Getting SPB sir’s blessings is one of the biggest achievements of my life: Vaikom Vijayalakshmi

Vaikom Vijayalakshmi, the versatile singer who has rendered many popular songs over the past decade, like En Jeevan (from Theri), Vaayadi Petha Pulla (from Kanaa) and Siva Sivaya Potri (from Baahubali: The Beginning), chats with us about her new Tamil song Verum Silayana Vazhum Iraiva from the movie Gevi directed by Tamizh Dhayalan.
“Verum Silayana Vazhum Iraiva is a good melody in which I’m praying to God wholeheartedly,” she says, adding, “Music director Balasubramanian and lyricist Yugabharathi were of great help. The Tamil and Malayalam lyrics were read to me. I recorded the Tamil song first and then the Malayalam version.”
On Chennai…
Vijayalakshmi says, “I was in Chennai till I was five. My father did electronic work here. When I think of Chennai, I’m reminded of all the times I have sung when I was there as a child. Then I moved to Kerala. I first sang on stage when I was five and a half years old. I gave guru dakshina to Dasettan (KJ Yesudas) and did my arange tram.”
Vijayalakshmi further adds that singing the same song in multiple languages isn’t new for her and cites Siva Sivaya Potri from Baahubali: The Beginning as an example. “It isn’t that hard of a task to sing in different languages. Since Carnatic music is my forte, I do not have issues with learning new languages. Also, the artistes I work with have helped me greatly in learning the exact pronunciation,” shares the singer.
Talking about the musicians who inspired her, she says, “I grew up listening to Dasettan (KJ Yesudas), Janaki amma, Vani amma, and Susheela amma. Along with them, P Jayachandran, Chithra chechi, Sujatha chechi, MG Sreekumar sir, and Madhu Balakrishnan anna are also my favourites. One of the biggest achievements of my life is meeting SP Balasubrahmanyam sir and getting his blessings.”
Ask her about her current aspirations, and she says, “Right now, my desire is to sing a lot of songs for Ilaiyaraaja sir, Rahman sir and Vidyasagar ji.” She also gives a shoutout to her frequent collaborator D Imman, stating, “I have sung six to seven songs for Imman sir. It’s always fun working with him. He is hilarious.”
The singer is very happy with the way 2024 had turned out for her. “My song Angu Vaana Konilu from the Malayalam movie ARM got a lot of love. I had previously sung Vaayadi Petha Pulla (Kanaa) for its music director was Dhibu (Ninan Thomas). Only when I went there for recording did I know the song was for ARM. I was told the song’s context and could therefore render it well.”
“I always ask for the situation in which the song comes up in a movie because it helps me to sing with the right feel,” she signs off.