Music direction in movies may not always be synonymous with women in Malayalam industry. Apart from Usha Khanna, who gifted a few evergreen melodies, the fair sex could never make a footing in the industry.
Nevertheless, determined to reverse the trend is Sangeetha Varma, who makes her debut in film music direction through ‘Cleopatra’, a multi-lingual movie directed by Rajan Sankaradi slated to hit theatres this November.
For Sangeetha, who has done the music for a bunch of albums and popular devotional songs, the new profile has brought in a good deal of positive response from the industry. “Though you get to know the public feedback only after the music release, so far the industry has been kind to me. I am doing three songs in the movie, all of which are classical,” she says.
The movie will have her singing alongside Yesudas, which according to her is “the best thing a debutante can ever ask for”. “The song was originally marked for K S Chitra. But, she couldn’t make it owing to certain personal issues following which I stepped in. Singing a duet with Yesudas sir is an enriching experience. It was more than gratifying when a musical legend like Yesudas acknowledge my songs,” says Sangeetha, a trained vocalist.
However, rather than singing, Sangeetha, a degree holder in MA music, found composing more challenging and interesting. “My passion was always music direction,”. And, winning the Drishya Television Awards for music direction in 2008 was clearly a boost. And, the popularity of her music albums ‘Monjulla Painkili’ and ‘Ishal Nilavu’ reasserted her position.
However, Sangeetha is well aware that the only way to get her efforts noticed and applauded is through movies. “Movies have a better reach. Though I did a couple of albums and songs, it was ‘Cleopatra’ that gave me that ‘big professional leap’,” she adds. And, why does women find it hard to get off ground in the composing industry? “Unlike singing, composing is a much more taxing. There are several technical phases in music direction. And, one should convince the producer and director that she is capable enough to do it. A woman, if she is a wife and a mother, will find it difficult,” Sangeetha says.
Though she is confident of making a mark in the highly-competitive industry, Sangeetha believes that it will be the public response that will carve a future for her. “Yes, PR has its role in every industry. But, finally, it is your work that speaks for you,”.
