Soumya Sanathanan
Play back singer & musical composer
Sultanate of Oman
A gifted singer with a mellifluous voice, an amazing percussionist who plays several instruments with ease, and a musical composer, Soumya Sanathanan is one of the brightest stars in the art and culture galaxy of the Sultanate. She is a familiar figure during community cultural events, during which she sways the audience with her silky voice. Her quest for versatility is taking her to greater heights.
Childhood and Education
The daughter of Sanathanan Kunjukrishnan, who has been an ace entrepreneur in Oman for 47 years, and Thara, Soumya has her roots in Thiruvananthapuram. Her parents identified the musical talent of their daughter when she was only four. The little prodigy was groomed by Jaya, who played a key role in laying the foundations of music and rhythm.
After moving to Kerala, Soumya’s musical talents were nurtured by the able guidance of maestro Perumbavoor G Raveendranath. Almost at the same time, the budding singer was trained in veena by Gomati Chidambaram, who supported her immensely. At a young age, she used to partake in several cultural events and come home with prizes. Equally passionate about studies, Soumya knew what her career path was, and so she decided to pursue music for higher studies. She holds the record for getting the highest marks in the undergraduate exam for music in Kerala University. She was also voted the best outgoing student of NSS College in 2005. Soumya was also the topper while doing her MA in Music. The singer also has a PG in Clinical Psychology and a PhD from Kerala University in 2021. She has published a UGC-NET guidance book for music students, to help them crack the test.
The Making of a Musical Celebrity
Synonymous with versatility, Soumya also proved that she was adept in playing the tabla and other percussion instruments like the congo, drums, idakka, darbuka, djembe, and dhol. Her first tryst with showbiz was when she was still in school. She appeared in the popular TV show ‘Ma Ga Re Sa’ on Asianet, in which she proved her mettle as a tablist. It was just the beginning. Soon, opportunities came knocking at her door, and she made her debut as a playback singer in the Malayalam movie ‘Saivar Thirumeni’ in which she sang along with legendary maestro K J Yesudas. The music was composed by another colossal figure Raveendran Master. Then came a duet with popular singer M G Sreekumar in the movie ‘Chathurangam’.
Musical Journey Continues
Her proficiency as a proficient music composer came to the fore when she was a Grade A light music composer in Akashavani. Soumya’s enthralling voice was noticed when she aired many national programmes for radio as well as Doordarshan, the national channel. She had a constant desire to explore new vistas in music, which led her to experiment with an a capella number, ‘Thumbapookaatil’, which became a runaway hit on YouTube in no time and went viral among Malayali listeners. A capella is a style of music in which there are no instruments other than claps, snaps, taps or hums to create a perfect composition. Soumya was inspired by Iranian musician Aala Wardi’s A Capella rendition of ‘Pehla Nasha,’ and that made her attempt one by herself.
With a life that has been dedicated to music, Soumya finds pleasure in delving deep into music by learning its complicated nuances under gurus such as Joboy Master, Satheesh Babu, and Binu John. When she is not preparing for stage shows, she loves to spend time in her recording studio composing different genres of songs. She has sung in the movie ‘Dhanayathra’ for musician Rajamani, and she joined hands with playback singer P Preetha to create an a capella version of ‘Vande Mataram’, which became a hit. Her little daughter, Neelambari, also sang in this unique piece. Soumya’s stage shows with prominent singers and musicians are sure crowd-pullers. She also deserves credit for bringing to life the lyrics of stalwarts such as Sreekumaran Thampi, Poovachal Khader, Mankombu Gopalakrishnan, Rafeeq Ahammed and K Jayakumar. Soumya also composed the title track for TV serials ‘Kabani’ and ‘Paadatha painkili’.
Foreign Collaborations
Soumya has also extended her musical journey into international collaborations, working with artists and composers from diverse musical backgrounds. She engaged with Grammy-nominated Colombian composer Juan Arboledo on the international project Mantras, contributing her vocals. She also collaborated with Israeli electronic and world-music artist Sajanka as the featured vocalist on ‘Om Bhur’, an internationally released track that subsequently received remix versions. Her continuing interest in cross-cultural musical exploration has led to further international tie-ups, including the 2026 release ‘World Wind’.
Charity and Passion
A singer with the milk of human kindness, Soumya engages in charitable endeavours. In this regard, her experience in Clinical Psychology has stood her in good stead. She volunteers with Pallium India, a Thiruvananthapuram-based NGO that provides palliative care to the terminally ill. Apart from music, this crooning sensation loves to hit the tarmac with her four-wheel drive. She is also an aficionado when it comes to culinary delights. A lover of percussion, Soumya also has an enviable collection of percussion instruments.
Contact Information
;
Mob: +91 7012819493; +968 99621422
