Interview: Known for its diversity in cultural upbringings, Indian music has always been a storehouse of experiments and innovations. Representing this dynamism is a 25-year-old singer-composer, Amrit Ramnath, hailing from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. To be classically trained and have that modern, creative outlook was a first in Indian music; he defined new boundaries to what Indian music stood for and scored on every independent rank in making his sound in mainstream cinema.
Independent hits launched a long and public journey with music. Many hearts have been perfectly captured by Amrit Ramnath. “Oorkuruvi” and “Nila” are the first two singles, which ran deeper in understanding melodies, rhythms, and emotions synonymous with his work. Drawing from Tamil espousal, these are experiences that leave a feeling of nostalgia and thinking back.
These early successes off the string of singles have quickly made Amrit something of a rising star in the independent music world. He can bring together traditional Indian musical elements with contemporary sounds in a way that has wide appeal and makes him a favorite of listeners who can appreciate innovation but demand a measure of authenticity in their music.
Not that his talents went unnoticed for so long. His first major step into filmdom was for the much-anticipated movie Varshangalkku Shesha, to be directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan, in the year 2024. This is supposed to be a career-defining move for Amrit as he moves from independent music onto the cinematic canvas.
But Amrit Ramnath is set apart from most of them by an artistic vision. Amrit is a formally trained vocalist and musician who, well, at a very deep level perhaps, understands the complexities involved with Indian classical music. This is the juncture where he can experiment and innovate but remain true to the soul of the music. His compositions spoke of this transcendence across the old and the new into music that is at once timeless and contemporary.
One of his brilliant solo works is “Manase”, which locates the idea of modernity surrounded by tradition. So the song is fiercely introspective and dwells upon love, friendship, and personal security—concepts that many of those in their late teens and early twenties can relate to. The song is a physical representation of clashing voices running through our heads and a fight between embracing and overcoming, allowing the listener to go on this musical self-reflection yet cathartic journey.
The music video adds a deeper meaning to the song “Manase.” Inner dilemmas and the search for closure that the video inspires are best described through ethereal visuals. His skill in translation, using intricate emotions in music and video, shows his talent as much in composition as in storytelling.
As Amrit Ramnath continues to make his presence marked in the Indian music industry, his vision is clear for the future. He would want to think out of the box with his music and would experiment with all the various forms, keeping him open to what may have come his way. That is to say, further reaching of other genres, collaborations with other artists with different backgrounds, and different mediums of expression.
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Amrit Ramnath, one of the new entrants in the scene of Indian music, has always managed to carve a deep consequence through his debut work. Post ample independent work, he should establish himself as one of the strong and leading voices of his generation. He represents tradition in its most modern version, yet there is also a sense of uninhibited creativity which somehow manages to make him ‘one to watch’ in the years ahead.
Amrit Ramnath is not just an emerging star but a redefining, transformative artist whose work will inspire and move future generations, as he continues to break new boundaries for Indian music. The world is watching, and the vista is exceedingly brilliant for this young, talented maestro.
