MUSIC has the power to move us to the heights or depths of our emotions. It can convince us to buy something or evoke memories of our first date.
The language of music is profound and universal, a shared element understood by all.
And there’s one all-rounder by the name of Dhilip Varman, popularly known among the Indian community in the country for his mesmerising voice that often captivates the hearts of not only the ladies but men too.
Born and bred in Penang, Dhilip, 41, has been producing music for the past 20 years, and still has the potential to make a significant impact on the Malaysian music industry.
On March 1, Buletin Mutiara visited Dhilip at his residence in Simpang Ampat, to understand further about his background and journey in the music industry.
Hailing from a family with deep musical roots, particularly his father P. Sunder, Dhilip said his life in this industry was shaped based on where he came from.
“My father was a musician, and he was part of a music band many years ago, and I was naturally infused with his traits.
“Although I was a natural-born musician, I had to struggle during my early years. I earned an average of RM20 for each local concert or wedding reception I performed at.
“I am talking about 20 years ago, but it was those challenging moments that somewhat played a part in shaping my subsequent success.
“I made my debut in 2002 when I was offered a chance to sing in an album called Rogkwave “Naveenam”, and the song’s title is ‘Iru Kangal Pesum’.
“Subsequently, I started working with notable directors in the Tamil industry in Malaysia, and several songs that gained instant hits, include ‘Uyirai Tholaithen’, ‘Meendum Meendum’, ‘Kanavellam Neethaney’ and many others,” Dhilip said during the interview.
What many may not know is that Dhilip doesn’t only sing, but he is also a music composer, lyricist, sound engineer, mixer, and editor. He can also play many types of instruments, such as ‘veena’, guitar, violin and others.
Moreover, he is also an individual who creates music simply out of pure love for the art and possesses a profound knowledge of this subject.
Contrary to misconceptions, he has clarified that not all his past compositions were based on his personal life.
Throughout his 20-year journey in the music industry, Dhilip has bagged numerous well-deserved awards.
Among the most recent ones were the ‘Uprising Composer Ezhuzimigu Music’ by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam People Welfare from India (2022), ‘Kalaimaamani Award’, which is the highest civilian award in the state (2022), and many others.
In 2023, he won the ‘Popular Music Composer of 2023’ at the Astro Ulagam Award ceremony.
Besides his extensive work in the industry, Dhilip is also a one-of-a-kind musician as he has contributed to the education sector.
He has composed and sung songs for schools such as SJKT Bukit Mertajam, SJKT Ladang Rini and SJKT Ladang Jawi on the mainland.
On his plans, Dhilip is focused on organising a symphony orchestra on a big scale in Penang and is determined to set up an academy with a primary focus on training the younger generation.
Story and pix by Kevin Vimal