Agent Vinod’s ‘Dil Mera Muft Ka’ singer, Nandini Srikar, has recently lent her voice to Animal Planet’s anthem for the Independence Day titled Yeh Mera India. Sonia K Kurup speaks to the South Indian singer about the song, and her experience with the Bollywood music industry

Nandini Srikar made a baffling career move when she switched from the IT profession to singing, music composition and direction. Even though this shift happened late in her career, for the Chennai-born musician it was a smooth transition, and she even made her mark. She has now sung for the multi-lingual song — Yeh Mera India, which celebrates India’s 67 years of Independence.

The song, launched by Animal Planet and composed by Bollywood music directors Salim and Sulaiman Merchant, has Salim himself, June Banerjee and Srikar singing in Hindi, Bengali and Tamil, respectively. It is a song that praises the magnificent and spectacular wildlife of the subcontinent. Yeh Mera India, will air from August 15, every night at 9 pm, on the channel. Here are excerpts from the interview with Srikar:

You entered the music industry in 1997… how has the journey been ever since?

In Bollywood, I haven’t worked that much… I’ve only sung a few songs in so many years. I have worked more as a music director and producer than a singer.

Is the experience of working as a music director/ producer different from that of a singer?

For me personally, a music director’s work is technically quite different from that of a singer. As a singer, you don’t have to think much. You go to the studio, sing, and your job is done in a couple of hours. As a director, you are involved longer, creating music and songs, dealing with your clients… it is an entirely different process. There is back and forth exchange of ideas. The responsibility for the songs and music falls on your shoulders.

Could you tell us how you came to be a part of Yeh Mera India song?

Music director Salim, who I have worked with before, called me to his studio one day and said he was doing this song. I had to sing the Tamil bit of it. I realised that this song was for a very beautiful cause: to save the animals. It is aimed at the younger generation, encouraging them to preserve the animals in India.

What are the projects / collaborations you are working on right now?

I’m working on my own songs. I’m also involved in a few collaborations, including ones with a couple of Marathi film music directors. Non-filmy Bollywood collaborations with Pakistani classical singer Javed Bashir and UK-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Shri are also in the pipeline..

Can you tell us more about yourself… and your early interest in music?

I was born in Chennai, grew up in Hyderabad and moved to Pune after I finished my education.
All my exposure to music came from my mother. She was a Carnatic classical singer and a Hindustani sitar player. Later on, I came across different kinds of music — Jazz, Pop, etc. Music came very naturally to me, even then I had never considered it as a career option. It was only after (singer) Hariharan spotted me and recommended my name to a music director that my fate changed. Soon, I quit my job to take up music. In 2003, I moved to Mumbai.