From Carnatic music to football: Sreeranjini Kodampally gives Sid Sriram’s ‘Thayyare’ its energy

Sreeranjini Kodampally may be familiar with composing music, but a football anthem was a different challenge altogether. The Carnatic vocalist and music composer, who made her debut as a composer with the popular song ‘Aa Kalam’, has now ventured into the world of sports anthems with ‘Thayyaare’, the official song of the Kerala Super League (KSL).

​The song, which has crossed one million views on YouTube, has also found a distinctive voice in popular singer and musician Sid Sriram, who launched the KSL music album. For Sreeranjini, the opportunity was exciting from the moment she learnt that Sid would be singing the song. A Carnatic musician herself and an admirer of his work, she was keen to make the most of his musical strengths.

“When I heard that I would be composing the song and that Sid Sriram would be singing it, I was very happy. I have been a fan of his work for years. Especially as a Carnatic musician myself, I feel he is one of those really good Carnatic musicians. His songs can immerse you in the emotions they convey, so I was excited about the opportunity,” she says.

​But having a singer like Sid also meant raising the bar for the composition. Sreeranjini knew that a football anthem needed energy and immediacy, but she also wanted to bring something distinctive to the song. “Once I had Sid as the singer for the anthem, I had to make sure I used his talent in the best possible way. Football songs are usually driven by their vibe and pulsating energy. I thought of using Sid’s biggest strength to bring that energy into the song,” she says.

That led to one of the more unusual choices in ‘Thayyare’: incorporating elements of raga into the anupallavi. It was a decision that initially made some members of her team unsure. Would a Carnatic touch work in a football anthem without taking away from its energy?

“My team was not really sure if it would work, because it is a football song and they felt it might complicate the feel of the song. But after Sid learnt about it, he came to me and said that it was his favourite part. The response to the song also tells me that the decision worked,” Sreeranjini says.

The song also gets a different burst of energy from its rap portion, performed by Aditi Nair R, known as Rap Kid India or MXRDERROR. The choice of a woman rapper from Thiruvananthapuram was deliberate. “We had discussed whether we needed a male or female voice for the rap. Aditi is a woman rapper from Thiruvananthapuram, and she fit the bill perfectly,” she says.

For Sreeranjini, ‘Thayyare’ is yet another addition to a career that moves comfortably between seemingly different worlds. Alongside composing music, she performs with her band Sukta, sings in films and works as an associate professor in the music department at Maharaja’s College. Yet, she says she does not see these multiple roles as something to be stressed about. “I like to take things as they come. If I end up getting stressed, I am sure my songs and projects will be affected. So I try to enjoy the entire process,” she says.