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In an Industry, where hearing pristine Telugu has become a rarity, he is a singer who pronounces the language with utmost purity. With oodles of talent and great energy, he has emerged into one of the most recognizable singers in the Telugu film industry. He is none other than Singer Mallikarjun.  Click here to view Singer Mallikarjun's photo gallery Tollywoodinfo.com caught up with Mallikarjun or Malli, as he is affectionately known, on the occasion of Vinayaka Chaviti. He sportingly spent time to share his journey and experiences with the Telugu film industry. He also informed that he launched his website http://www.MallikarjunSinger.com/ on the festive occasion. TI: Hi Mallikarjun garu, wish you a very happy Vinayaka Chaviti. Malli: Thank you and wish you the same. You can call me Malli. TI: Ok Malli! On behalf of our readers, we thank you for your time. Malli: No problem. The pleasure is mutual.  TI: Can you please tell us about your childhood and familyMalli: I was born on 5th March 1976 at Srisailam. My father’s name is Dasu and he used to work for AP Irrigation department. My mother’s name Jhansi, and she is a house wife. I have an elder sister named Kanaka Durga who is happily married and is settled in Vishakapatnam. My mother and sister both are very good singers. Additionally my sister has talent for writing poems, songs. I was brought up at Vishakapatnam and right from childhood, I have been a great fan of films and music. Especially I used to watch movies of Chiranjeevi at-least 5-6 times. I used to dance for my school and college functions. I completed my degree in B. Sc (Maths) and enrolled for M. Sc (Psychology) which I had to discontinue due to my singing career. TI: How did you develop passion towards singing. Malli: Right from childhood, I had developed interest for singing and this was encouraged by my family members. I was a big fan of Sri. SP Balasubramanyam and used to sing his songs for my school functions. I learnt music from Sri. Patrayani Narayana Murthy garu. I started singing at the age of 9 years at Rajahmundry on a stage competition; I later went on to participate in close to 500 competitions.  TI: You achieved a lot of name and fame with Paadutha Teeyaga on Eenadu TelevisionMalli: Yes you are right. But before 'Paadutha Teeyaga', I participated in ETV 'Sa Ri Ga Ma Lu' and Gemini TV 'Antakshari'. I saw the advertisement on Paadutha Teeyaga on ETV and sent my cassette to Sri. SP Balasubramanyam garu. I got the chance to meet my idol SPB for the first time in that program. In that program, I reached the semi finals and ended being the # 3 in the contest. SP Balu garu gave me lot of tips about singing and encouraged me to consider playback singing as a profession.  TI: Did you get any opportunities after Paadutha Teeyaga.Malli: Yes. After 'Paadutha Teeyaga' I got a telegram from Vandemataram Srinivas that he wanted to give me a song. I sang the first song in his music direction on February 23rd, 1997 at Vijaya Garden studio. Incidentally, this was the same recording studio where SP Balasubramanyam recorded his first song in 1966. After rendering the song, I went back to Vishakapatnam as I did not get another opportunities. SP Balu garu did a program with the runner-ups of 'Paadutha Teeyaga' sponsored by Kala Sagar Awards function in December 1997. Music directors G. Anand, Sri who attended this program encouraged me to stay back in Madras to continue the quest to become a playback singer. Here, I have to talk about Singer Ramu who gave me shelter since I did not have any acquaintances there. Again it was SP Balu garu who gave me an opportunity as a track singer and made me sing a track for a movie called 'Naa Hrudayam lo Nidurinche Cheli'. G Anand garu encouraged me with many stage programs in India. I later visited USA with him and performed for the first time in overseas. TI: Interesting... Malli: While I was busy as a stage singer, I was not getting chance to sing in movies. It was SP Balu garu who recommended me to various music directors. Many music directors mentioned that my voice was feeble and I should wait for some more time for my voice to mature. Between 1998-2000, I worked as a composing and track singer with Vandemataram and Koti. In March 2000, RP gave me chance to sing for 'Chitram'. This opportunity came to me upon SP Balu gari’s recommendation. Even after the success of 'Chitram', I did not get any songs and I went back to perform my job with Vandemataram and Koti. In 2001, while I was working for Koti garu in his studio, I got a call from Devi Sri Prasad who took an audition on phone for a movie called 'Anandam' and the song was 'Kanulu terichina kanulu moosina'. The song became a major hit and gave me a good recognition in the music community. This was followed by a song from 'Nuvvu Nenu' in August 2001. With the major success of the movie and song, I was noticed by everyone.  TI: But the big break came from Telugu’s number-one music director Mani Sarma ?Malli: In December 2001, I received a call from Telugu’s numer-uno Mani Sarma and invited me to sing tunes for 'Anji' movie. He liked my voice and offered me a song in 'Subbu' movie. Thereafter, I became a composing singer in his group. My biggest break came in the form of the song 'Nee Navvula Telladanni' from 'Aadi' in March 2002. This song gave me recognition and I became a well known singer in the Telugu film industry. I went on to sing many chartbusters for Mani Sarma in his movies like Indra, Tagore, Lakshmi Narasimha, Gudumba Shankar, and Okkadu. I also sang lots of hit numbers for Devi Sri Prasad in Venki, Bhadra, Varsham, Nuvvostanante Nenodantaana, Andarivaadu and Sontham. TI: What is your happiest moment in your career. Malli: I have many happy moments but the following are the happiest:  TI: What are your future projects? Malli: I continue to sing songs for Telugu movies. I recently sang in 'Chiruta', 'Okka Magadu' and various other movies. I am releasing an album on Shirdi Sai Baba and would like to venture into music direction for movies. TI: Whom would you give credit for your success? Malli: SP Balu garu comes first. He is like a father figure to me. I want to be associated with him for the rest of my life. Mani Sarma is another person who gave me a break as a singer and helped me prove my talent as a commercial singer. Another person whom I should not forget is Sri. TVK Sastry garu of Spirit of Unity concerts, who continues to extend his encouragement. TI: Thank you Malli garu. We wish you all the very best in your future endeavors. Malli: Thank you and good luck to Tollywoodinfo.com. Please visit my website and provide feedback to me about my songs. Your feedback will help me to grow as a singer in the film industry. |