Imphal, March 5: Having conquered the hearts of music lovers of Manipur, Salam Sophia, who is compared with the Nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar, for her sonorous voice, is all set to enrapture the south Indian film and music lovers.
Sophia, 26, will be lending her voice in a forthcoming Tamil film in a duet with the famous south Indian singer-cum-composer Hariharan. She has recorded the song, Arjuna... Arjuna... in the action film Hay at studio SASI, Chennai, owned by music sensation A.R. Rehman on February 25.
The lyrics have been penned by Kalai Kumar and the music is by Shrikant Dev, who was an assistant to Rehman. The film, produced by Tiru Alluwar, is being directed by actor and director Venkatesh (of Anari fame). The main cast of the film, which is nearing completion, includes Sarat Kumar and Nimita.
Just back from Chennai, the soft-spoken Sophia sits pretty at her home in Sagolband Salam Leikai here. She said she got the chance to sing for Hay through one of her friends, who is a keyboard player in Rehman?s orchestra team. Sophia said after Hay, she has got offers from some of the Tamil film producers/directors to sing for their films.
Sophia, the second daughter of Salam Ibomcha and Salam Ongbi Nganbitonleima, did geography honours from G.P. Women?s College. Her mother said Sophia had an avid interest in music since childhood and was deeply influenced by her maternal grandfather, Huirem Gouramani, a renowned Nat Sanskirtan singer of his time.
But it was her uncle, Salam Khamba, who recognised her talent and encouraged her to take up music seriously. Sophia had her formal training to hone her talent under the guidance and watchful eyes of her guru, Arambam Dorendra.
Sophia is the second Manipuri singer, who has earned the credit of being a playback singer for a non-Manipuri film. Manipur?s ?melody queen? Laishram Memma had sung a song in the Hindi film Dilwar in the early eighties.