Amrutha Suresh shot to fame during her stint on a TV reality show, quickly becoming a fixture in Malayali hearts. Her voice won her accolades and her band, Amrutam Gamaya gained international fame. But all of that faded for a while as marriage, and then pregnancy and motherhood, took centre-stage in her life. However, the siren call of her music wasn’t to be denied and now she’s back, with a music video proclaiming her return, shooting into the hearts of women with canny precision, singing to them that they are to find strength within themselves, as she did.

Does one ever get used to fame? What was your first taste of it like?

I think no one has ever really asked me this question before. I started singing at the age of three and from then on, my passion was music and my dream was to become a singer. And, I loved the applause – I even longed for it. And now that I’m here, I’m always grateful, because this is what I’ve always wanted. And fame that comes along with it is also something that I’ve always enjoyed. But, I think people see me more as a family member than as a celebrity, and that, I consider a true blessing.

Top: Salt Studio
Rings: Pure Allure

Your star was on the rise. Do you ever feel like you cut everything short too quickly?

I believe in destiny. I think everything in my life was destined by God, it’s all been written somewhere and that’s why it’s all happening. I got married early and everything to do with pregnancy and the challenges that come with it, are done with. My baby is four now and very mature for her age. So even though she accompanies me whenever it is possible, she never causes any problems and I can concentrate on my music. I believe that everything happened the way it did for good.

Cape: Salt Studio

Your new single, “Anayathe”, is termed your comeback. How symbolic is it?

It’s my first single and as I’d always wanted to do something for women. Through this music video, I want to convey a message to all the women out there that there’s been enough of crying. There’s a spark inside all of us and it’s about time we let it blaze into a fire, without watering it with our tears.

What inspired you to make this comeback?

Again, my baby. She is my everything. Whenever I’m feeling low, I think of her and instantly become happy. I took a small break, because of my marriage and my pregnancy, but I was always involved with music. I never really went away.

Blouse: Salt Studio
Skirt: Soucika
Sandals: Aldo
Jewellery: Pure Allure

What then, is music to you?

All I know in life is to sing. My entire life, to be honest, has revolved around music. If you ask me who my best friend is, I’ll say it’s music. Because, you share everything with your best friend and that’s what I do with my music. I express my feelings through music.

Is there more music in the works?

I’m currently working on an international project with producer Luckz from Sweden, but I can’t really give out (more) details. It’s a dream come true, for me, as I’ve always wanted to be an international musician. Like Celine Dion. (laughs) I’ve always dreamt of performing like her, and Michael Jackson. This is proof for my belief that if you always dream high, you will definitely reach higher.

Blouse: Amra Boutique
Jacket: Stett
Skirt: Ioara
Earrings: Pure Allure
Pins & Patches: Aldo

When it comes to your band, Amrutam Gamaya, have you chalked out its future? Or will you be carrying on solo?

Amrutam Gamaya is in my blood (points to her tattoo) and it will always be there. I’ll be doing solos, but if possible, I’ll try to merge both. Even though I love doing solos more, Amrutam Gamaya is very important to me. Moreover, it’s the first sister-duo band from Kerala. For that reason alone, I’d keep my band alive.

Cape: Salt Studio
Boots: Payless

How do you keep yourself motivated?

I have some good friends surrounding me and my family is always around to support me, to give me that push. I’m a daydreamer and I think up positive as well as negative things. Sometimes, when I wake up with a lot of negative energy, I think about them. I have a good set of people around me who help me, especially my parents, sister and daughter.

Is it hard, finding time for Avantika, as you reshape your career?

Not at all. She is always with me. If I’m at work at the studio, she’s mature enough to understand that I’m not to be disturbed and that she should be quiet while I’m singing. She is very understanding even though she’s only four. I take her along with me whenever I can. My world revolves around Avantika.

Top: Vero Moda
Skirt: Soucika
Shoes: Others
Jewellery: Pure Allure

If you could give your younger self a piece of advice, be it about music or about life in general, what would it be?

Always be positive. Keep smiling. Everyone makes mistakes, but repeating mistakes is a choice. Make sure you correct the mistakes of your past, that you take a different route and not repeat them. You decide what you want in your future and how you want to be in it.

Model: Amrutha Suresh

Words by: Rheanna Mathews

Photographer: Jinson Abraham

Styling: Lakshmi Babu

Makeup: Renju Renjimar

Hair Styling: Sudhi

Retouch: Jemini Ghosh

Location: Travancore Court by Spree, Cochin

Costumes: Salt Studio, Soucika,Vero Moda, Ioara, Amra Boutique, Stett

Accessories: Pure Allure & ALDO

Shoes: Payless & ALDO

Digital Magazine: https://goo.gl/uorGj9

The post Amrutha Suresh Is Back With A Breath Of New Life appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Words: Rochelle D’Souza   Images from: Amrutha Suresh

The hardest job in the world isn’t that of a doctor who serves as a trauma surgeon and deals with life and death situations at least 10 times a day. It isn’t of a journalist reporting from a war torn region. It isn’t that of a firefighter or a policeman. Yes, there are extremely difficult *careers* to pursue. Ones that require extreme amounts of skill, bravery, training and a test of one’s will, not to mention the fact that lives of either yourself or of others, hang in the balance. So what’s the toughest job in the world? Being a mother.

Motherhood is a paradigm shift that only mothers can comprehend. If you’re sitting here today reading this then the odds are that there has been a woman in your life who has been through all of the above and then some for you (unless you were born in a petri dish – which is very unlikely). So if motherhood and being a mom is the hardest job in the world, what about single mothers?

Our cover girl for the upcoming issue for FWD Life Magazine is one such woman who has dared to beat the odds and raise her child single-handedly all while juggling a star studded musical career simultaneously. For Amrutha Suresh, motherhood was not just the proverbial hardest job that she ever had to do but it is also the hardest job that she absolutely loves doing. “I got married early and when my marriage ended it felt like my world was going to end and it was Paapu (Amrutha’s daughter Avantika) that helped me overcome it. Today she is four years old and she was the reason I decided to return to my musical career.” Amrutha told FWD.

Motherhood is not for the faint hearted and raising a child single handedly is seems something us mere mortals couldn’t handle. When asked how she would describe single motherhood Amrutha said “Paapu is like my little friend. My world revolves around her. Everything I do, I do for her. When it comes to my music I am a workaholic and the only thing I stop and think of in the middle of work is Paapu. Has she eaten? Is she tired? Is she ok? There are times when I can’t take her along in case my schedule is really hectic or if there’s a lot of travelling involved but even then she has been so understanding. Sometimes I am in awe of how mature she is about it. She says ‘its ok Amma, I know you have to go so that you can buy me toys and send me to school.’ She really is my driving force.”

There are no days off from being a mom and for a single mother, come rain or sunshine, in sickness or in health in good times and in bad there is no option of taking a day off for herself and as the saying goes, it takes an entire village to raise a child and Amrutha agrees. In her case, her family and her sister Abhirami is her village that comes together every time she needs a helping hand. “I love my daughter more than I ever thought possible and am lucky to have a kind, healthy child, but the reality is that motherhood is tough, especially when you are on your own, thankfully I have my family behind me backing me up.”

Playing the role of both mommy and daddy can have its sunshine and its rain. It is a world filled with laughter and the pitter-patter of tiny feet in little shoes, and a small sticky hand in yours. Of lisped sweet pronouncements and scrawl of coloured pencil drawings, funny questions, tousled hair and the loveliness of a sleeping toddler but most importantly it is that little human who is such a big part of you, whose declaration, “Mummy, I love you.” Is one of the most fulfilling and heart-warming things you will ever hear. And it is words like these and the little joys they will bring to you every day that makes it all worth it.

The post Musician Or Mother? Amrutha Suresh On Being A Single Mother appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.