Arunaja Nalinakshan sets stage on fire

Till a few months ago, Arunaja Nalinakshan, a native of Kochi, was just a post-graduation student at St Albert’s College, Ernakulam. Although she had won prizes for the western solo in various competitions, her soulful singing was confined only to her peers and close friends. However, she believed that things would take the right turn at the right time. And it did. The life-changing moment in Arunaja’s life happened in the form of The Stage, a reality show for western music broadcast on Colours Infinity. The Stage - season 2 lifted her to the next level, establishing her presence among the national audience.

Looking back, Arunaja feels contented. “I came to know about the audition through my cousin. It was my examination time and auditions in all other centres except Mumbai were over,” she recalls. “Soon after my last examination, I took the flight to Mumbai to take part in the final audition. It was my first flight. Mumbai opened a new world in front of me. Everything, from the city life to The Stage, was new to me.” She won the audition and made it to the top 50. On The Stage,  judges Ehasaan Noorani, Vishal Dadlani, Devaraj Sanyal and Monica Dogra were taken aback to see a girl with Carnatic background pulling off R&B (Rhythm and Blues genre) songs with ease.

“I was the only Malayali in the show. Upon reaching the top 50, they asked me to come to Mumbai and stay there for two months. I was nervous to perform. But Vishal’s positive comment boosted my confidence. Prior to my performance, he said, ‘Looking at your face I can say that you are going to rock the stage’,” says Arunaja. Then, there was no looking back. Arunaja made it to the top 20 and eventually the top 3. There were difficulties but she was determined. “I had no stage fright. My only nervousness was whether I could perform well. I knew the effort my mother had put in to send me to Mumbai. So I didn’t want to lose,” she smiles.   

Arunaja was the only competition artiste in the group. But, that has never discouraged her. “They bring their experience on stage and perform. What can we do? I lacked their confidence but at the same time I had my own advantages like maintaining eye contact with the audience,” says Arunaja. “Of course, it was difficult. I have been winning competitions in the past by singing my best songs. Since my background was in the Gospel Music, I had no great knowledge of contemporary music. I had to learn new songs for each round, that too within a short span. However, after all, it was a learning experience. I got the exposure I lacked in Kerala. For the first time in my life, I performed with a band. People appreciated my singing.”

Arunaja, who had Carnatic base, turned to Western Music in college where she met gospel group Rock of Ages. She got trained in Western Music from them. “My Carnatic lessons have only helped me. Here, we don’t entertain Carnatic singers trying other styles. I have experienced that. My Carnatic music sir didn’t like my penchant for Western music,” she chuckles. “But, it is all about attitude. Until this show, people used to call me Gospel Singer. But, when Ehsaan sir said that I am the best R&B singer in this country he had met so far, it changed my life.”

The rendition of Sia’s Chandelier and Adele’s Hello on The Stage are a few that bear testimony to Arunaja’s talent. In most of her performances, Arunaja would go emotional while singing. And she says, “R&B is an emotional genre. For instance, Adele’s songs are very touching. They may sound simple while going through the lyrics but one needs good emotional control to sing them. Besides, I am a very emotional person.”

Arunaja competed with Sharvi Yadav and Abhishek Gurung Lemo in the finale where Sharvi emerged the winner. “I still get a lot of messages from the audience saying they expected me to win. I was also a little sad because I used to win first place in all competitions. But, then I have reached this far.” Arunaja has now found her way. She has no plans to continue her studies. She has a few music projects in the pipeline. And, she is prepping up for the music tour that begins in December.