Playback singer Charulatha Mani, who recently gained widespread attention with Anju Vanna Poove from Thug Life, has now stepped into a new creative space with her independent single Thendralil. The track marks her debut as a composer and lyricist, while she also lends her voice to the song.
Recently launched by actor Vijay Sethupathi, Thendralil presents a soft and emotional story set against the backdrop of the ocean, waves, and sandy shores. The romantic indie track explores themes of love, longing, and emotional connection.
Speaking about the project, Charulatha shared that composing music had always been part of her long-term vision.
“I had wanted to compose for a long time. I studied composition at a conservatorium in Australia, and I also come from a Carnatic music background. I felt this was the right moment to bring those experiences together and create something from my own artistic perspective,” she said.
The singer revealed that the song came together naturally during a quiet afternoon session with her guitar.
“I was experimenting with a few chords when the hook came to me very naturally. After that, I started shaping the melody and writing the lyrics. The production process took time because I wanted every detail to feel authentic,” she explained.
One of the unique elements of the song is the use of a live sarangi performance by musician Manonmani. The track was later mixed and mastered by Midhun Manoj, while Divo Music handled the video production.
The music video, directed by Dharen Karthik, stars Maalavika and Dhavan and visually expands the emotional narrative of the song. The story follows a woman waiting for her partner, who has gone out to sea, while the beach setting reflects her emotions of love and separation.
Charulatha revealed that the song was inspired by her own personal experiences.
“I wrote the song during a period when my husband was in the United States for a few months while I was here. One afternoon, while sitting with a cup of coffee and missing him, the emotions naturally turned into lyrics and melody,” she shared.
The singer also appears briefly in the music video and said she felt comfortable performing on camera due to her earlier television and stage experiences.
Talking about her transition into composing, Charulatha described the process as both exciting and challenging.
“As a singer, you interpret someone else’s creation, but composing everything yourself brings a completely different responsibility. It gave me creative freedom, but it also pushed me to trust my instincts and make every artistic decision independently,” she said.
The launch of Thendralil by Vijay Sethupathi added another memorable moment to the journey. According to Charulatha, the actor appreciated the earthy and authentic feel of the song.
“We felt Vijay Sethupathi would be the perfect person to launch the track because of his natural connection with rooted Tamil storytelling. He listened to the song and really liked the melody and groove,” she added.
Looking ahead, Charulatha said she hopes to continue exploring independent music while also composing for films in the future.
“There is a growing space for independent music, and I want to continue releasing original songs consistently. At the same time, I would love to compose for cinema and create musical themes connected to characters and emotions,” she said.
Apart from her independent work, the singer also confirmed that she is currently recording songs for upcoming film projects with several composers.
