Vimal and Sayooj – representing a new wave of change in Malayalam singers

VIMAL VIJAYAN

It is with such pleasure that we write here about a very successful singer from Malayalam Smule. We can say it is his sheer perseverance, not a stone UN-turned attitude and a lot of hard work that made the successful Vimal Vijayan from a boy growing up in Dubai (originally from Northern Kerala (Palaghat) currently reside in the great city of Cochin) made such strides in his journey of music career (while have another career). We have to say such words about him “a live wire with full energy and with a terrific sense of humor”. People love his lively presence on the Smule with such a great attitude towards his collaborations and a very warm personality. Very important aspects of being successful we say.

Asked about his aspirations in music, he started off with his earlier days of musical experience. His first ever major achievement was on television where he was a selected contestant on Jaya TV’s musical competition Ragamalika. Ever since he wanted to make music and had that dream to get associated with great music directors and musicians in the play back industry. He admit with lot of regret that he haven’t got that opportunity for formal training in classical music.

Vimal continues to give a strong vision of the type of music he want to make. He says “The music I want to make need not necessary associated with movies; but I will be very satisfied if I could do some productive associations with great musicians that will produce really great music”. Not being able to learn classic music made him shy away from really chasing that big dream. But Smule Sing changed all that for him and getting to know all these great singers make him gain all that lost time in his dormant years of not actively pursuing his dreams.

The Smule sing gave him a chance to try out various genres and styles of singing, and helped him keep experimenting in an easy way. He says he know what songs suit him and what songs he may be able to try experimenting with. Right there we say “a great quality of a good singer”.

Vimal did more than hundred song covers as his own production and he says those helped him get that first break in singing for a movie. He achieved this much earlier than he started on Smule. Vimal said at his work he have a small group of friends that he jam together for the love of music and they each other learned a lot by doing so.

Asked about his music idols we heard the obvious name of Dasettan came first,  but kind of surprised to hear Udit Narayan’s name (but perfect choice) and Rafi saab from old generation and he added quickly SPB’s name. (All absolutely perfect choices)

Let us start with Vimal’s debuting movie playback song . He said he had sung this much before he even started singing on Smule.  Here enjoy this up coming movie promoted by Ondraga entertainment. The below song is a lot Vimal can be proud of. Keep going, we all are very happy for you; such great voice and singing. KUDOS!

This following video is so much special for Vimal due to two reasons, First this is his first Smule song, Second he is singing this with his son in this video. It looks like definitely the gene for singing is passed on. Very adorable father/son song. ENJOY this. Love this.

Here he sings his all time favorite idol Rafi saab’s time less classic. The co-singer is Deepti Raman. Deepti need a special mention here. She is one of the finest singers on Smule Sing. Every collaborations she make she puts a lot of hard work behind it and a very pleasant presence. Vimal and Deepti sing quite a bit of together. This one goes to one of the best collaborations. ENJOY.

Vimal sings in the following video a beautiful melody with Soumya. Nilakudame. Any song sung by Jayachandran is the toughest thing to reproduce or sing close to it. Vimal as you see below did a very commendable job indeed. Great support by Soumya.

Humein Jab se Mohabath ho gayi hai with this beautiful singing by Deepti joined here by Vimal on this fantastic collaboration. Original sung by  Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik

The is another beautiful Rafi classic. Vimal did excellent in bringing the emotions in this Hindi Classic with RaaZiqq who himself is an outstanding singer with a magic in his voice. Vimal says it is RaaZiqq who brought him into try out Smule Sing. ENJOY.

Singer Shruti a terrific singer not so recognized on Smule join Vimal in this beautiful O Jana song.

Tu cheez Badi hai song performances from Vimal’s profile almost made history in Malayalam Smule. See below the video song which created news headlines on Manorama online news (see the link  http://www.manoramaonline.com/music/music-news/2017/10/26/tu-cheez-badi-hai-in-smule.html). Vimal says these are few of his performances he is very proud of. Indeed both these singers did an Amazing job with this Bollywood iconic song. Please give a listen for sure.  Visit Nisha Oomman here on her Smule page.

Anagha with Vimal. Anagha is a Phenomenal (with a capital P) singer with lot of potential; also a constant collaborator with Vimal. Personally think she potentially by far one of the best young female singers who can develop a career in singing. Please visit her profile here.

A super cool acting and singing performance by Vimal with Pradip Soman Sir. Vimal can try a hand on acting for sure.

Vimal’s profile brings such a number of fine singers; readers should be able to fathom how talented Vimal should be to bring all these talented singers to his profile page. We enjoyed much wrting this feature and hope you also know a lot more about this singer and please visit him here and support this great singer with a purpose.

Special Mention

SayooJ Kuniyil

Sayooj is a recent find a very pleasant friend to know. It gives immense pleasure to introduce him here along with Vimal. We really think Sayooj is very talented singer with a lots of aspirations to develop a music career. He hails from Kannur. He says music is his passion. He immediately says coming from a background with no music connections the opportunities are rare. He works for TATA STEEL and lives in Bhubaneshwar. Sayooj is a classically trained singer. He says he love singing melodies and semi-classical songs. For him Dasettan is similar to God as far as the magic in his voice. He continues to say Dasettan-Ravindran combination is his best-loved songs. Sayooj is very ardent music listener, he mentioned the name of a young sensation in Malayalam music, Sooraj Santhosh and he says Sooraj is his model to look forward when he think of what he want to do with his music. That is where we think Sayooj and earlier featured singer Vimal are a new breed of singers that we discuss in detail at the Appendix section (see below). Sayooj realize the power of internet and electronic media in the modern world. Sayooj when he said Sooraj Santhosh as his model to grow his music career, it is that new trend of music that is so popular among youngsters these days. Old lyrics in a way that youngsters can relate to.  We all know Sooraj Santhosh and his singing on Music Mojo on Kappa TV are the ones that fetched him the movie play back opportunities.  His song from the movie Guppy Thaniye is not only made him famous but put him as one of the few singers who can hit that high note without an effort.

Let us listen to Sayooj. Here he sings Manasellam Mazhaye

Original full song Manasellam Mazhaye

Ariyathe Ariyathe with Rakhi Menon. Beautiful singing by both

Here Sayooj sings an all time hit sung by Nikhil Mathew. Many have attempted this song on Smule and many will keep trying to perfect it as original is one of the most toughest song to sing from Malayalam. We believe Sayooj and Nithish (a good singer) did an excellent job with this very tough song to sing. ENJOY

Sayooj is a young singer who need a lot of encouragement. Please visit him at his Smule profile here

Appendix:

Music cover videos-a new way of self expression for musicians

(First things first: a music cover by definition is a performance by a new artist of an older version of the original song).

Two decades ago if you are musician who want to sing play back he definitely have to think of moving to Madras or Bombay where most of the music directors lived and most of the India’s major music industry is centered around. With video cameras that can make high quality videos and sound recordings of highest quality when reached into the hands of many and above all availability of high-speed internet throughout the sub-continent made it easy for anybody sitting anywhere in the world to produce their own cover videos and upload on the internet. This made the task of any artist who want to showcase his/her singing ability to a music director sitting else where to send right into his email a performance that he can look at his own convenience. With Smule sing gave the power of singing and recording studio quality songs right in ones hands made the task even easier. Today’s successful singers also see the YouTube presence and any other mode of internet presence to be so valuable to their success. This all lead to one simple aspect that point to the power of internet and media very much; As simple as it can be put “You be there always doing something people will remember you“.

In this special section we have picked some extremely successful young singers who apart from Smule sing have made a sensation using YouTube song productions. This is not in any particular order; but most of them made their videos on a shoe string budget but did come out so polished at par with some studio productions. So for a comparison we have included some playback singers YouTube productions as well. Nevertheless we need some standards to compare.

Ganesh Bharadwaj

Our first pick is Ganesh Bharadwaj, A close friend, supporter of our blog (Thanks for being there always and encourage everything). Here is the Super talented multi faceted most kind friend. Karuna Cheyvan Enthu. That magic in his voice goes straight to our hearts. Please go subscribe to this beautiful singer’s YouTube channel here.

His hit internet sensational song ‘Omana Thinkal Kidavo – Madhava Mamava deva’ with Shweta Mohan

Raghav Chaithanya

Raghav is the most enchanting youngster singing mainly in Hindi; His videos are very entertaining displaying his ability to improvise. We see enormous potential in these videos.

Nikhil Mathew

Nikhil know people will be yearning for his singing after his one and only super-duper Malayalam hit Azhalinte Azhangalil. He runs his own YouTube page to keep singing for his audience. The presence on the web is so important for any level of singer these days.

Shweta Mohan

Why would one think Shweta need a YouTube channel. Please visit her excellent YouTube site, She is Amazing not only singing but everything up there is perfectly artistic. She know the power of YouTube channel for her self-expression which probably is not possible in playback singing. For western world singers, this new trend seen in  India’s subcontinent now, happened decades ago. Watch the following video of a typical example what one can do with musically connected friends. Lots to learn from.

Patrick Michael

His presence on YouTube despite a lot criticize him for everything starting from him using expensive electronic sound synthesizing techniques and modulate his voice etc. (so what?)  He is followed madly on his YouTube and Facebook by many. Our personal opinion about these critiques is that to sound like that, despite all electronics one have to sing well; the rest is everyone uses expensive gadgets if they can afford.

A devotional song by Patrick, love this so much

Kester

Kester a close friend and known him ever since his young not so famous days; and he is one singer who knew the power of YouTube before many embraced the power of it from Kerala. He made a career singing Devotional Songs and his YouTube channels are not even run by him, but other Christian devotional groups trying to promote this divine singer. He is one of the best subscribed among any devotional singing in India. Here is Kester singing Yahova Yire

Anantha Narayanan

A real shoe string budget guy, but look at the videos of him. Beautifully made  and extremely smart in this production. At par with any other studio productions. He also have sung some playback songs in Tamil.

Mohammed Irfan

Mohammed is a very successful play back singer. He came through Reality shows and then found his place through Cover songs on Youtube with his independent production and SPB saw him and introduced him to music industry. All these singers are memorable just because their presence on the web is kept alive.

Arman Malik

Why he have to have a YouTube channel? because he found it a place where he can display his creativity as well. Some of his YouTube videos are more popular than his playback tracks. This proves people love seeing the singer himself than a hero lip sync to their favorite singer and songs.

Mathrubhumi Kappa TV

By far the most successful innovative music productions pioneered by the Mathrubhoomi group.   The following video is one of their most popular promoted group called Thaikudam bridge. (Name of bridge in the great city of Cochin) and its handsome youngster Siddharth Menon’s original song. This music band is formed by young similar taste singers in theory proved they can produce such a magic that people were hooked to their singing. The band mainly sang cover versions of old songs, yet entire Kerala enjoyed all these versions. The story of Thaikudam bridge is history with its one of the singers Siddarth Menon captured the imagination of a whole lot of light-hearted young ladies. Here is one of his most played hit song with Shreya Ghoshal. Moovanthi Chayam

The Manorama Music

Manorama music is yet another great supporter and influence on young aspiring singers. A new singer new voice singing an album song, Give a listen.

Our featured singer Sayooj’s role model Sooraj Santhosh singing that unbelievable song Thaniye on stage for you. Sooraj is a singer much promoted on Kappa TV. Give a listen. I am sure there are only few singers who can sing that high note like him.

END NOTES

The days are here where the opportunities are plenty and is right on your finger tips.  One need to open his eyes and just grab that opportunity if singing is the career you want, and someone offer you a chance to be on the internet, would you say no to it? Our experience is that many say No. How so?A bit of hard work and net working will get you in front of millions of people across the world. Grab every opportunity comes to you no matter how small it could be. It is a permanent record of your singing and you may send it to anybody you want. These will tell volumes about your singing than any resume can tell. We hope the features written here help these singers in some ways.

All of the singers we featured here need to read this. We strongly believe that sharing these talents here was a beautiful thing to do. (It takes a lot of effort from this end to make this happen week after week); Everything is done with a genuine intend to encourage and celebrate the blessings that you all have. Please stay blessed and keep singing, smiling and take it easy.  We hope things will turn around and always come back encourage others.

All the singers to be on the features in the next few remaining blogs are already informed and obtained consents to be on the feature here. Nothing more or less. A big thanks to all singers from Kerala and the rest of states of India. A big thank you letting us share your singing.

LYRICS TIME

UDITA KHANDURI IS AN AMAZING INDEPENDENT POET; HERE IS A POEM WRITTEN BY UDITA. IT IS THE FESTIVAL OF COLORS, HOLI IN INDIA SO THOUGHT THIS IS MOST APPROPRIATE

…होली है..!!

UDITAKHANDURI

March 01 2018

……..तो समझूँ होली है !

देखी सारी दुनिया की रंगीनी
मेरी झीनी चादर पर कोरी ही है..
छुआ सबने कोई रंग चढ़ा ना
तुम छू लो.. तो होली है !
**
पंख उगे है मन में मेरे
जब से तुमने गले लगाया है
अब सूख रहे हैं प्राण कंठ में
तुम अधरों से अधर मिलाओ.. तो होली है !
**
ऊपर आसमाँ नीला नीला
नीचे धरती हरी भरी है
सिंदूरी मंजरियों से शाम सजे ना
तुम पहन लो चोली लाल.. तो होली है !
**
झूल रहे है पलकों पर सपने
अनगिनत अरमान मिलन के
मिलने की दो घड़ियां मिली ना
तुम दौड़ लिपट जाओ मुझसे.. तो समझूँ होली है !
**************************************************

 

(A poor translation-Sorry Udita)

March 01 2018

…… ..please know It is Holi!

See all the world’s drenched in colors, 
there lies a blanket on my cushioned sheet that is  
touched by many with colors  
but If you put some color on It

.. that will make my Holi! 

My mind has put on wings, Ever since you hugged me hard
The breath through my throat gone dry, but I hope you bring your lips to mine

..that will make my Holi
** 
The sky above is dark blue
The earth below is slush green, 
I am waiting this evening for you with decorations on my stairs, 
I hope you come to me wearing that red choli

.. that will make my Holi! 
** 
Swinging dreams on the eyelashes, the 
countless prayers are for to meet with you 
yet we both can’t make that time 
yet I hope this season you come running to me 

.. so dear please know that will be Holi to me !