'Music is an integral part of who I am'
DNMUM247702 | 6/21/2012 | Author : Sneha Mahadevan | WC :419
...says singer and actor Shruti Haasan, as she talks about her passion for making music on World Music Day, today
Singing comes naturally to musician-turned-actor Shruti Haasan, especially since she was born and brought up in an environment that was abundant in all kinds of music. "While growing up in Chennai, my parents (actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika) listened to all kinds of music — from old Tamil songs, world music to popular songs. So, I've had a pretty diverse taste in music. I was five when I sang my first song. Singing was an integral part of our lives in kindergarten and school, I was soon to realise that for me singing was special —it made me happy. But I was too young to realise that I wanted to make a career out of it. In fact, the legendary music composer Ilayaraja, who was close to my parents, would encourage me to sing, and it
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was for him that I sang for the first time on a microphone in a studio. That is when my journey in music really began," she recalls.
From then on, there was no looking back for Shruti's journey as a musician. She performed on stage for the first time on a world tour with her father in front of more than 80,000 people. "I didn't know what it was to sing in front of 80,000 people. But it didn't take long for me to realise that I connected with them through music. Music is the most cathartic and spiritual experience. It is an integral part of who I am," she says.
Over the years, Shruti developed her own taste in music, which is mostly inspired by musician Tori Amos. "I am a huge fan of her music; I am absolutely inspired by her," she gushes. The actor, who's quite proficient with playing musical intruments like piano and tabla, is now in the process of learning to play the guitar. "I got two guitars as gifts this year, so I thought I should finally put it to good use. I have been fascinated by the instrument for a long time, so now I want to learn to play it. I have been very busy travelling, but I have been practicing on my own," she says.
Any word for World Music day today? It's perfectly apt this year, says Shruti as she's all geared to perform for a show in Dubai today. "Being on stage, playing some music would be the ideal way to celebrate the day. I am constantly listening to music so I really don't need a particular day to celebrate music," she said.
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