Singer Chinmayi Sripaada has spoken about performing the wedding song ‘Judi Jodi’ live at the audio launch of Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ in Chennai. Her performance impressed fans, but it also started a debate comparing her live version with Shreya Ghoshal’s studio recording, which was used in the Hindi film.
What Chinmayi Sripaada said on X
Chinmayi Sripaada shared her thoughts on X on Saturday. She wrote, “I did learn this with probably an hour or so to give before going on stage, and I am glad I had the opportunity. It is nice to be challenged instead of getting into comfort zones of having hours to know a song enough to play with the words, the tune. Am I still a student eager, sincere enough to do what I should as a professional as well? Deliver even if it is not perfect for me?”
Chinmayi Sripaada says, ‘I am hyper critical of my singing’
The singer also spoke about the pressure she puts on herself. She said, “I am hypercritical of my singing in an acidic, corrosive way. I am perhaps the worst cursing critic of myself – that voice plays in my head whilst I am singing. Perhaps it is my mother’s voice that rarely, if never, praised me because she wanted to keep me grounded. Perhaps the sole reason I have a massive imposter syndrome and don’t think it’s ever going to change. Maybe that’s necessary for who I am as a singer, maybe not. I’ll never know.”She said that even after 25 years as a professional singer, she does not feel any more confident than she did the first time. She added, “Improvisations, to me, needs time to become friends with the song. Maybe next time I would sing it differently; maybe I won’t. But all that I know – I love singing. And that’s all that matters.”
Not the first time for Chinmayi and AR Rahman
This is not the first time AR Rahman has asked Chinmayi to perform a song that another singer recorded for the film. Her version of ‘Muththa Mazhai’ at the ‘Thug Life’ event last year is still remembered fondly. Dhee sang the song for the film, though Chinmayi’s rendition remains widely loved.
About ‘Judi Jodi’ and ‘Ramayana’
‘Judi Jodi’ captures the wedding celebrations of Lord Rama and Sita, including the varmala ceremony. It has been released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, and Shreya Ghoshal has sung the Hindi version.‘Ramayana: Part 1’ stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The film is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. It released worldwide on November 5, and the second part is planned for Diwali 2028.
