film Prabha — a character-based film by Nandan, assistant of Dharani.

At 22, her prowess in composing is such that she has made singers SPB, Hariharan, Shwetha Mohan, Vijay Prakash and others, croon for her tunes in the film. A person of artistic excellence, she attributes whatever she has learnt to her guru Balamuralikrishna. She says, “I was exposed to all genres right from my childhood. I consider myself privileged to be the great genius’ disciple and I am thankful to god.”

Her tunes made even the maestro Balamuralikrishna sing a song for a film. He last sung for Pasanga, which was released five years ago.

One could comprehend that she was a child prodigy, given her earlier achievements and endeavours. Jananiy started singing from the age of three, was part of a concert at the age of five, sang an album when she was seven years old and received the National Award for Exceptional Achievement in Classical Music at the age of 13. She takes pride in having received the Kalai Ilamani award from the State Government.

Jananiy has the accomplishment of completing eight grades at the Trinity College, London. She qualified in Western Classical Keyboard, Western Classical theory, Western Classical Vocal and Hindustani.

She has composed music for eight albums, all classic fusion. Her albums include Kurai Ondrum Illai, Tamil classics, Silambosai and songs of lord Shiva. She has also composed a carnatic classical album called Classic Marvel which consists of four volumes, each based on the compositions of great composers Thyagaraja, Balamurali Krishna, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri.

“Classical music is the base of everything. It was indeed challenging to shift from singing to composing music. But it was impromptu. I was able to complete compositions of rhythm, keyboard and programming within a week,” she says. “I hope that the album becomes a massive hit. I expect that it is able to reach  people and they recognise my work and bless me,” she adds.

Now, Jananiy is all set to peform in concerts and sabhas in December.

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