SRK`s praise for `Titli` made it special for me: Chinmayi

Chennai: Popular playback singer Chinmayi Sripada, who sang the chartbuster `Titli` song in Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Chennai Express’, says she was absolutely thrilled when the superstar praised her for the composition. The music of the lilting song is composed by Vishal-Shekhar and is picturised on Khan and Deepika Padukone. The audio-launch of the movie was in July and Shah Rukh Khan had tweeted appreciating the `Titli` number. "The tweet from him made my day then. He tweeted saying I sound just like love. Shekhar sir introduced me to him at the audio launch and SRK spoke to me, also called my mom to speak to her. He is extremely down to earth and has no trappings of a superstar," Chinmayi said. Chinmayi, who made her first bow in Kollywood under the Mozart of Chennai A R Rahman`s baton for `Oru Deivam` track in Mani Ratnam`s ‘Kannanthil Muthamittal’, said `Titli` happened because of Shekhar. Shekhar taught her the song, explained the situation. "And because he sang so extraordinarily it was easy for me to be inspired by it." Chinmayi said `Titli` was no different from her other favourities such as `Oru Deviam Thande Poove` `Tere Bina` (Guru), `Enna Idhu` (Nala Damayati), `Sahana`(Shivaji), `Mayya Mayya` (Guru), `I miss you Da` (Sakkarakatti), `Vaarayo Vaarayo` (Aadhavan) and `Laesa Parakkudhu` (Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu). About rumours that Vishal-Shekhar were upset with SRK and director Rohit Shetty for roping in rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh for the `Lungi Dance` song, a tribute to superstar Rajinikanth, she said, "I got to know that from the newspapers myself. "As much as I have interacted with them they haven`t evinced any displeasure to me. Vishal has also tweeted that SRK will always be family. Based on the tweets exchanged between VS and SRK the past few days it doesn`t seem like anything is wrong." On working on the duet with Gopi Sundar, Chinmayi said, "I didn`t know Gopi himself had sung it until much later. Apparently he was very apprehensive about singing Hindi and VS (Vishal-Shekhar) made sure that his voice was retained." "It had been a dream to sing for VS and it was great to be able to sing for them. And singing such a lovely composition in such a big project was a great blessing made possible by Shekhar sir and Vishal sir." Chinmayi, who won the 2009 Tamil Nadu state award for the `Sahana` number in Rajinikanth starrer ‘Shivaji’, says the year has been great so far for her. ".... Titli being the high point. Also `Tere Bina` featuring in (Hollywood animation film) Planes, Netru aval in Maryan.Lots of songs in Tamil that I have sung have done really well. I hope and pray that I will be able to work with all the composers I have dreamt of working with this year." A favourite with Rahman, whom she considers like God, Chinmayi has a song lined up with the composer in the Rajinikanth starrer ‘Kochadaiyaan’. "I am looking forward to it," she said. PTI