Chennai: Attention parents! Do not discourage a whistling child. Perhaps, your child may emerge a winner in the international whistling competition like Swetha. Meet T. Nagar resident, Swetha Suresh (24) who made Chennai and her family proud by bagging first in the World Whistling Convention at Tokyo recently.
Amid a tough competition from six countries and 50 participants, Swetha has bagged the top prize through a slew of whistling performances: western fusion, multitasking whistle with Bharatanatyam and a song from Sivaji Ganesan’s movie. Whistling for Swetha is not an act of indecency or a boasting way to mark someone’s presence. It is merely a way of pleasant communication and something to do with the rhythms. In a conversation with DC, she said she developed interest for whistling since a very young age. She recollects her whistling moments and feels lucky to have supporting parents who don’t consider whistling as a cheap act.
“As I could never learn flute, I imitated the same sound by whistling. Unlike many elders, my parents who thought it to be an unique talent enrolled me in Indian Whistlers’ association,” said the visual communication graduate.
Her efficiency in both Carnatic and Western music has helped her to achieve many laurels as she had created a record by continuously whistling for 18 hours (taking a 15-minute break once in three hours). She was also among the 48 whistlers who entered the Limca book of records for whistling Sare Jahan se Accha in 2008.
“Whistle is nothing but a flute without a bamboo stick. I see it as a mere art form. But unfortunately, a lot has to be developed in India on awareness front. Unlike US and Japan, we have no schools to promote it,” said Swetha who would be teaming up with Indian Whistlers association to teach the art.
Swetha has also whistled in movies, which include Yennada Yennada from Varuthapadatha Vaalibar Sangam, Verasa Pogaiyile - Jilla, Paravaya Parakkirom- Kayal and Waltzing Whistle theme - Pokkiri Raja (2016). Alumni of Shri SS Shasun Jain College for women, Swetha said her alma mater had been a constant source of support to her passion. “If not for their encouragement, I would not have given over 1,500 performances across the world,” she said.
