Siddharth Mahadevan unplugged

Siddharth Mahadevan wishes to stand out and not be a shadow of his dad

Who can forget the goosebumps-inducing Zinda song from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag It is hard to believe that this was the debut number for ace singer Shankar Mahadevan’s son Siddharth Mahadevan. Ahead of the concert in Chennai, Siddharth talks to us about his career and how he doesn’t want to be in the shadow of his father.

In his three-year-old career, this 23-year-old has churned out hits after hits. “I still have a long way to go. With Zinda, I have created an identity for myself, as it is rare for a singer to debut with such a number,” he starts off.

With a couple of songs in Tamil, Siddharth feels close to the state. “The language is so special to me. But, the funny part is how much I try, I am not able to speak Tamil at all. I picked up Marathi quickly because of my mother and grandmother,” he shares.

Siddharth claims that music buffs in Chennai appreciate quality music. “Songs from the Tamil industry are quite remarkable. Also, the listeners here are receptive to melodies. They give equal importance to all genres,” he quips.

Collaborating with his dad Shankar gives Siddharth a sense of confidence. “He knows my limits and will push until I give my best shot. With other music directors, though I may have given a good track, they may not know I can do better than that.”

Siddharth also feels that there is no thumb rule for people venturing into the music industry. He elaborates, “I believe training in any form of music is necessary as with proper training, your voice is always ready. Even if you don’t learn the art, if you have a great voice and a good musical sense, you might shine in the industry.”

On comparing with his father’s work, he asserts, “People have distinguished my voice and I am grateful to stand out from my father’s work. I may sound like my father at times, but, that’s genetics. My dad always says, ‘Be original.’ I think it is great to have your own voice and create a name for yourself.”