Carnatic musician Sreeranjini Kodampally turns composer

As time rolls, life goes on. This inevitable passing of kaalam or time has been explored beautifully in the single ‘Aa kaalam’, which marks the debut of Carnatic musician Sreeranjini Kodampally as a composer.

Lyrics is by Rafeeq Ahamed and it is sung by the Sithara Krishnakumar and her daughter, Saawan Rithu.

Sreeranjini Kodampally
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

“The track was designed to give a nostalgic vibe through a simple arrangement. Once the tune was ready, I sent it across to Rafeeq sir explaining the concept and he gave us the best of lines,” says Sreeranjini, assistant professor with the Department of Music at Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam.

She adds, “Sithara was my first choice for the song. Since the track begins with lines on childhood, there was no better choice than her daughter.”

Sreeranjini says that her friendship with Sithara goes back to the time when they competed in youth festivals representing different schools and later colleges. “But during the course of this so-called rivalry, we became friends and now our families are close to each other. I didn’t choose her for the song because of our friendship. A versatile singer, she has put in some beautiful modulations in this song.”

Sithara Krishnakumar, daughter Saawan Rithu and Sreeranjini Kodampally
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

As for her foray into composing, Sreeranjini admits that she never expected to become a composer. “I never had the confidence because I thought I would end up making a raga-based song because of my background in Carnatic music. It was my husband, a music lover, who encouraged me to try it after I came up with a tune during one of our regular debates about music. He loved the tune and kept pushing me to compose and here I am.” Her name has thus been added to the small list of female composers in the industry.

A seasoned Carnatic musician, she is an A Grade artiste with the All India Radio, and is carrying forward the legacy of her grandfather Kodampally Gopala Pillai and her father Kodampally Appukuttan Pillai. She has done playback in Shaji N  Karun’s Swaapanam and has performed at several prestigious music events across the country.

She has already recorded 10 songs in the voice of different singers in Malayalam and a few other songs are in the developing stage. “The first singer I recorded was Sayanora Philip. It is a fast number. I have tried my hand at other genres as well. I have not been able to release any of them due to certain unforeseen circumstances,” she says, adding, “My students were taken aback when they heard a portion from Sayanora’s song. They didn’t expect me to make a song in that genre.”

Abhijith Damodaran has done the music arrangement of ‘Aa kaalam’, which is produced by Aashiq Bava.

Sreeranjini’s next release will be a song by Bhadra Rajin. “I was not prepared for this new role as a composer but I am enjoying it,” she says. Her music will soon be heard in a couple of movies as well.