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Young nightingale
Posted On Saturday, February 06, 2010 at 03:30:12 PM
Sharmila Bhagwat
Music connoisseurs from north eastern suburbs of Mumbai had a special reason to be proud last Sunday. The young nightingale from Kanjurmarg Abhilasha Chellam was among the three finalists in the mega final of the Marathi musical show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.
Although the 19-year-old had to be satisfied with the runner- up title in the competition, the non-Maharashtrian girl won hearts of the listeners by singing various Marathi compositions with great lan. Some of the memorable ones included Chadane shimpit Jashi, Visarashila khas mala, Yeu kashi tashi mi nandayla ho, Chanda matala matala and Vajale ki bara from the new Marathi movie Natarang.
"Although I am a Tamilian by birth I am born and brought up in Pune. I am thankful that people in Maharashtra considered me aapli mulgi and showered lot of affection on me. Marathi was not unfamiliar to me as I studied Marathi as a subject. But I was not at all familiar with the rich tradition of Marathi songs.
My guru Madhusudan Kulkarni from Pune introduced me to the world of Marathi songs when I was just a nine-year-old. When I entered Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, I took it as a challenge. I tried to learn the meaning and depth of every song. The research team of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, my judges, gurus, college principal, teachers, friends, well-wishers and co-participants all encouraged and helped me in every way,'' related Abhilasha, student of DAV college, Bhandup (E).
Abhilasha did not express great regrets for not winning the top position.
Abhilasha Chellam (extreme left) with her sister and parents
"It was simply God's grace that I was in the top three finalists chosen from some 8,000 participants in earlier rounds. All the finalists were extremely talented. I congratulate Urmila Dhangar for making it to the top. Participating in the finals was itself a great honour for me. It has added my understanding of music and made me a more matured singer
I am happy that I could give audiences some moments of delight through my songs," said the young musical talent.
Did she take some special efforts for the finals? She quickly responded, "I considered every song as special. For every episode I took special efforts and I think I went one step ahead each time.
I tried very hard to learn the nuances of the song.''Before shifting to Mumbai Abhilasha had taken training for Carnatic music under Rajeshwari Srinivasan in Pune. Now she is learning Carnatic music from Shamal Krishnan in Mulund and classical music from Mrudula Bhagwat in Thane.
This was not the first mega competition that Abhilasha participated in. She had participated in a talent search competition organised by famous actor Prashant Damle when she was just a nine –year-old. Since then Abhilasha has participated in many musical competitions and earned praise for herself.
She made it to the mega finals of Anu Kapoor's Aao Jhoome Gaye. She was also among best seven in the Voice of India show. Great artists like Shobha Gurtu, Manna Dey, Mohammed Aziz, Jatin Lalit, Shakar Mahadevan and many others have all acknowledged Abhilasha's vocal prowess.
Abhilasha has inherited her musical liking from her father. Abhilasha's father, ardent music lover and singer himself, recognised her musical capacities at a very young age. "When she was just four-years-old, she pointed out the pitch change to me in the song Humma humma," related her proud father.
Abhilasha's mother added "Abhilasha spoke very late. But she was able to sing the famous number Kuch na kaho when she was just a four-year old." Abhilasha has sung a variety of songs like bhajans, bhavgeet, natyageet and lavni, but she found singing lavni very challenging.
"It was great to sing Bai majhya payala, Ishkachi ingali, and of course Vajale ki bara. "Noted actor Atul Kulkarni appreciated the song and gave me a rose for Vajale ki bara, Abhilasha says.
Speaking about the proudest moment of her life Abhilasha said, "Meeting Lata Mangeshkar was a memorable experience in my life. I am an ardent fan of Lataji. I just could not talk. Somebody asked me to sing before her. I sang. We got lot of blessings from her, that was the greatest moment of my life."
Abhilasha is crystal clear about her goal in life, "I want to become a great playback singer like Lata Mangeshkar. I know it is a long and arduous path but I am prepared for the hard work." Adds her father, "Abhilasha will definitely achieve her goal. If it is a matter of time before the girl's voice makes a mark on the big screen then it will be a time worth waiting for. Until then, Abhilasha is just going to enjoy singing. We want her to sing such compositions that have healing power and sooth everybody's soul," he added.
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