The technology behind Tango Kelayo

Singer Haricharan Seshadri had to wait for nine years before he could sing for Oscar award-winning composer AR Rahman. Ever since that, there has been no looking back! For almost every album since Kadal, Haricharan has been roped in by Rahman. It is a double dhamaka for Haricharan this time, as he sang two numbers for the Mozart of Madras in Kaatru Veliyidai.

“After Azhagiye, I recorded the second song Tango Kelayo. We recorded the number just like any other song, only that the tune was unfolding itself and it was the tango genre. It was pretty cool!” Making a male vocalist sing female portions for a song is something few other music director have attempted — even AR Rahman didn’t think of it at first! But, technology paved way for the impossible to happen. “After I sang the first draft on the tune, ARR sir recorded my voice for the female portions as a reference to the female singer (who was eventually to come and record it later). I recorded in my normal voice — and he used a plugin which modulated it to sound like a lady. I felt it was cool, but I knew it was temporary, as keeping my voice for the female portion in the final draft would have been unheard of,” he explains.

But then of course, ARR decided to use it after all. When asked what he considers to be the best complement he has received, Haricharan says, “I was thrilled when I saw his comment on his Facebook page. He said that my voice resembled a young sensuous female and that he couldn’t find a replacement! It sounded amusing and I am so excited  for the song.”(laughs)