SHASHIKA Mooruth recently marked 50 years in the music industry and says fans can look forward to more songs, and perhaps a book, from her.
Mooruth, who was raised in Mobeni Heights in Durban, began singing at age eight at the Shri Luxmi Narayan Temple in Mobeni Heights.
“I performed at a Janmasthami festival at the temple in 1972, where I sang a Krishna bhajan at midnight," said Mooruth, who is now based in Mumbai, India.
"I consider that performance as an auspicious beginning. It was the first time I performed alongside musicians and before such a huge audience."
She said her parents often provided unwavering support during her career despite the challenges she had faced.
“What kept me going was not just my love for music but my late dad's constant support. He accompanied me to rehearsals and events in my childhood until he passed on in 2012. My mother designed and stitched all of my stage outfits.”
Due to being exposed to songs from Hindi movies while growing up, Mooruth said she was influenced by singers Lata Mangeshkar and Kishori Amonkar.
One of the defining moments in her career, she said, was meeting Kishore Kumar, an Indian playback singer, in 1976 at his Durban concert.
“During apartheid, it was a struggle to get any artists from India to perform, so when Kishore was allowed to perform in Durban at the city hall, there was much excitement and a great time for the Indian community.
“My dad got me backstage, and Kishore called me to sit on his lap. He asked me to sing. At the end, he said, ‘you are born in the wrong country’ and invited me to return the next day to sing at another concert for everyone to hear.
“By him inviting me to be a part of his concert, I was inspired to visit India. That was why, in 1978, I took my first trip to India with my dad. I was only 14 years old.
“Another great experience was in 1977 when I performed before a crowd of about 50 000 at the Unit 3B football ground in Chatsworth for the Milk Carnival. It was organised by Durban Milk Publicity Council, courtesy of the late Amichand Rajbansi."
She said Sneha, her first album of original songs, was recorded in 1980 in Mumbai when she was 16 years old.
"The album was made as a form of celebration. It was not meant for sales. My dad was so proud he gave them out for free to family and friends. The genre of the album was preppy Hindi language Bollywood songs.
“In 1987, I moved to India at the age of 24 to attend Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai for training in Hindustani vocals and playing the sitar. Although my parents supported and visited me periodically, I was otherwise all by myself.”
Over the years, Mooruth has specialised in a variety of genres.
“As a singer, my voice is my instrument, and I like to refer to myself as a conscious artist rather than an entertainer. I aim to create a positive shift in the consciousness of my listeners, so my performances have ranged from classical and pop to kirtan, folk and Bollywood. I allow my voice to roam as a free spirit singing from my soul.”
Above everything else, Mooruth is a self-made Indie artist as well as a mother and a housewife.
“It involves tremendous multi-tasking. As an Indie, I need to focus on production, distribution and marketing apart from performance.
"The time and expenses involved are also tremendous, but as music makes my heart beat, I manage to find my balance. I also design and execute my own themed events. I established my own record label Urja Music in Mumbai.
“When I moved to India in 1987 to study music, I was 24 years old. While some artists in South Africa, who were in my age group, would have started their careers, I was starting out studying toward a career. In India, those in my age group had grown up in music, so they were already settling into their careers. I knew I had a long way to catch up.
"I used to practise eight hours on my vocals and four hours on my sitar apart from doing live shows in Mumbai at that time as I wanted to capture all the experience I could. The living conditions were not the best.
“It was a late start, but it is never too late. I kept the faith and continued to practice my vocal skills to improve my music - even today. This is why I am overjoyed to have my music on Apple Music in 80 countries, YouTube in 111 countries, and Spotify in 88 countries, and all these are number 1 in India.
“Some of the top songs would be Krishna Jinka Naam He, Sweet Chant, The Flute Breathes, Gopala, Swagatam Krishna, Durban Mein Machgaya Halla, Baarish and my duet with Sonu Nigam titled Rafta Rafta. Under my music label, I have produced 24 albums and eight singles.
“My songs are also featured on many radio stations worldwide, but regarding my present work, I am in the process of completing recordings that were held back due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I hope to have them released before my 50th is over."
She said she received recognition for her music.
"In 2018, I received the International Achievement Award at the South African Music Awards at Sun City Superbowl. The award was handed to me by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The same year, my song, Heart to Heart, won a silver medal at the Global Music Awards in the US and Rafta Rafta won the best song at Jaipur International Film Festival 2019.
“In 2020, I received the Standard Bank ovation award for the production of Magic of Lata Mangeshkar Concert Part One in the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, Grahamstown.”
She said she tried to visit South Africa at least twice a year.
“As I do not want to disappoint my followers there. As a creative producer and director, I designed Heart to Heart with Kulfi: The Singing Star in South Africa, a concept that highlights artists that make a difference. It was hosted in October.
“My music is my life's journey, and hence it is filled with experiences that are mystical, motivational and inspiring as well. Friends have prodded me to write a book, but every time I sit to put words to my experience, I end up singing. Hopefully, a book will emerge in the near future.”
