V Deepika on Carnatic Music, Playback Singing and Performing With Guru Sudha Raghunathan

Saurabh Tankha

Noted Carnatic vocalist V Deepika will be performing with her guru, Sudha Raghunathan, at the eighth edition of the Citi-NCPA Aadi Anant: From Here to Eternity Music Festival on January 20, 2019, at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bengaluru. Spread across Pune, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru, the prestigious three-month-long festival celebrates India’s rich musical heritage and gives audiences an opportunity to experience some of the country’s oldest forms of music.

In an exclusive conversation, V Deepika spoke about her journey in Carnatic music, playback singing, acting, dubbing, her family’s support, and her admiration for Indian classical music legends.

“Singing Has Always Been Closest to My Heart”

“You are a Carnatic singer, actor, playback singer, model and dubbing artiste. Which of these is closest to your heart?”

I have always loved singing and it continues to remain the closest to my heart. Music has always been a way of life for my family. People initially recognised me as a singer, and many acting and dubbing opportunities came my way because I could sing. Most of those roles required live singing, acting and dubbing, so I feel fortunate that everything happened at the right time.

V Deepika’s Work Across Different Fields

“Can you share some of your notable works?”

As a playback singer, I have sung in films like Baahubali (Tamil), MCA (Telugu), Dil Se (Hindi), Kaadhalukku Mariyadai (Tamil), Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal (Malayalam) and Shiva Shainyam (Kannada).

As an actor, I have worked in television serials like Kaiyalavu Manasu (Tamil), Chhoti Si Asha (Hindi) and the Telugu feature film Amma Amman Chudalani Vundi.

As a dubbing artiste, some of my work includes Avvai Shanmugi (Tamil), The Lion King (Tamil), Bhamane Satyabhamane (Telugu), Thani Oruvan (Tamil) and Utthama Villain (Tamil).

Fascination With Hindustani Classical Music

“You have studied Western classical piano and pursued degrees in IT and Sanskrit. What’s next for V Deepika?”

Over the past few years, I have become deeply fascinated by the Rampur Sahaswan gharana, especially their singing techniques, voice culture and lightning-fast taans. I have started learning the nuances of this style from Sri Prasad Khaparde, an exponent of the gharana.

Managing Multiple Talents and Careers

“How do you balance so many different talents?”

God’s grace! The one thing I do consistently is my riyaaz and music practice. Everything else somehow falls into place automatically. Learning classical music helps immensely while adapting to other genres, whether film music, devotional songs or commercials. Especially when music directors ask me to improvise, my classical training becomes extremely valuable.

Early Life and Musical Journey

“Take us through your journey so far…”

My parents, Geetha Varadarajan and Varadarajan, have been the backbone of my life. Since my mother was a singer herself, I was always surrounded by music. As a child, I picked up songs simply by listening to her practice sessions.

When I was just three years old, I was asked to sing the invocation for my parama guru Dr ML Vasanthakumari’s 64th birth anniversary celebrations. That was when my parents decided to train me formally in Carnatic music.

My mother became my first guru. Later, I learnt from Sri Vittal Ramamurthy, Sri OS Thiagarajan and Sri Vairamangalam Lakshminarayanan. However, the biggest turning point in my life came in 1997 when I began learning under Smt Sudha Raghunathan.

She is a perfectionist and taskmaster, and training under her made me take music very seriously. Since then, there has been no looking back.

Around the same period, my careers in playback singing, acting and dubbing also began simultaneously. I studied at Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School and later pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from SRM Easwari Engineering College.

Sanskrit fascinated me from childhood. I scored 100 marks in the CBSE Class 12 Sanskrit examination, which motivated me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Sanskrit from Rashtriya Samskrita Vidya Peetham, Tirupati.

The Role of Her Father

“What role has your father played in your life?”

If I have been able to pursue classical music professionally, I owe it entirely to my father. He worked as a marketing consultant in the healthcare industry and was a passionate listener of classical music. He was also a huge admirer of my guru, Sudha Amma.

It was because of his efforts and persistence that I got the opportunity to learn from Sudha Amma from such a young age. Whether it was concerts, recordings, long dubbing sessions or outdoor shoots, he accompanied me everywhere. His contribution to both my personal and professional growth is beyond words.

Strong Family Support

“How supportive has your family been regarding your other talents?”

I feel blessed to have such a supportive family. When acting opportunities came my way as a child, my parents knew it would be demanding and exhausting. Yet they personally accompanied me every single day.

My father sacrificed a lot of his time and career for me, and he did so happily. Whatever opportunities came my way, my family always encouraged me to give my best.

My grandmother Jayalakshmi remains my closest friend. Even at the age of 76, she still accompanies me to many studio recordings and listens to my practice sessions daily. My uncle Prasanna has also been a mentor and strong support system throughout my journey.

“Music and Singing Must Remain the Priority”

“Did your parents ever ask you to focus on one field?”

Yes — music and singing. Becoming a singer of the highest calibre is the dream that both my family and I continue to work towards.

Performing at Citi-NCPA Aadi Anant Festival

“Will this be your first Citi-NCPA Aadi Anant performance?”

Yes, this will be my first performance at the Citi-NCPA Aadi Anant festival.

Importance of Such Music Festivals

“Do such events help audiences connect with India’s oldest forms of music?”

Definitely. Such festivals give audiences a deeper understanding of the uniqueness of Indian classical music traditions. I have attended several NCPA concerts in Chennai and thoroughly enjoyed them.

The guru-shishya tradition is one of the most beautiful aspects of Indian classical music, and audiences get to experience how musical styles are preserved across generations.

Performing With Guru Sudha Raghunathan

“How does it feel to share the stage with your guru?”

Just hearing this question makes me nervous! I feel absolutely blessed to sing in my guru’s presence. I have idolised her since childhood, so for me, this is one of the proudest moments of my life and something I will cherish forever.

Cities With the Best Classical Music Audience

“Which cities have the best understanding of music?”

Chennai would definitely be at the top. Audiences there possess deep knowledge of ragas and classical music. During the December music season, one can see concert venue corridors buzzing with discussions about musical intricacies.

Bengaluru would come next because of its patronage for both Carnatic and Hindustani classical music. Mumbai too deserves mention because audiences there celebrate music wholeheartedly, whether it is an early morning concert or a late-night performance.

Global Acceptance of Indian Music

“How is Indian music received internationally?”

Indian music enjoys tremendous respect and admiration abroad, not just among Indians but among people from different cultures as well.

I had the opportunity to collaborate with musicians from different countries during a music exchange programme in the United States. That experience made me realise how much global musicians admire Indian classical music and its nuances. Many of them are genuinely interested in learning it as well.

“Success Means Reaching My Own Standards”

“Success to you is…”

As a singer, I set very high standards and benchmarks for myself. Reaching that level of singing is what success means to me.

Biggest Inspirations in Life

“Who inspires you the most?”

My guru Smt Sudha Raghunathan. I fell in love with classical music because of her singing. If I am a classical singer today, I owe everything to my guru. She has always inspired me to rise stronger despite every challenge in life.

Ustad Rashid Khan saab is another huge inspiration. His soulful singing, endless creativity and mastery over every swara are beyond words. The calmness he brings through his music is something I deeply aspire to achieve.

I also greatly admire Shankar Mahadevanji for his versatility, musical brilliance and positivity. Performing with him is always inspiring. He is one of the finest human beings I have ever met and motivates me to become a better musician and person.

A Day in the Life of V Deepika

“My day begins at 5 am with a cup of coffee and motivational pep talks by Darren Hardy, followed by vocal warm-up exercises. I love swimming in the mornings, and visiting the temple is an essential part of my daily routine.

By 8 am, my riyaaz begins. Unless I have recordings or errands, I rarely step out. Most of my day is spent practising, listening to and reading about music while staying connected with my close friends and family.”