Roopa Mohan- An outstanding singing talent

Smule ID roopi_liz Roopa Mohan

When we heard this highly advertised Mirchi-Smule Imman contest in search for the singer for the next movie of music director D Imman it was excitement since we predicted this kind of response from the music industry using Smule app. We all know it was highly contested and especially where the main target for this contest was Tamil Smule Singers where there is a large number of excellent singers. It was sure not easy, since no one knew what the music director wanted, except that competing is as simple as sing on Smule app with #statement in the description.  Roopa came out as the runner-up in this contest is not a small feat and a big endorsement for this beautiful singer from San Francisco, CA.

When we heard the news we set out our words through our peers to contact Roopa who may know her. Approaching Roopa with the introduction from our peers, Roopa was right out excited about the opportunity provided to her.

Arranged to meet with her on chat line on a late Sunday afternoon, San Francisco as usual looked dark with clouded skies. Roopa was all prepared sitting behind a desk with not much lights around. The lights on we saw that beautiful smile on her face and more warmth and friendly Roopa that we love hearing on Smule. Same time zone (phew, what a great thing here), we settled down to speak to Roopa about her music and all the more exciting times in her career of winning this award.

Roopa a proper Chennai girl. Both of her grandmothers are excellent singers, although neither of them never pursued a career. Roopa started with her childhood memories of how exciting it was growing up with a musically rich family. “My family is filled with Karnatic musicians who knew the rules of singing that they could say it in their sleep.” It was no wonder Roopa would start learning music as soon as she could talk coherently. Roopa started learning Karnatic music at a very early age of four itself.

Although learning began early, Roopa says, it took a few years to settle down with a single teacher. “I finally started learning from Smt. Rajalakshmi Sundaresan when I was nine years old.” Roopa had a long period of learning under her guidance i.e. until Roopa finished schooling.

For Roopa’s family discovering young Roopa’s special talents towards music was the most exciting thing while she was growing up. Sometime in her young age itself, her family discovered that Roopa could play Karnatic on keyboard without any instructions. “Any song I heard, I could play it immediately with my own interpretation of the notes.” Roopa kept this talent nurtured till date along with singing, “I pursued this new hobby and continued to improve.”

Roopa went onto take her degree in Software Engineering at PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore. She became an instant favorite keyboardist of PSG’s prestigious music band, Tek Music. ( http://thebridge.psgtech.ac.in/?tag=tek-music). Please check out this amazing college in TN where apart from Engineering Sciences, music is a projected as a part of the life at this college. What a role model engineering college to look up to. This engineering college proudly put out at the above link about the band Roopa used to be  a part of . “We have won very many light music competitions across all of TamilNadu – to peak the Tek Music won Sun TV’s Sapthaswarangal for music bands.” Roopa says this  stint gave her a deep insight into music than anything she could’ve learnt as a singer by herself. “As part of this college band I got exposure to different genres of music and multiple aspects of appreciating good music.”

For the next few years Roopa spend time working in Chennai; she continued to sing  this time with a lot more open voice  and confidence that she developed during her college years. She had participated in several television music competitions such as Ragamalika on Jaya TV and Padum Office on Vijay TV. “The farthest I progressed was in Raj TV’s Rajageetham – I won finals and was a runner-up in mega-finals.” She is sure is a winner everywhere.

Roopa had recorded studio performances. She sang for a devotional albums and a political campaign album, apart from few songs she sung for the upcoming music directors’ non-film albums. We would definitely let you all know all that going to happen with Roopi in the future.

A marriage brought Roopa over to San Francisco Bay Area. Her husband is a wonderful drummer himself and play with a popular light music band. Roopa obviously became a singer in his band. Roopa’s interest in all music is evident in her singing as well as her current endeavors to learn Western Classical music for the past three years. “My teacher Ms. Patrycja Poluchowicz, who is a talented theater artist, has been helping me improve my vocal throw and use an open voice for high notes. I’ve now graduated to learning challenging Arias from operas.” We right there say that probably define this musician, how many musicians here can say they are that interested and will spend time to learn a different genre of music? Way to go.

Smule has become Roopa’s musical outlet in a time in her life where she have very little time for practices. She works as a software engineer in a Bay area software company. “Getting chosen as one of the six finalists from thousands of entries for Radio Mirchi Smule Singer event has been very thrilling. What’s been even better was performing before D. Imman sir and become the Runner-up. I am sure to take this as an great opportunity to show my talents and a stepping stone to more musical achievements.”

We asked Roopa what is music to you? Roopa thought for a while and said ” Music is my identity. While growing up my mom’s influence on my music learning and encouragements had been so much of part of my music. I am thankful for everything.”

So what do you want to do with your music ” Music as I said is a part of me, while I like to sing and make music; I like to make fusion of western and Carnatic music”  Roopa when given a chance to pick her idols, a western music loving Roopa still picked S. Janaki and Shreya Ghoshal as her most favorite musicians. The special technique of the Gamakam in Shreya’s singing is very attractive to Roopa. Roopa went onto describe many aspects of Shreya’s singing and Sheya’s singing in current time is one that she would covet to learn and own. Her favorite male singer is SPB sir and no questions he is the king of expressions and music director hands down ARR and D. Imman Sir. She can not get enough of Raaja sir melodies as well.

At the end of it all, we think her thoughts to our questions defined Roopa as a musician. She is a budding talent in the Smule sing and her never-ending enthusiasm to sing and learn new forms of music and experiment with it is what she is today. Complemented with a natural ability to sing Roopa is one of the finest singers we have today.

We wish Roopa all the best. Let us get to know Roopa through her music without delay. Here we go with her few songs from smule profile. We picked this because this is Roopa’s idol SJ song and the Raaj sir whose melodies she can’t get enough of. Thoongatha Vizhigal – Prabhu, Amala – Ilaiyaraja Hits – Agni Natchathiram – A Romantic hit sung by K. J. Yesudas, and S. Janaki and Music Composed by Ilaiyaraja. Some of the SJ expressions she try to bring in anupallavi and charanam is amazing. Give a listen.

The original of this song Viswanathan Velai + Rum bum | Old Madras Sessions | IndoSoul is by Karthick Iyer. Karthik Iyer made these Old Madras Sessions in connection with his world tour in the year 2016. This song probably define both these singers Balakrishnan and Roopi why their voices and talents are outstanding on Smulel; why music directors would notice them. Balakrishanan had been identified as a promising singer long back in our previous features.

Another very less sung beautiful melody resurrected by Roopi and another outstanding VOICE ON SMULE Swami. The song is from Movie:- Kanni Rasi; (கன்னிராசி); Music:- Ilayaraja; Lyrics:- Vaali; Singers:- SPB. Vani Jayaram. We never had a song of Vani Jayaram sung by our featured singers; thanks to Roopi to sing these beautiful gems from Tamil. ENJOY. Swami’s clarity in voice is AMAZING. Roopa with her excellent techniques sang it awesome as well.

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja this iconic song Anjali was the composer’s 500th film.  The movie of the same name Anjali was critically acclaimed movie winning three National Film Awards and was India’s official entry to the Oscars. The A Capella created here by Roopa is amazing. Everything about Roopa is a willingness to experiment and it is commendable.

An outstanding performance that is her song at the Smule -Mirchi competition that nailed her the trophy.  Song Name – Mayya Mayya Movie – Guru (Tamil) Singer – A.R. Rahman  Chinmayi, Mariam Toller & Keerthi Sagathia Music – A.R. Rahman

Roopa joins Balakrishnan again to sing this Hariji/ Swetha mohan class act of O Maha Zeeya from Tamil Padam. This tell volumes about Roopa. On any day she do a great job with any style song or any song that need great control of voice. Very difficult song to sing effectively and these singers nailed it. Beautiful. Give a listen. Don’t ask me what this song is about. It sounds like they are happy for sure.

Song Name – Chinna Thamarai Movie – Vettaikaaran Singer – Krish & Suchitra Music – Vijay Antony. What one need to realize here is that singing an item number song is not an easy task. It really need very special skills and excellent training in singing to effectively sing. Give a listen to this Vijay Antony composition. Roopa sang even better than Suchitra and Krish. We really think this is one of the Roopi’s best performances.

And she sings this Susheelamma beautiful melody.  Some of P Susheela songs are absolutely such great melodies even today when Roopa picked such classics and sing like this, we say that can be on her album today. It is absolutely great singing, great spin on a great classic and great voice quality here. Enjoy. Even the small details in this song is given attention. Love this.

The original is from Movie – Punnagai Mannan, Music – Ilaiyaraja, Lyrics – Vairamuthu, Another Vani Jayaram song. Roopi is a singer like Vaani madam. Not a small thing to say. What a singing.

To leave you all Roopa’s attempt on Lataji’s class act Lag Ja Gale Old Super Hit Song from Woh Kaun Thi (1964), starring an unforgettable romancing scene between Manoj Kumar and Sadhana,  Music Director: Madan Mohan; a word about this great music director from early Hindi pop culture. He was the best of best music directors who contributed to Hindi music through his great Ghazals and his collaboration with Mohammad Rafi and songs they created is such blessing. Madanji’s contribution to India’s ghazals is a subject of one of our upcoming special features. We are in search of a ghazal singer who sing those classics from Hindi. Please write us if you are that guy.
Here we leave you all to enjoy this young vibrant happening singer Roopi for you all to enjoy listening and follow on her profile. We are extremely thankful to our peers who screened songs and bring Roopa to this blog. More than anything we are so glad to support this great singer in her efforts and will be closely following her music. Thanks for being such a great sport and a friend to us and we enjoyed every bit of the time we spend with you. Keep writing to us and we will be happy to support your future music endeavors.

END NOTES:

The features here are reaching a stage where we have difficulty in picking young inexperienced talents who are not seasoned singers like all singers we featured in the past. So we have made a decision to cover by picking some of the singers who did not made the cut, as all these singers go through a rigorous quality check.
So in our future segments you will see some very young promising talents in our features. So who ever wrote to us don’t get discouraged. Write to us as you guys always do. We are hearing your requests. We fortunately are able to catch up with all the emails finally. So we have read and gone through all the contact emails send to us till date. We will be sending out invitations to two to four young singers from the lot and hoping to meet and discuss your music very soon. Thanks for the great support to our efforts. The anticipated dates for you all are in two months from now.