I love acting, singing and composing; want to keep doing it all: Singer Sree Rama Chandra

Whether it’s recording songs in multiple languages, experimenting with indie sounds, or lighting up the stage with live performances, Sree Rama Chandra continues to explore multiple avenues without being confined to one role. In a candid chat with Hyderabad Times, the Hyderabad-born artiste talks about his connection to the city, balancing music and acting, exploring new genres, and more.Over the years, Sree Rama Chandra has built a diverse profile — recording songs in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil, hosting shows, performing live, and acting. But he doesn’t see the need to pick one lane. “I don’t think anybody’s going to put a gun to my head and ask me to choose,” he says. “I enjoy everything — acting, singing, composing, and performing. I want to continue doing all of it.”Though Sree Rama Chandra began his career as a singer, he ventured into acting with the show called . Reflecting on his love for acting, he shares, "While growing up I was always mesmerised by the stars on screen. I think every South Indian wants to be an actor- we grew up watching legends like NT Rama Rao and Chiranjeevi. I'm thankful I got some good opportunities and would love to do more, especially with music videos that blend story, dance and performance."With hits like and , Sree Rama Chandra has become a familiar name among audiences across multiple languages. However, he points out that even after winning Indian Idol in 2010, his path to playback singing was filled with challenges. “Coming from a reality show background, it’s often hard to break into playback singing,” he notes, adding, “But Indian Idol gave me visibility. I didn’t have any connections, so it was my way to show people what I could do. That’s how songs likeand happened.”The indie music space in India, according to him, has changed considerably. “There’s been a shift in the last few years. Independent artistes are building their own identity, separate from film music. That’s important, because opportunities in playback are limited. I’ve always believed musicians shouldn’t be restricted to cinema alone.”For young artistes, he recommends focusing on refining their skill and staying committed. “There’s no shortcut — just keep practicing and be ready when the opportunity knocks.”Looking ahead, Sree Rama Chandra has a packed independent music calendar. “I have a folk song called Bangaru that I shot in Dubai, a Punjabi track titled Chhen, and a Hindi single, Sang Tere. These are lined up for release this year.”- Divya Shree