Remya basking in audience's affection

Remya felt desperate when the doctor advised her to stop singing because she had frequent throat infections during her Plus Two days. Reluctantly, she turned to other indulgences, including anchoring and later, acting.  However, she always cherished a desire to sing as she was trained in classical music. But she got the shock of her life when music director Sharreth invited her to sing in ‘Ivan Megharoopan’, a film based on the life of poet P Kunjiraman Nair.

“He knew that I used to sing. He decided to give me an opportunity after listening to me singing in a reality show where I was a celebrity guest. So he invited me to Chennai and that was how the song ‘Aande londe...’ written by Kavalam Narayana Panicker had happened,” says Remya about her debut as a playback singer.

Though she had acted in ‘Ivan Megaharoopan’, she lent voice to another actress. “As the song was based on folk music, I had some difficulty getting the nuances right. But I could do well with the help of Sharreth sir,” she says. The song is one of the most played ones on FM stations. Remya also did a promotional video for the film by singing the song in public.

The actress, who shocked conventional film goers when she locked lips with Fahad Fazil in ‘Chappakurishu’ has continued to make hit songs in Malayalam on quite an unprecedented scale. Remya is again making waves with ‘Vijana surabhi vaadikalil’ in ‘Bachelor Party’ where she swings to her own husky voice.

“The song has a classical base. Music director Rahul was kind enough to pass the song to me. It needed a careful rendering as the music had to bring to life the meaningful lyrics by Rafeeq Ahamed.” The 4.46 minute song with Kalamanadalam Kolathappally and K M Udayan became an instant hit. Her third song to hit the charts is also proving that she is indeed a singer with luck. ‘Muthuchippeeloru kathinullil…’ with Sachin Warrier from the movie ‘Thattathin Marayathu’, directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan is the latest to top the charts.

“This may be a pure coincidence. All the films with my songs became hits and are getting released in quick succession.” She avoids a comparison with any of the singers in the industry. “Please spare me from such comments. I am no match to any of them,” she says though her singing career has not been confined to Malayalam. She did a song with Mejjo Josseph (‘Note Book’ fame) in ‘Salamath’, a Telugu film in which she is the heroine.

“I get more affection from the audience after I turned to singing. I don’t have any regrets about taking up all kinds of roles as I would have been stereotyped if I did not,” she says.  She is busy acting too. ‘Husbands in Goa’ and  ‘Pathira Manal’ are progressing and  she is doing a notable role in the latest film by Lal Jose. In Tamil, two films where she is playing the lead, ‘Pizza’ and ‘Irandavathu Padam’, are in the final stage of production. We wish her happy days ahead as singer and actor.