Pragathi Guruprasad's latest single, Adada, is a unique take on love told from a female perspective

Singer Pragathi Guruprasad, who shot to the limelight after her appearance on the reality show Super Singer, is back with her single, Adada, which is a unique take on love told from a female perspective.

Talking about the single, the elated singer tells Indulge, “I’ve been a part of the Tamil Indie scene for over a decade, ever since I started singing playback. While the Tamil indie scene has been growing, a lot of it has really picked up abroad, especially in Tamil communities in places like London, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia. There, artistes have been creating independent Tamil music for many years. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with some amazing artistes like TeeJay, Stephen Zechariah, and Kadhalviruz. It’s incredible to see those songs still topping indie charts."

She adds, " I’ve always wanted to write and compose my music, and the rise of the indie scene in Chennai felt like the perfect moment for me to step in. I was working with my producer Shravan Sridhar, a Tamil independent artiste, and we created this melody in just about half an hour in the studio. I was unsure at first about my ability to compose something that would connect with the current music scene, which made me hesitant to release it. But Shravan’s enthusiasm and support, along with encouragement from other friends, helped me bring Adada to life. It was a fresh perspective—a female solo love song, which is quite rare in Tamil music.”

Ask her about working with co-star Ashwin Kumar and director Ranjini Ramesh, and Pragathi says, “The label VYRL had given me so much creative freedom to do exactly what I wanted to do and bring out my vision in the song. I was able to form my own team because they gave me that freedom. I wanted the song’s visuals to be captured from a female perspective, so it was crucial for me to work with a woman director and as many women technicians as possible. And that’s when Ranjini came on board. The idea for Ashwin to be the male lead came quite organically. We were hanging out one day when I thought, “Why can’t Ashwin do this?” He’s been a close friend for years, but we have never worked professionally. He just fit the role perfectly.”

Chennai holds a special place in Pragathi’s heart, so the fact that the video was shot here made it even more meaningful to her. “I wanted to write a love letter to the city, showcasing it in a way that hadn’t been done before. The team did a great job of executing this vision.”

We ask Pragathi if visual elements have become an essential part of music, given that there are now more music videos than just audio tracks, and she says, “Tamil audiences have been conditioned by films, where visuals play a giant role. So for independent music, it’s important to also have a compelling visual story. People need something they can connect with visually, not just audibly, which makes the visual component a key part of how music is consumed.”

When asked about what’s next on the acting front after her cameo on Never Have I Ever, she responds, “I’m working on a Hollywood project. In addition, I have some playback songs coming out soon.”

When asked about what’s next on the acting front after her cameo on the Hollywood show Never Have I Ever, she responds, “I’m currently working on a Hollywood project, so there’s something exciting on the horizon! In addition, I have some playback songs coming out soon, working with new and familiar composers. I can't reveal too much, but I’m looking forward to sharing that with everyone.”

And on a parting note, ask her about her journey from her appearance on Super Singer to date. She says, “I’d say my journey has been a rollercoaster. There have been both successes and failures, but each experience has helped me grow. I’ve been in this industry for so long, and I’m grateful that people are still listening and following my work. It’s been an incredible ride, and I hope it continues for many more years to come.”

sangeetha.p@newindianexpress.com

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