As hundreds of devotees prepared for the annual fire-walking festival at Sri Mariamman Temple in the days leading up to Theemithi on Oct 20, more than 2,000 miles away in Tamil Nadu, singer V.M. Mahalingam was doing the same – though not for the ritual itself, but for a special musical performance.
On the nights of Oct 18 and 19, Mahalingam performed at the temple for over three hours each night, captivating a crowd of around 3,500 people in total. Among the 100 or so devotional songs performed were 10 original compositions penned specially for the occasion.
“From the moment we were booked for this event four months ago, my team and I thought about how to arrange the songs to suit the energy of the crowd,” the 41-year-old told tabla!
“It’s a privilege to perform at Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple for such an important festival. Singing these devotional songs is like invoking a divine presence; people feel something beyond words.”
Hailing from Sivagangai in Tamil Nadu, Mahalingam is a well-known figure in India’s folk and devotional music scene, with hundreds of songs recorded in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu.
He has performed more than 1,500 concerts in India and abroad. He also performed in Singapore in 2022 as a part of Indian music composer D. Imman’s concert.
His journey into the world of music began at a young age thanks to his family’s musical roots.
“I grew up with my mother singing kummi pattu (folk songs in Tamil),” he said. “Whenever there was an event, like a wedding or ear-piercing ceremony, I’d rush to the microphone and sing the traditional songs of our time.”
His grandfather, a devout man who sang lullabies for the goddess Mariamman, nurtured Mahalingam’s musical upbringing.
“He would sing throughout the night during rituals, and that’s how I was brought up – always surrounded by singing.”
After working various odd jobs for several years, his big break came in 2009 when he recorded his first song for a Tamil film, marking the start of his playback-singing career.
He has since sung for numerous films and worked with prominent music directors including A.R. Rahman, Ilayaraja and Yuvan Shankar Raja.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the greatest people in the music industry. They’ve all been very supportive, which has helped me grow as a singer,” he said.
Despite his success in the film industry, Mahalingam said his heart remains rooted in devotional and folk music.
“People often say that music originated from the villages, and I truly believe that,” he said.
