Bold enough to break barriers!

CHENNAI: Susheela Raman says that she enjoys projects with a little danger. That’s not hard to believe after the controversial comments her music video, Ennapane from her recently released album, Vel, sparked off. The British-Tamil singer chose to take it in her stride though.Although Susheela claims to be a Londoner at heart, her connection with Chennai is very strong. “My parents returned to Chennai from the UK, 14 years ago. So, I do make it a point to visit the city once every few months,” she says. Her mentors, Bhakthi singer Kovai Kamala and Dharmapuram Swaminathan are also from the South. “I also enjoy the Southern beaches. After all, I come from Neelankarai,” she smiles. However, one favoured item on the Southern menu that she makes a point never to miss is “murungakai sambar”.With several of her fans, making song requests during her performance at the recent Chennai Global Music Festival, this Londoner is without a doubt on a homeward bound trip. She says, “I hope to do a show soon that is just me. Nothing is planned yet.” But she confirms, “I’m sure it will happen.”With her latest album Vel that was released in UK and Europe last year, set to hit India by the end of next month, Susheela has returned to her Tamil roots. “It's half-English and half-Tamil,” she explains. Though the compositions on the album draw inspiration from old temple songs, some that she heard as a child, Susheela clarifies that the music was never meant to revive these chants or make them more relatable to a modern generation. “I just go with what feels good at the time,” she says.Ask her whether mainstream Tamil cinema is on the cards for her and the singer is forthright. “I am not particularly interested in doing cinema,” she says. “Mainly because I want my work to go beyond any category or confined boundary.” However, she clarifies, “If I find something that is provocative, something that challenges me and if the time is right, I might consider it.” Currently, she is working on the music for a Bengali film, Tasher Desh, that is set for release at the end of next year.Nominated for a Mercury prize early on and internationally acclaimed, one would come to assume that Susheela Raman knows her potential. However, the reach that Vel achieved came as a pleasant surprise. “What made Vel great for me was when I performed for the people of Pazhani known for its Murugan temple, they moved to the beats. And really loved it.”