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        Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan played with numbers, his niece Hemamalini is now into calculations of notations for becoming an accomplished playback singer. Confident she is to score a name in filmdom.

        In her pursuit to excel, she has been doing lots of homework at her K K Nagar residence to fine tune her singing skills. However, she feels that luck surpasses one's talent in the game of life. And those lucky few become the choice voice for the screen.

Hemamalini

Young Hemamalini had a passion for music and got trained under the tutelage of Thakkesi (disciple of Kirupanandavariar). In a step further, she learnt Hindustani classical from Sitar exponent Hussain at Mylapore Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. With so much attachment to the strings of music, she also gained knowledge in playing Sitar from her master.         Interestingly, she made her debut on stage at a tender age of 8 in Madurai. 'The light music programme by Ceylon Manohar gave me an opening in singing. Moreover, I got the appreciation from the audience which gave me a pep,' she said adding that she had no stage fear or nervousness in facing a huge audience. Having set the stage, she had rendered songs in numerous light music programmes.         She expresses her gratitude to Maestro Ilayaraja and his brother Gangai Amaran for bringing her singing talent to the fore.         To her credit, she has over 40 films singing chorus songs and during re-recordings under Ilayaraja's musical score . To make a special mention, is the songs she had sung along with Bhavadarini and Yuvan Sankar Raja for the film Anjali.

        Though she had a love for singing, she had to make a career out of it after her father Srinivasa Narayana Chari's (an automobile engineer) demise. Both her sisters-Indira and Susheela are also singers.

        It is interesting to note she is closely related to a music director, actor and compere in satellie channel. She doesn't rely on pulling strings from their relative sides to dent into playback singing.

        'My source of strength and inspiration is my husband S Balaji who is encouraging me in my singing,' Hemamalini said in touch of pride. Her husband is a resident representative in India for Japan-based Sumitomo Coporation.

        Hemamalini, an UG in commerce, did her computer course at NIIT besides secretaryship course at British Institute. Added to her credit list includes Brown belt in Karate and a beautician course.

        She had put in decade service at Rediffusion as secretary-cum-coordinator and five year stint at Mudra.

        Hemamalini makes it a point to visit to oldage homes and orphanages during her birthdays and wedding anniversaries.

        An ardent devotee of Shridi Saibaba, Hemamalini has named her light music troupe as Shree Sai Raaga.