Living her mother's dream

As the song Nilamanaltharikalil from the hit film Kismath has found a place in the minds of the audience, there is no one happier than Sreya Raghav, who crooned it.

More than the appreciation of listeners Sreya is happy she could fulfil wishes of her late mother Palayad Yeshoda, a singer in her heydays in the 1960s’ and 70s’. She had sung many Malayalam film songs. Yeshoda had dreamt of her daughter being a singer and Sreya found her first mainstream hit with Nilamanaltharikalil.

It was singer/music composer Gopi Sundar, who introduced Thalassery-based Sreya to the world of melodies. It was one of the music directors of Kismath — Sumesh Parameshwaran — who noticed her very different husky tenor and asked her to be a part of the song.

Says Shreya: “The heroine of the film is five years elder to the hero and Sumesh thought my voice was apt for the heroine. I loved the melody and gave it my heart.” Sreya forayed by singing background scores, mostly for Gopi Sundar, also a family friend. She has sung background for films, notably Left Right Left. In Anju Sundarikal, she sang the title song, Ekantham, along with Kunal Ganjawala. Then came the theme song in Arikil Oraal, along with Gopi Sundar.

But, as Shreya was taking her baby steps, misfortune struck. Her mother became bedridden and she had to devote time for her mother, ignoring her career. Sadly, Shreya’s mother died one-and-a- half years ago. It was then she started taking up singing assignments.

Shreya did a music video song, Vanamegham, encouraged by Sumesh. Shreya tuned and wrote lyrics of the song herself. The song was directed by Shreya’s sister, assisted by a largely women crew. It was released on Women’s Day.

Shreya has been doing her bit and her husky voice gives her the edge. Though she had taken up a job in Dubai, the success of Kismath has given her the confidence to stay put in Kerala to pursue singing.