Something about "Chandralekha" Anupama

"Konjam nilavu, konjam neruppu, onraaga sendal endan nenjam" goes the lusty, passionate song which sent the crowds wild. Ooh! What a song! And what a voice! Rising effortlessly to a high, matching every move and emotion in that landmark number. `Chandralekha’ Anupama, the owner of that deadly voice, stormed the music scene with that song from `Thiruda Thiruda’. Eventhough the Maniratnam film did not exactly set the cash registers ringing, this song became a craze. And sit up and take notice, people did..

A string of great numbers like `July Maatham’ from Pudiya Mugam and Hulla Gulla in Bombay later, she is one of the sought-after playback singers in India. She maynot be with the likes of P Susheela or S Janaki. More the Usha Uthup kind. More suitable for the east-west Indi-pop masala mix which is more her style. She has now sung in all the South Indian languages besides Hindi and English and she informs that she has sung a French ditty for a Malayalam film. "Its all due to my knowledge of Sanskrit which makes it a cakewalk to sing in any lingo" she says.

Anupama seemed destined for a playback singing career. Maybe that was why she dropped out of the Mass Comm. Course from the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Comm in New Delhi. Since the age of 8, she has been singing in school competitions, She has also trained in Carnatic music though now, she is best known as a Pop singer. She has the looks, style and the all-important voice. Before that, she had been doing jingles for ads with the not-as-yet maestro A R Rehman, when he was Dilip earlier. Ponds Dreamflower Talc and Soap, Medimix soap, Tatia Resorts, Diplomat Whisky, AVT Deepika Coconut Oil, Trupti range of products and Aavin Goodness ice cream are some of the ads she has done. With such awesome vocal chords, it’s a clear rise to the top for Anu. With 3 live shows abroad with A R Rehman in Dubai, Singapore & Malaysia and Colombo, Anu’s fans are spread allover the globe. Anupama is married to Murli Krishnaswami, Creative Director of R K Swamy BBDO and they live in Besant Nagar.