On A High Note!

As a four year old, she detested the long hours of practise and never understood why she had to undergo this ‘torture’! Her father was a musician and a relentless taskmaster when it came to training. He insisted that she learn singing – western, Hindustani and Carnatic styles and also master instruments like guitar, violin, veena, sitar, tabala, drums and keyboard. Through the years, although she tried to be patient, there were times when she almost gave up! Little did she know that her father had recognised the spark in her and was fervently nurturing her latent talents! Sayanora Philip has today, become not just a renowned playback singer, who has worked with top musicians like A R Rahman, but has also become a music director herself – the first lady music director in Mollywood who confidently crafts music not just for songs but for the background scores as well! RITZ catches up with the bubbly musician who is rocking the charts with the World Cup Anthem by the Orfeo Band, ‘Davai Davai’!

- Riya Sonny Datson

What was the turning point in your life that made you choose music as a career?

As a music teacher, my father was very insistent about my training but I never dreamt of taking it up as a career. In fact, there were times when we had arguments about it! But as fate would have it, on the very same day that I had to appear for my MSc Marine Biology interview, I had to go for the music recording of my very first song in Kamal Sir’s movie! I had to make a choice and it was my father who encouraged me to go for the latter! From then on, there has been no looking back and I am grateful to him for all the musical training he gave me as a kid!

Tell us about any memorable experience while working with AR Rahman.

Most of his recordings are during the wee hours of the morning. After a busy day at work, I was asked to come.

What was the turning point in your life that made you choose music as a career?

As a music teacher, my father was very insistent about my training but I never dreamt of taking it up as a career. In fact, there were times when we had arguments about it! But as fate would have it, on the very same day that I had to appear for my MSc Marine Biology interview, I had to go for the music recording of my very first song in Kamal Sir’s movie! I had to make a choice and it was my father who encouraged me to go for the latter! From then on, there has been no looking back and I am grateful to him for all the musical training he gave me as a kid!

Tell us about any memorable experience while working with AR Rahman.