“Music has been a part of my life since childhood. My grandmother and mother both sing, and having P. Susheela ma’am as our neighbor was a huge influence. My mother was my first teacher, and later, I trained in Carnatic music with Nedaloor Shyam Krishna garu and Hindustani music with Krishna Moorthy garu in Chennai.

In 2014, I participated in Super Singer Season 8 and became the runner-up. That opened doors for me, and I joined Thaman garu’s team, starting with chorus songs. My first break as a playback singer came with a song in Bruce Lee starring Ram Charan. But Telusa Telusa song from Sarrainodu (starring Allu Arjun) really got my voice recognized. Recently, I sang for Court, produced by Nani, and the response has been incredible.

One thing I would tell aspiring artists is that the industry has changed completely after COVID. Just being in the industry isn’t enough anymore. Opportunities aren’t guaranteed, and even established artists are facing challenges. People’s attention spans are shorter, and a song that’s a chartbuster today can fade within a week. To stay relevant, we have to keep proving ourselves time and again.

The industry has become a safer place for women in recent years, thanks to movements like #MeToo. Things have definitely improved, and I encourage more women to join the industry and share their perspectives. Women bring a unique kind of creativity, and I’d love to see more films directed by women and more songs composed by women.

I’m also working on composing my own music, which is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’m excited to see where it takes me, and I hope to continue entertaining my audience through my songs and compositions. Ultimately, I just want to keep contributing to the world of art and music.”

• Sameera Bharadwaj, Playback Singer