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Chorus singers in TFM

Topic started by Kamesh (@ pm-102-154.tm.net.my) on Sun Nov 21 02:19:36 EST 1999.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I could have used the "Chorus in IR's songs" thread for posting this. But the below article is all about the singers. So please excuse me for opening a new thread and do read this article. Post your comments too.

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Responses:

• From: Kamesh (@ pm-102-154.tm.net.my) on: Sun Nov 21 02:20:29 EST 1999
  
  Chorus Singers in TFM
  
  Extract from Kumudham dated 18/11/99
  
  You would have listened to the song Kannalanae from Bombay. If you look for the singers of the song the cassette / CD would say Chitra. But there where others who sang the chorus, like Ganga, Febi, Sujatha, Reshmi, Kanchana (Rahman's Sister) etc. These people have become the most sought after in an ALL INDIA level.MD's and producers wait for weeks to get them. "You can keep the main singers as Sujatha or Harini or you can change them if you please.. But keep these people to sing the chorus" they say. Is chorus so important for a song?
  
  "Yes" says Ganga. "It is easy to sing a solo. But singing chorus is difficult. All 5 singers should have Harmony, same feel, and should sing without any PISIRU," says she. She is the most senior in ARR's troupe. Starting from Thiruda~2 she has been singing for the past 7 years. (????7 years???) SHe belongs to Calicut. Parents are collage profs." I came to Madras in 92 wanting to become a singer cause singing was my interest. I could not penetrate Raaja's gates. After 7 or 8 tries I managed to see him. He made me sing once and said he will consider later. That was when I heard about Rahman. He immediately gave me a chance in his chorus team. I never thought I would become so busy then" says Ganga. Febi the singer of Kolusallae in Uyirae also hails from Kerala. Belonging to a family of musicians her late father Mani was a solo violinist. A sister and 2 brothers all were trained in carnatic Music. But she does not want to become a full time singer. "I did my B.sc Psychology in Madras University. I am doing homeopathy 3rd yr. I want a job in these lines"says Febi.
  
  "People like main singers more. They look down upon chorus singers. But for the past 2 years things have changed. says Reshmi of Karuthamma fame. The interesting thing about choral singing is you dont know for which movie, for which song you are singing. Only after the song hits the market you find that the song you gave voice for is in the stands. It is important to "Anubavichify" the tune and lyrics when you sing," says Reshmi.
  
  Srividya, Manikiran (a female) etc. sing for IR, Deva, Maragadhamani, SAR etc. Srividhya is trained in carnatic music and wants to do a Phd in TFM. Mani Kiran says " You should know the expressions for every word. There is also a lot of breathing techniques involved. Breathing in front of the mike has to be learned. You should listen a lot, esp. a lot of songs in a lot of languages. Even noice should have its continuity here".
  
  Dont they aspire to become solo singers themselves? "Yes". says Srividya. " For that the MD, Producer etc. have to agree. Even if the MD agrees if the Producer does not then there could be marketing problems. Also your TIME should come, isnt it?" she asks.
  
  "I sang the tracks for Telephone manipol. Rahman said he would give the song to me. Shankar was not confident. So Harini sang in later. Now I have sung the whole Pallavi of Adi Manjakilangae in TajMahal. let us wait and see. I am confident ARR would give me a chance" says Ganga.
  
  Deva adds..
  
  "Really today if there are no chorus singers MD's like me wont exist. not just now. Even in the days when we used to do stage shows we used to sing chorus for Adho Andha paravai.. song. The feel you get in those chorus is far more than the song itself. Like flying in the sky.. The chorus MSV had played in AVAL for Ravichandran's mother working in a tea estate still lingers in my mind. IR had made a chorus powerful than the main song in Mullum Malarum. Song Raman Aandalum... You cant take the chorus singers for granted. They are the singers of tomorrow. They have all the skills for that" said he.
  
  Poovukkul Olindirukkum Panikkoottam Adhisayam....
  
  Arent these chorus singers Adhisayam too???
  
  (The above is an extract from the Kumudham article)
  
  You are welcome to post your comments reg. these unknown Cuckoos.
  
  Thanks
  
  Kamesh
  
  
• From: Kamesh (@ pm-102-154.tm.net.my) on: Sun Nov 21 02:22:06 EST 1999
  
  As usual .. Pardon my typos galore.
  
  
• From: bb (@ farm1-cache2.gw.uiuc.edu) on: Mon Nov 22 03:01:52 EST 1999
  
  w.r.t other MDs, i feel that ARR has given a lot of importance to the chorus singers.
  
  

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