The folksy timbre of Resmi resonated in Malayalam cinema breaking asunder the stereotype of a singer being the possessor of a sweet voice. If Malayalam cinema was bestowed a gift in Resmi the singer through the Urumi song, it won an actor through her role in 22 Female Kottayam. Her distinctly different voice that was heard in films like Urumi, Chappa Kurish, Bachelor Party, Matinee and Khubsoorat received rave reviews.
Resmi Sateesh who arrived in cinema as a sound recordist and metamorphosed into a singer and actor talks to Onmanorama.
Carnatic music from a young age
I have been practising Carnatic music from my childhood. My native place is Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram. Muthiah Bhagavathar of Tamil Nadu was my first guru. Later I was tutored in music by Swaminathan, Jayachandran, Sarojini teacher and Aleppey Sreekumar.
Affinity towards folk songs
I did my MSW at Wayanad. I have worked with the Adivasis of Wayanad as part of my social work. My interest in folk songs took root there. I have collected plenty of tribal songs. Ini varunnoru thalamuracku which went viral is such a song.
Social media made me a star
I sang Ini varunnoru thalamuracku at the venue of the 'Nilpp Samaram' (standing protest) staged Adivasis in front of the State Secretariat. Though I had sung it on many occasions before, the world took notice of it only when I sang it at the protest venue. While studying in Wayanad, the song was made into a music video titled Twelfth Hours Song. But it had to be removed from Youtube for some technical reasons. Singing that song at the agitation venue happened quite accidentally. The video of me singing the song drew much attention. Many identify me with that song. Thanks to social media the song received tremendous popularity.
Do not typecast me as a folk singer
I have collected and studied folk songs for my interest in them. However, I don't wish to be typecast with the label of folk singer alone. I like all kinds of songs. Only one of my film songs is in the folk style. The rest are all in different styles. I have sung in Tamil and Hindi. I recently rendered the song Engine Ki Seeti” along with Suneeti Chauhan in the Sonam Kapoor-starrer Khubsoorat.
I am a social being
Many people mistake me for a social worker after watching the video of me attending the tribespeople's protest. I am also invited by some people to perform for the cause of the environment. In fact, I am not a full time social activist but just a social being. I am someone who likes to tread my own path in the field of music. However, as a human being I try to do whatever I can in certain matters.
Music is my world
I acted in Ashiq Abu’s films 22 Female Kottayam and Idukki Gold. But the character of Subaida in 22 FK was noted by more people. I came to acting by chance, though music is my world. I will continue to act if I get good roles. I have worked as an assistant director for a documentary titled Abhinetri on theatre-film actor Nilambur Aysha and Samir Tahir’s movie Neelakasham Pachakkadal Chuvanna Bhoomi. I have been a sound recordist for some short films, corporate films and ad films.
Entering cinema through Makaramanju
I entered film world as a sound recordist. I completed Audiography course from Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute in Koltaka. It was through Lenin Rajendran’s film Makaramanju (2011) that I entered Malayalam films. My acquaintance with ace cinematographer-director Santhosh Sivan, who played the lead in the movie, led me to Urumi. Beginning with two songs in Urumi, I further sang in films like Chappa Kurish, Bachelor Party, Matinee, Sound Thoma, Rasputin, Santhosh Sivan’s Ceylon (Tamil) and Khubsoorat (Hindi).
Love for independent music
Independent music had wide acceptance once. But they soon lost their popular appeal. But the scenario is changing. Several bands and independent singers and shows are coming up. I see that as a positive sign. I am always interested in independent music. Sometime back, a solo of mine titled Theiyye had come out. This was brought out in collaboration with a musician called Vivek Rajagopalan. I have plans to bring out solos with different musicians. I also intend to start a band and conduct live performances. But at this point I cannot say if it would work out.
Music a joyous journey
Music has always felt like a joyous journey for me. I held concerts when I was younger. Later, I learned about various kinds of music. Sometimes I leave behind whatever I learned on the way, sometimes I take all of those along with me and these matters are not predictable. I would like to traverse the unfamiliar musical pathways. I desire to carve my own style, imbibing from all the music that I have learned.
To be recognised as a singer for the variety in rendition and as an actor through various characters is a fortune that befalls a few. Let Resmi Satheesh continue to mesmerize us with many more songs and diverse characters..