In front of a crowd of approximately 8,000 people at Chennai’s Nehru Stadium, young singer Abby V delivered a stellar performance that left a lasting impression on the attendees. The occasion was the eagerly awaited audio launch of “Indian 2,” a film featuring the legendary Kamal Haasan. Abby V, who hails from a Tamilian household in Toronto, Canada, captivated the audience and the stalwarts of the Tamil film industry with his mesmerizing voice.
Among the keen observers in the audience were Abby’s parents, who had flown all the way from Canada to witness this significant moment in their son’s burgeoning career. His father, Venky V, an instrumental figure in Abby’s early musical education, was also present, watching with pride and joy.
“It was my first experience of performing live at an audio launch and it was a brilliant experience,” reminisces Abby V, smiling ear to ear. The young singer performed “Neelorpam,” the sole melody in “Indian 2,” directed by Shankar with music composed by Anirudh. Though Abby has sung tracks for other films before, this performance marked his first major breakthrough.
The tale of how Abby V landed the opportunity is as serendipitous as inspiring. “It was a couple of months ago when I got a call from Anirudh’s studio, and everything happened so quickly,” he recalls. The timing couldn’t have been more fortuitous—Abby was in Mumbai when he received the call and soon boarded the next flight to Chennai to record the track. “I absolutely loved the scratch, especially the ‘Maara’ hookline,” he says with enthusiasm.
The song “Neelorpam,” which also features vocals by Shruthika Samudhrala and evocative lyrics by Thamarai, is poised to become a timeless track. Abby explains, “Due to many song algorithms, composers usually go for the three-minute mark for their tracks, but with ‘Neelorpam’, we went for more than five minutes, a rarity in film songs today.” The longer duration allowed Abby to explore intricate vocal nuances, for which he credits Anirudh’s complete creative support.
Regular Instagram users might be familiar with Abby’s musical prowess. His social media presence is a delightful mix of various musical engagements—one day, he might share a Carnatic music-based reel, while the next day, he could be seen taking on quirky challenges like guessing song lyrics from scrambled words. One of his most viral videos was a fun take on the Vogue series “73 Questions,” where Abby explored 73 ragas in a back-to-back sequence, displaying his versatility in both Hindustani and Carnatic music.
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“I keep changing things around. I am an entertainer, and it’s my responsibility to make good art and have fun along the way,” says Abby, who recently released an original track, “Nee Nee Nee,” performed alongside Andrea Jeremiah.
The singer considers his Canadian upbringing a “huge blessing,” a factor that exposed him to a mélange of musical styles. He notes, “Even when I perform, I try to incorporate things I have imbibed growing up. People have commented on how my hand gestures resemble those of an R&B or hip-hop artist. You can see all those influences in my singing too.” Abby is currently engrossed in an eclectic mix of music, including the other tracks of “Indian 2” and AR Rahman’s “Chamkila,” as well as pop music.
Abby has vivid memories of listening to AR Rahman’s original soundtrack for the first “Indian” film, released in 1996. “Pretty iconic songs, right?” he reflects. Abby shares that his father is an ardent Kamal Haasan fan, and watching Shankar’s previous films had set quite the benchmark. When Abby learned that he would be contributing to “Indian 2,” he felt the weight of the responsibility. “I was like, ‘Oh my god, that’s a lot of pressure.’ But for this sequel, we just wanted to put out a fresh sound and style of singing,” he elaborates.
Despite “Neelorpam” having just recently been released, Abby has already recorded several more film songs awaiting their turn in the spotlight. “With film work, there’s so much collective energy because the director and producer also provide feedback, helping shape up a number,” he explains. This collaborative process is something Abby deeply cherishes and is eager to experience more as he continues to ascend in his career.
In summary, Abby V’s enchanting performance at the “Indian 2” audio launch not only marked a significant milestone in his musical journey but also heralded the arrival of a fresh, versatile talent in the world of Tamil cinema. With more songs and projects on the horizon, Abby V is poised for an illustrious future in music.
