Watch: Sid Sriram Masterclass part 1: ‘Feel like an ambassador for Carnatic music’

Singer-musician Sid Sriram burst into the Tamil film music scene with AR Rahman’s ‘Adiye’ (Kadal) in 2013. Since then, he has sung multiple superhit tracks in various languages, for popular composers including Anirudh, Ilaiyaraaja, Devi Sri Prasad and others.

But Sid also has another side – of a Carnatic singer. A regular performer till date at the December Music Season (Margazhi), Sid considers himself an “ambassador for Carnatic music”. While Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer was his earliest inspiration, he also looked up to Sanjay Subrahmanyam and TM Krishna during his growing-up years in the US.

In a special exclusive video interview with ‘The Hindu’, Sid – wearing a kurta and a vesthi – goes down memory lane about his association with Carnatic music, his performance of a Tiruppugazh at Coachella festival and his hopes for this brand of music in the future.

Read more: Sid Sriram interview: How I balance Carnatic and film music and stay connected to my roots 

Interview: Srinivasa Ramanujam

Video: S Shivaraj, Thamodharan B

Editing: Shiva Raj S

Location: Svah, Besant Nagar, Chennai

Part 2 of the interview releases on July 10