In the vast and vibrant landscape of Indian cinema, women music directors have been a rare presence. In the South Indian film industry, that rarity narrows even further—there has been only one iconic name: MM Srilekha. A true trailblazer, Srilekha made history by becoming a music director at the astonishingly young age of 12, breaking barriers in a space long dominated by men.
Born into a family steeped in musical and cinematic brilliance—she is the sister of acclaimed filmmaker SS Rajamouli and legendary composer MM Keeravani—Srilekha carved her own path with remarkable grit and talent. Over the years, she has composed music for more than 75 films and lent her voice as a playback singer, winning hearts with her versatility and soulful compositions.
Celebrated as one of the finest music composers in Indian cinema, Srilekha’s journey is not just inspiring—it’s a testament to passion, perseverance, and the power of paving the way for future generations of women in music. The Pioneer’s Suresh Kavirayani in an exclusive chat with the seasoned musical maestro, takes you through a closer look at the visionary, who changed the tune of South Indian cinema.
Chasing SPB at age of 5
I was born in a village called Amareshwara Camp, near Raichur, in Karnataka. There is no medical center in that village, so I was born at home. I don’t know how it came to me, but I was drawn to music when I was just five years old. One day, after I watched Sankarabharanam, I felt a strong desire to meet SP Balasubrahmanyam to learn music. I asked my parents to take me to SPB sir for music lessons. They said “okay,” but never actually took me. I must have been five or six years old at the time. Determined, I decided to pack my bag and leave the house. I managed to catch a lorry and told the driver that I wanted to go to Chennai, to meet SPB sir. The driver took me along for a few hours and then, concerned, brought me back home. He handed me over to my parents and warned them, “Keep an eye on her—otherwise, she will leave again.”
Rejected by my idol
MM Keeravani and SS Rajamouli are my brothers, and though we are technically cousins, we all grew up as part of a joint family. Keeravani annayya used to leave his harmonium free on Saturdays and Sundays, so I would take it and play by myself on those two days. During that time, I constantly asked my family members to take me to meet SP Balasubrahmanyam (SPB) sir, as I wanted to sing and learn music from him. One day, they finally took me to SPB sir and told him about my passion for music and my dream to sing. But he immediately rejected me. He told them that I was not fit for singing because my voice wasn’t good. After hearing this, my family members asked me to drop the idea of becoming a singer.
No school, only music
We shifted to Chennai. Ever since I can remember, even from the time I understood imagination, I knew only music — and I wanted to pursue nothing else. I didn’t go to school regularly and never had any formal educational certificates. Everything I learned was at home. Though my parents enrolled me in a school near our house, I went only for a few days. The teachers started complaining because I was constantly singing songs and getting involved in music-related activities, so I left the school.
Annayya’s wise words
At that time, my brother Keeravani was working with music director Chakravarthi and was quite busy. Cars from various production houses would often come to our home to pick him up for recordings. Since I wasn’t going to school, my 
brother began taking me along with him to music sessions. I would silently observe how he worked on compositions and the kinds of discussions that happened in the studio. He always told me one important thing: “Don’t copy from anyone. Do it on your own.” I was deeply fond of Ilayaraja’s music, and I used to play his tunes at home on the harmonium. But my brother would gently remind me — never to imitate, but to create something original.
Slokas Planted the Seeds of Music
When I was eight years old, my uncle noticed my deep interest in music. Seeing my passion, he asked me to memorize Soundaryalahari, the sacred verses written by Adi Shankaracharya. I didn’t know what it meant at the time, but since my father encouraged it, I memorized all hundred slokas. Only later did I realize the spiritual depth and power these verses held — and perhaps, it’s because of their blessings that I stand today as a music composer.
Singing to the Goddess with a Toy Keyboard
My uncle also introduced me to a few ragas and I began singing them in front of the Goddess. They gave me a small keyboard, and every two hours, I would sit and sing devotional songs. That became my routine. Slowly, I started catching the nuances of tunes and melodies. Whenever my brother Keeravani visited home, I would share the tunes I’d come up with. He used to say, “If you get a really nice tune, I’ll buy you an ice cream.” That was all the motivation I needed.
Annayya’s assistant music director
At the same time, I was fascinated by the cars that came to pick up my brother for his music recordings. I once told my father, “I want a car to come for me too.” He replied, “If you give good tunes and become a music director, then your car will also wait outside one day.” Motivated by my family and uncle’s support, my brother Keeravani eventually made me his assistant music director. I got to work on iconic films like Allari Mogudu, Allari Priyudu, Gharana Mogudu, and Kshanam Kshanam under his guidance. People began to recognize that I wasn’t just passionate about music — I was serious about making it my life.
12-Year-Old Who Impressed a Legend
When I was nearly 12 years old, my uncle, Vijayendra Prasad, went to narrate a story to the legendary director Dasari Narayana Rao. I accompanied him that day. Unlike most girls who would carry dolls at that age, I took my keyboard player with me. Dasari garu noticed this and asked my uncle about me. My uncle replied, “She is my brother’s daughter.” Dasari garu then turned to me and asked, “What are you studying?” I told him about myself and my interest in music. Playfully, he asked me to compose a tune — which I did, right there on the spot. He was stunned and went into his house. I assumed he was impressed and had gone in to get me a chocolate. But to my surprise, he returned with a cheque for Rs 25,000 and said, “You are the music director for my film Nannagaru, and tomorrow, I will send a car for you.” I couldn’t believe it. That night, I didn’t sleep at all. I remember asking my brother and others how many chocolates and outfits I could buy with Rs 25,000!
My First Film Recording
The next day, I was thrilled — especially because I too had a car waiting for me like my brother. I went to the recording studio, where Dasari garu’s assistant and associate directors, other technicians, and film personalities were already present. Dasari garu narrated a situation from the story — it was for a duet song. He mentioned he would return in the evening, but I requested him to stay for just ten minutes. Within that time, I gave him the tune. He then asked me to compose the charanam (the secondary section of the song), which I completed in another ten minutes. Gangadhara Sastry and Padmapriya rendered the song, both making their debut as playback singers through it. On the same day, the muhurat (auspicious launch) of the film and the recording took place. Many industry stalwarts, including Chiranjeevi and Mohan Babu, attended the event. The film was released, and the songs became a super hit. That’s how my debut film happened. Dasari garu was so impressed that he gave me a second opportunity as well — he roped me in for his film Kondapalli Rathaiah, which was produced by another legendary figure, Rama Naidu.
Dasari Garu Defended My Music
When I worked with Dasari garu, after composing four or five songs, some rumors began to spread about my music. People claimed that the songs were actually composed by my brother, MM Keeravani, and that my name was just being used. Even Dasari garu heard about these rumors. To give a fitting reply, he decided to address the issue directly. He called a press conference in Vijayawada, inviting the media and holding a live performance to prove the truth. During the event, he narrated a song situation and asked me to compose the tune on the spot, right in front of everyone. I did it then and there, and later delivered the complete song. Dasari garu stood firmly by my side and told the gathered media, “She is very talented. Don’t spread such baseless rumors again.” He strictly warned everyone about making false claims and gave me his full support and encouragement. That moment meant the world to me.
Flop That Led to 13 Films
As I mentioned earlier, Dasari garu brought me on as the music director for his film Kondapalli Rathaiah. While the songs were appreciated, the film unfortunately turned out to be a flop at the box office. However, Rama Naidu, the producer of the film, recognized my potential and offered me his next project — Taj Mahal. That film marked a turning point in my career. After that, I never looked back. I went on to work with Rama Naidu on 13 films, a journey filled with learning, growth, and memorable music.
Debut in Tamil with Thalapathy Vijay
My uncle Vijayendra Prasad once went to narrate a story to actor Vijay, and I accompanied him. At that time, Vijay’s 
father, SA Chandrasekhar, was preparing to launch him as a lead actor. The film was titled ‘Naalaiya Theerpu’, and I was brought on board as the music director. That marked my debut in Tamil cinema with Vijay’s first film. From there, my career took off and I stayed busy with multiple projects.
From Rejection to Hit Duet: My Redemption with SPB
As I mentioned earlier, SPB sir had initially rejected me as a playback singer because of my voice. However, I knew music director Koti garu well and requested him for a chance to sing. He gave me an opportunity for the film ‘Ayanaki 
Iddaru’, directed by EVV Satyanarayana. SPB sir was also singing in the same project. When he saw me at the studio, he asked, “What are you doing here?” I replied, “To sing a song.” He immediately told Koti that I wasn’t a good singer. But Koti insisted he listen to me. I completed my portion first. SPB sir heard it and, to my surprise, complimented me, saying: “Kaki kokila eppudu ayindi” (The crow has become the cuckoo). Our duet ‘Andalamma Andaalu’ became a huge hit, and EVV sir even asked me to sing another song for the same film.
Musical Journey with Rajamouli
My brothers have always been great supporters of my music journey, and I share a special bond with them. I worked with Rajamouli annayya for the serial ‘Santhi Nivasam’, where we discussed various ideas, including background music 
(BGM). At that time, CDs were popular, and he would give me new ones to explore. These exchanges shaped my understanding of sound and storytelling through music. Keeravani anna was happy with my progress and praised me. I even sang many songs for his compositions. Interestingly, my first playback singing opportunity came through the film ‘Little Soldiers’, for which Sri was the music director.
Composing for the Master Blaster
In 2014, I had the honor of composing the theme song for the Kerala Blasters football team, which was owned by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Being a huge fan of his, it was a dream come true. Sachin was incredibly humble and down to earth. I’ll never forget the moment he spoke about me on the opening day in Kerala, saying that just as he achieved 100 centuries early in life, he wished I would complete 100 films as a music director. As a composer, this was one of the most cherished moments of my life, and it still remains unforgettable.
‘Uniki’ to ‘Hit 2’
I’ve known Sailesh Kolanu for several years now. In 2019, he created a short film titled ‘Uniki’, for which I composed the music. Later, I also composed a song for ‘Hit 2’ in 2022 — the song ‘Urike Urike’ remains a favorite among fans and continues to rank high on the charts.
In the Studio and at Home
As a woman music director, I’ve never faced major struggles in the industry. In fact, I’ve received encouragement from all sides. I always stay focused on my work and avoid distractions. I don’t usually share personal details, but I can say that I got married in 2004 and we have a child. My husband works in real estate.
