He leaves everyone breathless with his breathtaking music and charming personality. He might be busy flying from studios to shows, but he makes sure everyone around him is happy. If he has promised an interview, he is sure to find the time for it, however pressed for time he is. In Kochi to be a part of a show organised by his friend, Deepak Dev, at JTPac, he displays the kind of professionalism and commitment that has taken to the top of the heap. Not to mention the passion that seems to soak his heavy frame. Getting into the car to go for the sound check after landing in Kochi, Shankar takes a deep breath and says, ‘Ente Keralam!’
“Happiness is what I feel when I land in this state. It is always so lovely to be in Kerala. The kind of love and affection I receive from here are beyond words. The way they have accepted my voice, it feels so good and really touching. The greenery that we miss in Mumbai and the delicious dishes! Oh I am breathless about God’s Own Country,” he says animatedly.
Thumba Poove Sundari...his latest number in Kunjiramayanam has been gaining appreciation from the music buffs of Kerala. However, the singer confesses that Malayalam is a language that still confounds him. “I have been singing in Malayalam for a long time. And I am always aware that no non-Keralite can pronounce Malayalam the way Keralites do. But I try my best, and I hope I am doing well. There are certain words that I am still scared of. The ‘ra’, the ‘na’...Otherwise I try my best to make it perfect because I feel that pronunciation is very important while delivering a song.”
Shankar considers himself among those lucky ones, who have got a chance to sing in every language. “That is a real blessing; I am glad that I am able to reach out to the masses when I sing in Kannada, Marathi... God is more than great and I have become one of those multilingual singers,” he says with a smile.
Shankar is lavish in his praise about the budding singers in Kerala. He states that the future of music is safe in their hands. “I was just blown away by the children while I was judging a few music reality shows in Kerala. When elders criticise that the quality of music is declining, all I have to tell them is just listen to the children. They are focused, hard working and they know what they are singing. They are tremendously talented and a lot of platforms too are available. It is going to be a wonderful time!”
Music is ever evolving and criticism and appreciation are a part of the evolution. “Thirty years back, we were only able to listen to Indian music. But now we are exposed to so many genres and this will influence their taste. And I have always noticed that a set of people keep saying that old is gold. They live in the past and keep appreciating the old. But I think we should accept today’s music and the change simultaneously while honouring the great legends. Who knows after 50 years the people would say Picha Vecha Naal Muthal... as a classic and refer it to aspiring musicians?”
The software programmer- turned-music composer’s online music school, The Shankar Mahadevan Academy, started in 2011, now has a presence in 47 countries with 5,000 students studying Hindustani, Carnatic and Light Music. “It was a path breaking move where a combination of technology and art paved way in creating future musicians. I would call it as a real revolution and it is going well.”
His son, Siddharth Mahadevan, will be also be singing a song in the Deepak Dev show. “It is always a proud moment for a father when I go on stage and sing the song from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and announce that it was sung by my son and was a hit! Same way even my younger one, Shivam’s song from Dhoom 3,” he says with a smile of contentment.
