Ir’s hard to believe that she’s so young. But that’s singer Antara Nandy for you.
Her most recent cover of Agar Tum Saath Ho from Tamasha, was a tribute to AR Rahman, who composed the soundtrack for the film.
The response was overwhelming. All it took were six musicians — pianist Keethan and tabla player Nish Raj from London, cellist Ábel Libisch from Hawaii, Abhishek Borkar from Pune on the sarod, Antara, and also violinist Manoj Kumar from Chennai! With the exception of Keethan, Antara didn’t know her other collaborators before. “We’re hoping that AR Rahman himself has seen the video, but I’m almost certain his sister Raihanah has seen it because we sent it to her,” grins Antara.
“It was a great experience because as musicans, we need not restrict ourselves to Bollywood music!” She adds that the video would not have happened without Keethan, who was the major ideator. As of now, the sixteen-year-old girl is juggling academics and a career as a professional singer. “It’s not possible to deprive me of singing. It is my passion and an integral part of my life,” she states, crediting her parents for her success.
Imagine our shock when we learnt that she was actually a student of the Mozart of Madras at KM Music Conservatory for the summer programme. “(laughs) I had never dreamt of meeting him! Anyone who takes up singing wishes to work with ARR — he’s on everyone’s minds,” Antara quips.
While her career is on a steady rise, Tamil is also part of her DNA, as she has crooned Ennodu nee irunthal in accapella style. She has also just finished recording a song for a Tamil movie, which she is hush-hush about, as it’s still under production. “But keep an ear out for my first Tamil music video, Sunrise, which we will release on Friendship Day!” she signs off.
