Up-Close & Personal with Anuradha Sriram : What a night to remember!
Our renowned singer Anuradha delivered an unforgettable performance during her recent event, taking fans on a nostalgic musical journey through decades of Tamil cinema. Dressed gracefully in a pink saree, she opened the evening with "Malarodu Malaringu," setting the perfect tone for the night. The soulful flute accompaniment by Sesatre Bansure added to the magic, captivating the audience from the very beginning.
Anuradha shared heartfelt memories throughout the concert. She spoke about how A.R. Rahman encouraged her to explore new horizons, leading to her opportunity in Minsara Kanavu, a connection made possible through Sridhar in the USA. Anuradha, a gold medallist in music, further enchanted the crowd with beloved songs from Lesa Lesa, including "Arumbagi Mottagi," a track that had a long journey before its eventual success.
She reminisced about her collaborations with legendary composers, including three songs for Kannukkul Nilavu and fan-favourite Ilaiyaraaja compositions like "Nee Oru Kadhal Sangeetham." Anuradha also spoke warmly about her song "Oru Naal Oru Kanavu" with music director Moorthy, and the popular "Mala Mala," performed upon fans’ request.
Affectionately dubbed the "Lady SPB," Anuradha thrilled the audience with a medley of hits like "Nalam Nalam Ariya Aval" and "Nilavai Kondu Vaa." She praised Deva sir, recalling the many timeless melodies he composed for her, and even shared how she taught actor Ajith Kumar during his early days.
Later, she was joined by Thiviya Chandran and Michael Rao for lively performances including "Kattu Sirukki" and "Roja Poonthottam." The energy soared with duets like "Uyire En Uyire" and "Taj Mahal."
Anuradha also recounted personal stories, including how she followed Bhanumathy’s advice after giving birth to her second son and seized the opportunity to sing "Appadi Podu." She moved the audience with "Oppari Paatu-Yendi Soodamani," expressing deep gratitude towards Deva sir, whom she called a godfather figure. There must be someone who will lift you up and show the world your talents and Deva has done to Anuradha which is wondeful thing to be mentioned here.
The evening continued with a power-packed Thalapathy medley alongside Michael Rao, featuring hits like "Elantha Palam," "Olli Olli Idupe," "Appadi Podu," and "Pappu Paapu" from Kushi. The Malaysian favourite "Macha Macha" also had the crowd on their feet.
This indeed, one of the most jaw-dropping moment!
What could be better than hearing "Karu Karupayi" from Michael Rao and Anuradha? This was the best moment; just imagine hearing this song LIVE and that too from the singer herself. The energy was LIT with the duo's performance.
Anuradha also recalled her first recording experience with "Meenamma," sharing that Deva sir’s advice helped her embrace her full range. The concert wrapped on an exhilarating note with mesmerizing renditions of "Ishq Bina" and surprise performances of "Oh Podu" and "Anjali Anjali," leaving the audience with memories to cherish.
Here's the thing, she didn't nail it the first time, but after trying again, it was just TOP-NOTCH. There's a quote : practice makes perfect. Keep trying until you get it right!
The highly anticipated Up-Close & Personal with Anuradha Sriram event was a resounding success last Saturday, thanks to the incredible support from the audience.