Kozhikode: The barriers of language, boundaries set by geography, the prejudices .. all crumbled before the graceful vocal rendition of this unassuming teenage girl from Kozhikode, Kerala.
Aryananda Babu, from Keezhariyur in Kozhikode district of Kerala, did not know how to converse in Hindi when she went for an audition for a Hindi musical reality show. Nevertheless, she was confident about singing in Hindi and went on to bring the title of the reality show home.
When one of the jury members, Singer Alka Yagnik, was asked her name in Hindi, Aryananda could not reply at all. The jury members had then wondered how a girl, who can’t even understand ‘Kya Naam hai tumhaara’ (What is your name?) in Hindi, would sing Hindi songs.
But, whenever she sang in Hindi, not just for the audition rounds, but also for her many other rounds through the finale, she received big rounds of applause. There were also instances when the who’s who of music in India, young and old, gave her a standing ovation and folded hands recognising her immense talent.
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The first prize for this Hindi musical reality show held in Mumbai, thus reached Kozhikode, transcending all boundaries.
Twelve-year-old Aryananda is overwhelmed by the joy of getting the first prize, that too by competing with children who speak Hindi as their mother tongue, while she hardly knew how to speak a word of Hindi.
Aryananda was the only one candidate shortlisted from the Southern States of India for the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs 2020 - Hindi, which was shot in Mumbai. In the finale, Aryananda competed with 7 others and bagged the prize, with the sheer power of music.
The Li’l Champs competitions began in February. In March, owing to the COVID lockdown, Aryananda and her parents were stuck in Mumbai for 2 months after which they returned to Kerala. The shoot for the competition resumed in July when the family got back to Mumbai again.
As the competition had to be wound up as quickly as possible due to the COVID regulations and limitations, there were many performances being recorded every day.
Aryananda learnt the lyrics and meanings of the songs she was to sing, thoroughly. Sometimes she had to burn the midnight oil as there was not enough time to learn owing to back to back shoots in COVID times. Her groomers and fellow candidates helped her with the lyrics and such linguistic aspects, while her parents, who are music teachers themselves, helped her learn the song well. Her mother copied the Hindi lyrics and transcribed it in Malayalam for her to read.
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The jury team included Bollywood's leading playback singers Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Himesh Reshammiya and Javed Ali. The Lata Mangeshkar song Satyam Sivam Sundaram, which Aryananda sang in one of the rounds received tremendous response. The video of her singing this song had gone viral across India.
Pyarelal of the popular LakshmiKant - Pyarelal music directors’ duo, who was a guest during this performance, blessed Aryananda wholeheartedly after listening to her singing.
Aryananda, who is a 7 standard student with the Idol Pubilc School in Kadalundi, Kozhikode has already performed in more than 450 music programmes.
A tribute titled ‘Snehapoorvam Aryananda’ in which she presented 25 songs had brought her praises in abundance. Aryananda, who was just 7 years then, sang in 4 languages for three hours straight in the programme that was held in Calicut Town Hall. Last year, Aryananda was also the first runner up in a Tamil channel reality show.
When she was 6, she had auditioned for a Malayalam channel reality show. However, she was turned down saying she was too young for it then. Playback singer Sujatha Mohan who was then one in the jury for this reality show was the jury member for the Tamil channel reality show in which Aryananda went on to be the first runner up.
Singer Sujatha was in tears listening to one of her performances there. She had said she is amazed by the talent in this little girl.
After the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs Hindi, Aryananda has been offered songs by two Bollywood music directors who happened to listen to her performances.
Aryananda stepped into the world of music performances at the age of two and a half when she was allowed to sing on the stage of Guruvayur Chembai Sangeetholsavam. That was a grand start.
Hailing from Quilandi Keezhariyur in Kozhikode district, Aryananda, her parents Indu and Babu who are music teachers, are all currently residing in Pantheeranakvu in Kozhikode.
This little girl from Kerala proves that music can transcend all boundaries.
