Thread by @AshwinVinayagam

Long thread on one of my conversations with @Chinmayi in the recording studio.

2012, first time I try getting in touch with Chinmayi through my dad to sing a song for my debut movie (which unfortunately never took off). 18 then, I know nothing about the industry.

5 songs were completed. Leading director. Entire album had lyrics by VM sir. I wanted to see if Shankar Mahadevan and Chinmayi would be available and interested to sing on the track.

Aunty (Chinmayi’s mom) was very sweet to dad. She said she will convey the request to Chinmayi and that we didn’t have to worry. She will do a fab job.

Cut to recording studio. @Chinmayi comes in. I meet her in person for the first time.

She was extremely nice. Reminder, I’m only 18. Musically, yet to evolve and naive. Chinmayi recorded patiently for over 3 hours. Directors pushed left and right for takes. I didn’t know what was happening.

She was the first professional artist I had worked with for film as MD.

One incident I remember very clearly is a very brief but striking conversation that makes sense now.

Chinmayi in front of mic, hums tune. “Yaaru lyrics, kanna?”. And I start boasting about how VM sir agreed to do and has written the entire album.

She smiled, raised her eyebrows and got back to work immediately without much banter.

Two lines later, we have a lyric pronunciation debate. And also if the usage in the particular phrase was correct. I suggested the director call VM sir and clear the doubt.

Note:
During this project, since I was new and VM sir really liked the songs, he accompanied us for most of the recordings. After we recorded each song, we would invite him and play the song or go to his office.

He would listen and give us a set of corrections based on pronunciation, emotion and clarity that we would have to change mostly in his presence the next time his availability and singers availability matches.

Coming back:

@Chinmayi comes forward immediately and says “Edhukku vambu. I’ll sing it both ways. You decide later and use that. VM sir let’s not bring into midst now.”

Not verbatim. But I remember very clearly this conversation went on for couple of minutes.

@Chinmayi was
1. Not comfortable with the idea of being on call with sir.
2. Him knowing about the recording and Chinmayi singing the song then.
3. She didn’t want to take the risk of wanting to come back and record in the midst of sir there.

She sang it in all ways possible.

We finished the recording. It went on for more than 3 hours. @Chinmayi was also singing her 3rd or 4th song for the day. She was dead tired. Yet, she was extremely nice to put up with an amateur trying to figure out what worked best for the song.

The conversation about VM sir makes a lot of sense now. There was something up her head that I couldn’t get back then. Now I do. I wanted to share this so you know how much something like that would affect how a person responds to things in their daily life.

It was not a one day thing. It’s been there inside her for ages. Please don’t mock it. People wouldn’t get it if you weren’t there.

#ISupportChinmayi #TimesUp #MeToo