GRD School of Commerce and International Business has been organizing FACE To FACE an event which acts as a platform for the students to interact with eminent personalities of various genres. The first session of this event was conducted on 28th February with Dr,Craig Dicker, Public Officer(Acting)/ Cultural Affairs Officer at U.S.Embassy New Delhi as the Guest Speaker.
In yet another, Face to Face event that was conducted today at the college, Shashaa Tirupati, multilingual playback singer, songwriter and voice over artist of Indo-Canadian origin, predominantly active in the Bollywood and South Indian music industry was the Guest Speaker.
She is the voice behind the recreated version of the AR Rahman cult classic, Humma Humma, known as The Humma Song. The Humma Song was regarded to be one of the highest viewed and heard tracks of 2016 on YouTube as well as on radio based on All India Radio statistics and rankings. Besides Hindi and Tamizh, she has sung songs in Telugu, Punjabi, Malayalam,Kannada, Bengali, Arabic and English languages.
'Aye Mr. Minor...' song from Tamil Movie Kaaviyathalaivan by Music Director AR Rahman gained her popularity and recognition in the cine indiustry. She also rendered a solo for AR Rahman in Kochadaiiyaan,'Vaada Vaada....' starring Rajnikanth and Deepika Padukone. But Shashaa, with her second song,
While interacting Shashaa Tirupati said to the students"There is not much age difference between us so I do not know how much I can inspire you. Anyways, I would like to share my journey with you all. I was just eight months when we shifted to Vancouver and from the age of six years I started singing for music radio channel. Slowly people started to have likability to my voice and within a short span of time my voice garnered the attention of people.
Later we returned to India , whoever heard my songs appreciated my rendering and my voice. Talent is present in everyone but it's the apt training that brings out the finesse.
Days flew and I went back to Canada to pursue medicine with Neuro as my major. It was then I happened to hear A.R.Rahmans's songs from the movie Guru, which persuaded me to think about singing again. That drive in me for singing did not any further allow me to pursue my education, so I left to India. Initially I couldn't convince my parents, but I honestly believed to follow my heart. So, happily I packed my bags and left to Mumbai.
In Mumbai I did work on lot of jingles, reality shows and much more. It was then I encountered with a heart-breaking incident when 'someone' from the music industry remarked my voice as 'bad & untalented', those comments really poked my passion for singing which made me take a break for solid three years.
The good thing that happened during the break was it helped me unveil the composer in me. I began my composing journey with determination, soon I had singers like Javed Ali , Palak Muchal singing for my compositions. One day, i received a call from MTV Coke Studio stating that A.R.Rahman Sir is looking for new voices. Having stopped singing for three year, I was dumped with nervousness yet my perseverance made me do it. All went well and in the same year, I recorded for Rajinikanth Sir's Kochadaiiyaan song with A.R.Rahman. Since then, all is well!
When talking exclusively to SimpliCity, Shashaa Tirupati very spiritedly answered to the questions put-forth to her.
Q.How important it is to know the language to deliver the right emotion of the song?
Right from the beginning, I had this love towards learning language. Hence, I did learn many languages. I do not know Tamil but sometimes some words in some songs require a special feel, so at such demanding occasions, I try to learn the meaning of the word so that the fitting emotion could be delivered.
Q.What struggles you faced on the way to success?
When I came to Mumbai I did not have house and I spent three nights on road with my luggage. I would rather replace the word struggle with building blocks. When you want something very badly every thing you face is like a building block taking you much closer to the destiny. So being without home, without a single penny and dealing with several health issues...I see them as my building blocks towards success.
Q.Which is the song that car stereo often plays?
First, let me clarify, I don't own a car. To juggle between places, I use public transit and it seriously rocks. I travel by metros, local trains, buses, autos and I don't feel like owning a car. I listen to more of jazz, aerobic music, Micheal Jackson hits and of course Tamil songs. These days, Tamil has become very much like my own language and it means the world to me, it's the beauty of the language!.
Q.You have worked with different Directors from ARR to Leon James, How does it feel?
Every song is a composer's baby. Every composer has different style and essence and when you get to work with different composers you get exposure to many new genres and you stand to gain a lot.
Q.Which was the toughest song you had sung?
Songs like 'Naane Varugiren' from OK Kanmani, 'Raasali' from AYM were little difficult. But 'Vaan' from Kaatru Veliyadai was very tough as I got emotional while singing the song.
Q. Your Upcoming projects?
The industry is unpredictable so I cannot tell what is next in the pipeline. Just awaiting for good offers.
Q.Your take on actors taking up singing?
So I do not see anything as competition as I m constantly competing with myself.
Q.You have sung in many languages which one was the toughest?
Out of all the languages Malayalam was the toughest. It's a beautiful language. Some fine composers are there in Malayalam music industry, would love to work with composers like Gopi Sundar.
Q.Any plans to take up acting?
Oh...this question doesn't leave me at all. I am very happy and content with my singing. So a big no to acting. But I am looking for producers to compose my songs.
And, here are some of the questions raised by the students to Shashaa at the interaction session
Q.What helped you to reach this level in spite of tough competition?
Competition is everywhere and survival of the fittest has been the ultimate thing. I am a self critique. I compete with myself and competition is very personal to me.When I enter the studio I compare how I sang yesterday and how I am going to perform today. I keep improvising myself everyday. I take inspiration from my competitors as they have their set of values and talents. Competition is out performing yourself and always believe in power of mind as we do not know its true potential.
Q.What is the X factor according to you?
The X factor in me has to be asked to the composers for whom I have sung. According to me, X factor is my hardwork. I give my 200 percent to everything I do.
Q.How difficult it is for person who do not have any industry background to succeed in this industry?
Truly, it is very difficult. If ARR Sir would not have picked me from MTV Coke studio I do not know what I would be doing now. But as its said, right things happen at the right time. Now I am called as Rahman Sir's singer. But there are people who have great industry background but still not successful. At the end of the day its the talent that speaks aloud!
The students were enthralled to interact with Shashaa Tirupati and her humble answers to their questions really surprised them.