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Nothing makes singer Srikrishna Vishnubhotla happier than singing for a live audience. “We might take three hours to record a song but we know the reaction of the audience only when it is released. But live singing generates instant reaction and I love that energy and challenge.
” The excitement is palpable as he gears up for a solo musical performance on April 19 in Hyderabad. “I have been part of numerous shows in India and abroad, performing for various music directors and singers but have never done a solo performance,” he says. The tagline ‘retro meets metro’ hints at what listeners can expect from this nearly three-hour show that features accompanying artistes Rakesh Venkatapuram (keyboards), NC Praveen (keyboards), Benji ( bass guitar), Balram (drums) and Darshan (pads).
Songs from every era — vintage classics and Ilaiyaraaja hits to AR Rahman’s medleys — are part of the set. “We will also recreate a few old black-and-white songs like ‘Oh basti dorasani’ without losing its soul.” How it all began Srikrishna Vishnubhotla | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Soft spoken with an easy demeanour, Srikrishna comes from a traditional family in Vijayawada.
Music was not an integral part of his life but a vocation to support his family. Cash prizes won in music competitions supported the income of his lower middle class parents; as a mark of recognition to the laurels he won for Siddhartha College, there were times when his fees was reimbursed by the college “My focus was to be of some financial help to my family.” Reality show Paadalani Undi hosted by (late) SP Balasubrahmanyam (SPB) on MAA TV gave him a platform and later he got an opportunity to be part of SPB’s music troupe.
Paadalani Undi was a stepping stone, he affirms and recalls the the winning moment, “Singing ‘Ab deep jale aana’ (Chitchor ) and ‘Madana latika aade’ (Alaapana ) in front of judges Shivamani garu, Hariharan garu and Balu garu (SP Balasubrahmanyam) and 6000 people was an unforgettable experience.” Soulful singing | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement With a post-graduate degree in Mathematics, he came to Hyderabad to find a job in the IT sector. A chance visit to music director Koti’s residence charted a career in playback singing.
His experience with shows at All India Radio, Vijayawada, also helped him debut as a radio jockey at Red FM. Srikrishna credits music directors Koti, Mani Sarma and S Thaman with whom he has been associated for 10 years for his singing career. While he sings predominantly in Telugu — chartbusters such as ‘Ala Vaikuntamuram lo’ (Ala Vaikuntapuram lo ), ‘Bheemla Nayak’ ( Bheemla Nayak) and ‘Kurchi Madatha petti’ (Guntur Kaaram) , he has also made a mark with songs in Kannada, Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam.
2025 started on a good note with songs in Sankranti Vasthunam, Game Changer and Orange army (SunRisers Hyderabad) Anthem. While he cannot disclose his future projects, what he can share is his upcoming concert with playback singer Chitra in July in Hyderabad. Gratitude and kindness Carving a niche with music | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement For someone who grew up in a family with meagre resources, Srikrishna is grateful for all the people who made a positive impact in his life.
His Instagram bio ‘Do good in any way you can’ reflects his attitude to spread messages of hope and kindness. “My parents had a small house with not much income but were known for their kindness. Growing up in such an environment has helped me to be empathetic towards others.
” Srikrishna’s concert will be held at the HUB Arena, AMB Mall, on April 19, 8 pm onwards; Tickets on bookmyshow.com Published - April 16, 2025 04:17 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit The Hindu MetroPlus / Hyderabad / music / lifestyle and leisure / people.
