Antara Nandy made her playback singing debut with A.R. Rahman’s soulful number, Alaikadal, in Mani Ratnam’s period drama Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 that recently released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. For the former student of Kolkata’s Delhi Public School Ruby Park, the biggest learning from the Oscar-winner Rahman is that it’s not always about hitting the correct notes in a song, it’s more about getting the emotions right.

Born in Assam and raised in Kolkata, Antara started to learn music from Ustad Rashid Khan. After her participation in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs on Zee TV at the age of nine, she resumed her training as a scholar at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata.

The Telegraph Online spoke to the 22-year-old singer who now lives in Pune.

Has it sunk in that your debut song is composed by none other than A.R. Rahman?

Antara Nandy: I feel fortunate that Rahman sir considered me. It was a dream. As a child, I had his picture on a notice board and I used to do agarbatti on it. This song has been the biggest surprise. I couldn’t think of a bigger debut. The feeling hasn’t settled in yet. It was an emotional moment when I went to watch Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 with my family. I am basking in the glory. I hope this song gives me more opportunities.

How did the song Alaikadal happen to you?

Antara Nandy: I worked with Rahman sir on the show, ARRived (A.R. Rahman’s digital music reality show on YouTube), in 2019. I have been singing scratch (before an actual song is recorded, someone is asked to sing a rough structure. Then, the final singer listens to it and delivers) for him. One day, I was asked to stay back to record. I thought it was a scratch. He doesn’t record himself. Generally, other sound engineers do it and he comes to supervise. The day I recorded, I was told that sir would be there along with Mani (Ratnam) sir. I went bonkers. I didn’t know Tamil and it was the first time I would be singing in Tamil, so I freaked out. I had heard that sir doesn’t give too many chances. I was stressed.

Did A.R. Rahman and Mani Ratnam make any suggestions?

Antara Nandy: I was explained the scenario that the boat woman is in the middle of the ocean, and I must portray love, strength and pain in the song. Rahman sir guided me through the song — where I had to go full-throated and where I had to be a bit husky, which would bring out the emotions. I finished the recording in 40 minutes.

Mani sir didn’t sit for a second when we recorded. Rahman sir told me that singing a song doesn’t mean hitting the right notes. It’s about getting the emotions right. He told me that he needed the song to sound like the waves of an ocean. The boat woman should be able to ride on the song. I redid the song in 45 minutes.

If he weren’t at the recording, it wouldn’t have been possible. Then, I went back. Two years passed. Just before the audio launch of Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 on September 6, I was told that the scratch I had recorded got selected for the film. Initially, I couldn’t recall as I had done it two years back. I was very happy and extremely surprised as it has been a dream. In the past year, there were moments when I had felt that this playback singing wasn’t going to happen. I was doing my stuff, which worked as well. But this has been a dream-come-true moment for my parents. After that, I was told to drive down to Mumbai as I had to record in three other languages — Hindi, Telugu and Kannada.

Did you hear any words of praise from the Ponniyin Selvan cast?

Antara Nandy: Aishwarya Lekshmi (the actress on whom the song was picturised) was the first one to reach out to me. I performed at the audio launch. There were legends like Rajinikanth sir and Kamal Haasan sir. Rahman sir doesn’t talk much, but he told me that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan appreciated my song. (Grins)

There is stiff competition in playback singing in Bollywood. What is your roadmap?

Antara Nandy: Being in the creative field, I can only hone my skills. This roadmap wasn’t planned as I didn’t know the Ponniyin Selvan song would happen. Social media has provided a space and you know who’s doing what. We have done covers.

I write and compose music. I play tabla, harmonium, keyboards and ukulele. I had to learn tabla while singing but for the other instruments; I am self-taught. I wish to work with all the biggies of the industry. My younger sister Ankita and I started our balcony concerts (an online series) during the pandemic. It was unplanned but it went viral. That’s how many people came to know us. I worked with Salim–Sulaiman (Merchant, music director duo) in three languages for a finance ministry project. We are touring across India and are having our virtual gigs.

You have created a space online as Nandy Sisters, through your #BalconyConcerts on social media…

Antara Nandy: Instead of waiting for someone else to provide a platform, we created one. We started using random things at home and in the kitchen to create music. We focus on classical and folk music. We got comments from Shankar Mahadevan, Anoushka Shankar and Sonu Nigam. I have been performing since childhood, but Ankita was a surprise package.

Social media creates an amount of pressure to perform and compete as well. How do you deal with that stress?

Antara Nandy: I don’t feel the pressure as it has always helped me. I didn’t know the way ahead as my parents were engineers. I started putting random singing videos on Facebook when I was a child. Once, I got a comment from Bhupinder Singhji. That made me realise the power of social media. But one needs to know how to use the videos and how to be consistent. One can’t make videos just thinking about the numbers.

Who are the musicians you look up to and who are the ones you draw inspiration from?

Antara Nandy: I love the work Maithili Thakur is doing. I have always looked up to Anweshaa didi. I learnt a lot from her when I used to watch her on television as a child. I admire Eman Chakraborty a lot. She is such an inspiration. Among my seniors, I have always looked up to Kaushiki Chakrabarty, Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sonu Nigam and Arijit Singh. Salim (Merchant) sir takes out time to watch my videos and helps me grow. Besides him, I want to work with Vishal-Shekhar, Vishal Mishra, Shantanu Moitra and Amit Trivedi. In Kolkata, I want to work with Jeet Gannguli. I miss Kolkata very much. I have spent my whole school life in the city.