INTRODUCTION
Anoop Menon is from Smule Malayalam and it is such a pleasure to bring his profile to our features. Anoop lives in Dubai and works there. Previously when the Dubai Smule community celebrated their first-ever Smule meet, Anoop reported the events for the community along with the organizers. Anoop’s introduction is through our former featured artist Geethu Joy Anand. Thanks to all the peers who are our pillars of support here. Anoop’s feature probably has the longest delays in publishing after its initiation (almost 2 yrs).
The primary reason for the selection of Anoop for a featured artist status is his musically rich profile on Smule Sing with outstanding singing of some of the best Malayalam songs. Anoop’s singing abilities are at par with any other singers we featured here. Here is a short interview of his musical journey and interests. It is very anecdotal here for us to mention briefly about Beethoven, who is a musician known for his love of nature and took inspiration for most of his compositions from his love of the sounds of nature (1). He often went out of his Vienna home to the rural countryside on long walks before writing his compositions. His famous 6th Symphony is often highlighted from his career as a great example of his creative pieces that typically show these influences. Let us begin Anoop’s feature by listening to Beethoven’s great musical extravaganza “Pastorale” performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra. We are almost at the end of a tumultuous year where Nature is trying to teach the mantra of “preserving our green earth”, by putting all of us through a spreading pandemic that can wipe out humanity from this planet. We all musicians and artists are here to endorse this immediate cause that needs attention more than any time in the past.
Anoop Greens
Please tell us a bit about yourself
“I am Anoop Menon. I am basically from a small but beautiful hamlet called Kodali, in the Thrissur district of Kerala. The place is known for its historic importance as the place where the Kings of Kerala, stored their weaponry. More than anything, my home town is beautiful with unbelievable greenery and nature. In fact, I miss that place big time and always want to get back there and settle back when the time comes. I currently live and work with my family in Dubai. My family consists of my wife and a daughter.”
Please tell us more about your early music experiences by walking us through your childhood and school stages
“My family, as in many Kerala cultures, was a single family with a lot of relatives and elders around. Music and culture were the main part of growing up. I used to be very active in mainly singing activities at schools for competitions and won many prizes for my school.”
“My childhood was rich and blessed with living in a very supportive family. I had my maternal grandfather who was an ardent music fan. Many in the family loved music and arts. That environment benefitted me enormously. As I said my mother’s side has lots of talented singers. That allowed hearing a lot of classical music from a very early age itself. But no one taught me anything, since no one noticed my talent. Maybe, it is better to say that my natural interest in music and arts is self-nurtured. But I can say at age six, I could sing ‘Entahru mahanu bahabavalu‘. I sang on a stage during my 4th-grade year. It was all self-initiated and self-taught singing. Looking back, I must say that there was no proper training or direction from anywhere. Yet, singing had been my passion. I loved all the arts and culture around me. Those days a tape recorder and the music on Cassettes were everything and the only medium where I could listen to others’ music. I had been fortunate to win many prizes in Schools. At later stages, I was fortunate to be the KalaPrathibha in School Youth festivals winning all competitions in the singing category.”
An influence of a Dad on his Son
“My father and his influence on me is a monumental reason for my artistic side. He was a forest officer who worked for the government service. He loved nature and he was very active in many local art societies and their activities. Even though our village was small there was a center established for nurturing arts and music. It was called Kalamndir -where I went to study music for a number of years. Another institute my dad was actively a part of was called FAS for short -Fine Arts Society. They organized programs – especially folk arts and music. My dad was an active member of this society. This background in my growing up had a tremendous influence on me. I love folk songs and the very natural tunes of nature. I like to be known as Anoop Greens because I want to focus the rest of life on making music that stresses preservation of our nature and its resources.”
You did not say anything about your mother
“My Mom is a housewife. She was not much into music, was very strict in comparison, while we were growing up. Now both my parents appreciate my singing and they listen to my singing. But growing up there was not much to say that nobody in the family believed music can be the main career. Could not blame anyone for it. Pressures to become independent were there always.”
What type of music do you like the best?
“I am an ardent fan of classical music and like to sing mostly semi-classics. I do listen to all types of songs, but I have an instant connection to Semi-classic music.”
So where did you study for your College and further?
“I went on to do my degree in “Automobile Engineering” and for that, I went out of Kerala and did that from a private institution in Bangalore. College life was eventful with arts as well but I focused a lot on Sports during that time. I was a champion at college in the high jump and long jump and many other track and field events. I did participate in college events but studies were a priority over many other activities.”
What happened after college how did you end up in Dubai and now singing on Smule?
“I must say the period after my college days was probably the most influential time in music. I went to live with a few friends to get involved in some engineering projects and gain some work experience, and that was in the capital city of Trivandrum. Music was a passion by then. I happen to know music director M. G. Radhakrishnan sir. and decided to go visit him and in hope to have him teach me music. It was his wife who received me when I reached their house. I told her I want to learn music from Sir. She sent me upstairs to Radhakrishnan sir’s office. I still remember when I met him, Radhakrishnan sir looked at me and said that
“ You don’t look like someone who can sing,” I told him I want to learn music from him. He asked me to sing two different compositions in Shakarabahram and Kalyani ragas. After I finished singing, he agreed to teach me but he also advised me to go visit his sister, ‘Omanakutty teacher‘. “You should go learn from my sister Shrimathi. Omanakutty teacher.” (A prominent south Indian classical musician and great teacher to many Malayalam musicians). I was fortunate to be trained by both these legends for a short period of my stay in Trivandrum.”
A simple gesture of encouragement from a Music director
“Once Radhakrishnan sir was auditioning from the students to sing a track for his music. There were many good students in our class who sang better than me and I never expected him to pick me. But he pointed his finger at me at the end of the audition and that was a moment I will never forget. The moment I went to his studio to sing a track under his music direction was an amazing achievement in my memory. Although, my stay in Trivandrum ended abruptly, and the deteriorating health of Radhakrishnan sir cut-short my prospects to continue this collaboration. Also, an offer to get a job abroad and move to Dubai was a turning point.”
A nature-loving Artist
” Looking back there are regrets, but I am a passionate singer of melodies, and very passionate about Kerala’s culture and its folklore. The old fire is inside me and will not extinguish till my last breath. I am what I am, I have changed my last name to Greens from my family name to represent the rich culture and green land of Kerala, which I am very proud to represent. Anoop Greens is used as my identity only on my social circles.”
Please talk in detail about how the music around you influenced you during your growing up?
“I had the rare opportunity to work alongside some great musicians like M. G. Radhakrishanan sir and like. Many of the very folk-based music from that era and the single most experience of singing a track for MG sir was still something so inspirational. I have imbibed all his vision and music a lot. Thanks to my guru Smt. Omanakutty teacher, for her teachings.”
What is your music? Could you define it for us?
“My music is very much close to the rich culture and traditional songs of Kerala. I am almost madly in love with all the traditional folk tunes unique to Kerala. It is the heart of Kerala’s music. We had many great poets, music directors who kept these tunes alive.”
You talked about your music a bit, now what do you want to do in your music career?
“I am very interested in music composition. I already have made several compositions and did make songs with other Smule singers. We have a very healthy Smule singer community in Dubai and we are very close to each other.”
Where do you want to be in your music five years from now? Talk about all the Dubai activities with friends
“Want to make some songs for me. Want to give chance to sing along me with a lot of good singers that I came across in my music journey. One big dream is to compose a song and make “K.S. Chitra” to sing it for me. Generally, I want to make album songs of my own composition. I have already done a lot of creative work. Our friends in Dubai have made this small video, which you may be interested to watch. Please watch this.”
WAAO My own music.
Talk to us about Smule experiences? How did you start singing on the App and how did that benefit your music?
“It was about three to four years ago when a few friends together we started the journey on Smule. On this journey, I met a lot of good singers and some good friends. Smule for me helped improve my singing by listening to other good singers how they approach a song and many times that is what I needed most. I say this is a super app that is of tremendous use for singing talents.”
What genres of music do you like?
“Mostly semi-classic, some fast numbers and melody. For me, I think western style is not suitable.”
What is your take on modern trends and new songs? Do you listen to them?
“I am very traditional in many respects. I do listen to many types of music. But unfortunately, not a big fan of all this new music and I think most of them are just noise to my ears. Sorry to say it plainly like that. But I want to learn Hindustani and north Indian Qawwali style singing. Now is the time. Very soon looking to do something like that.”
Want to talk about South India’s Classic music and its influence on film music?
“When you look at songs made for movies like Shanakarabhanram, Sopanam, Sargam, etc (these are my favorite movies songs); those are legendary songs and I have no words to describe how well they all made. We talk about those songs that were made two or three decades ago as they were made yesterday. And its greatness can not be denied. Can we point to a movie or song that is made recently to such care and details put into them? That is where I see the difference. I think it is high time, we have to think about all these. I am not against or denying the modern trends and influences in music, but those are not the only thing that matters. Songs have to be made with a lot for musicality and genius. We are sitting here and talking about all these is a good thing. Because youngsters who are interested in good music have to understand what is right and wrong when we accept the modern trends and incorporate them into our culture.”
“That concludes a very short interview with Anoop. Let us hear some of the excellent song selections and songs he sang exclusively for the purpose of display here.”
Let’s hear “Jab deep jale aana” from Anoop Menon a superb iconic KJ classic
Listen to me sing “Ponveyil Manikkacha Azhinju veenu” on Smule: A Malayalam Iconic classics
Let’s sing “Puzhayorazhakulla pennu” together on Smule! Here’s the link to join:
Listen to me sing “Shankarabharanam omkara nadalu” on Smule:
Listen to me sing “[Full] Chand Jaise Mukhde Pe Bindiya Sitara” on Smule:
Listen to me sing “sooryanaay thazhuki”
Listen to me sing “Oru Chembaneer Pooviruthu”
Listen to me sing “Mitwa – Kabhi Alvida Na Kehana”
Anoop’s YouTube Album Songs
Under a Smule created efforts from devotional music album by the Narayan R Menon and McCoy Medias. This is an amazing effort by Prasad McCoy and music director Narayanan R menon to put out an album where many singers from Smule are given a chance to sing to the tunes of Narayan R. Menon. There is a single write-up to be published this week to highlight the music from this album and performances by Smule singers.
Listen to Anoop’s song in this album here.
Listen to me sing “Poo Niranjal – Poomalai vangi” joined here from Smule Vasu
“Surmayee Ankhiyon Mein – Surmayee Akhiyon Mein The Unwind…” joined here with Anoop is Chiyani from Smule.
“Thooval Vinnin Maaril – Thalayanamanthram” on Smule
ENDNOTES
A strong singer with a distinctive view of his music. Anoop’s music comes from a place where he grew up. It is filled with tunes and melodies of folk culture and a strong influence of his dad who made Anoop understand the need of knowing the nature around us and hear and see the music and beauty. The songs of greenery, voices of nature, are the origins of all the music in the world. Researchers are sure that the origin of our music probably stems from naturally occurring sounds and rhythms. Human music may echo these phenomena using patterns, repetition, and tonality. Anoop’s interview was like a fresh breath of some of these thoughts in our writings here. Anoop even decided to change his name to Anoop Greens because the way he sees this world is in the color of earth. That in itself is the beauty of this singer.
It was our pleasure to write about this yet another talent from the Smule with a clear direction and viewpoints about his music. We will be happy to support this singer in all his endeavors of music in the future. Please visit Anoop on his social media pages at the links and encourage him.
https://www.smule.com/AnoopGreens
On Instagram Anoop.menon.5680
On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDQLoJHNGxzV_Xu-moGD9uw
