MM Srilekha is the only female music director in Telugu film industry. She started her film career like singer from a very young age and became a successful music director today. On the occasion of her birthday on Wednesday (September 8), she shared her experiences and views with the media. Here are some excerpts:
I started my career when I was 9 years old. I worked with top personalities like Dasari Narayana Rao, K Raghavendra and Ramanaidu right from the beginning of my career. Hence I did not know the value of success then which I’m tasting now. But I can never forget the period I worked with these top directors.
When I was 9 years old, I sang my first song for Silk Smitha in ‘Edurinti Mogudu Pakkinti Pellam’ and later got good break through the film ‘Aayana Kiddaru’ in which I sang a duet with Balasubrahmaniam garu. After 3 years of experience as playback singer, I turned music director.
Srikanth’s ‘Taj Mahal’ was the turning point as a music director for me. Films like ‘Preminchu’, ‘Preyasi Raave’, ‘Moodu Mukkalaata’, ‘Adhirindayya Chandram’, ‘Operation Duryodhana’, ‘Tata Birla Madhyalo Laila’, ‘Ammayi Bagundhi’, etc. have earned me good recognition as a music director.
So far I composed music for 59 films and sang about 3,000 songs. Music is my passion and I love my profession. I’m completely satisfied with what I’m today. I thank my family, my producers and directors for their support.
My all time dream is to compose music for Hindi films. Most of the songs I composed so far in Telugu have melody tunes. Many have opined that my tunes are suitable for Hindi films. I stepped into Bollywood industry through Ramanaidu’s ‘Hum Aap Ke Dil Me Rahate Hai’. I scored back ground music for that film.
I got the opportunity to become a dubbing artist too but I couldn’t utilize that. A chance to dub for Sridevi in ‘Kshana Kshanam’ and another opportunity to dub for Meera Jasmine in ‘Gudumba Shankar’ did not materialize. My wish to become a dubbing artist remained unfulfilled till date.
Music and singing are my two eyes. My favourite music directors are Ilayaraja and RD Burman. The best compliment that I received was from Ramanaidu garu. He said that any song that I sing is hard to justify.
Nobody in the industry discouraged me just because I’m a female technician. Luck favoured me more than my hard work. We need to always think differently to gain success. I would feel happy when someone appreciates my work and at the same time I would think where I went wrong when I get criticized. According to me criticism helps us to realize our mistakes and improve ourselves.
