Mumbayile Malayali Prathibhakal is a regular feature of Kerala in Mumbai, dedicated to celebrating the lives, achievements, and enduring contributions of Malayalees who have distinguished themselves in Mumbai through talent, dedication, perseverance, and hard work.
For decades, members of the Malayali community have played a significant role in shaping the social, cultural, educational, and economic landscape of Mumbai. Their contributions span diverse fields such as literature, arts, music, cinema, business, education, science, social service, sports, and public life. Their journeys of commitment and excellence continue to inspire generations and remain a source of pride for the community.
Through this feature, Kerala in Mumbai seeks to document and honour these remarkable personalities by sharing their stories of achievement, resilience, service, and leadership, thereby preserving an important chapter in the collective memory of Mumbai’s Malayali community.
In this edition of Mumbaiyile Malayali Prathibhakal, we are proud to present Anu Shyam, a popular singer whose mellifluous voice has captivated music lovers across Mumbai and beyond. She was featured as the Artiste of the Month in the November 2015 issue of Kerala in Mumbai, which highlighted her journey as a passionate performer of light music, devotional songs and South Indian music.
Born in Kodakara Taluk in Thrissur District, Anu Shyam grew up in a family with a strong interest in music. She completed her schooling in Kodakara and pursued her college education at Sacred Heart College, Chalakudy. Her musical journey began with training under Subrahmaniam Sir, a renowned music teacher, before she continued her development under Nihan Sitara, the well-known music director, for a period of two years.
After moving to Mumbai following her marriage in 2007, Anu continued to pursue her passion for singing. Based in Dombivli, she became an active performer at various events organised by Malayali cultural associations, including Kerala Samajam and Nair Samajam. She has performed Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi songs and has taken part in events across Mumbai, Pune and Gujarat. The article also notes her association with various music bands and Samajams, which provided her opportunities to perform before audiences across the region.
Anu’s musical interests extend to both light music and Carnatic music. She has been pursuing advanced training in Carnatic music under Prabha Rao, a teacher based in Dombivli. She was also a semifinalist in Sapta Swarangali, a music competition conducted by Asianet TV in 2004, and has participated in several music competitions. Her achievements include winning the Raagalaya Music Competition in 2010 and the Janashakthi Malayalam film song competition in 2010.
Her journey has also included opportunities to perform alongside respected musicians and personalities. The article recalls her participation in events such as Guru Puja for the late Dakshinamurthy Sir, where she had the opportunity to sing evergreen songs, as well as her performances during cultural programmes and private events. She also performed Padapuja of Dakshinamurthy Swamy, a moment captured in the photographs accompanying the feature.
Family support has played an important role in Anu’s musical journey. She credits her husband Shyam for giving her confidence and encouraging her in all her efforts. She also acknowledges the support of her family, music bands and Samajams that have given her opportunities to share her singing with audiences. Her siblings too have shown an interest in the arts, with her elder sister having participated in light music programmes conducted by All India Radio.
Anu Shyam’s story is one of passion, perseverance and a continued love for music. From her early days of learning music in Kerala to performing for Malayali audiences across Mumbai and pursuing advanced Carnatic training, she has continued to nurture her artistic journey. The article concludes with the promise of a singer who has the potential to become a veteran in her field, carrying forward her passion for music with dedication and enthusiasm.
We hope this edition of Mumbaiyile Malayali Prathibhakal brings back the inspiring story of Anu Shyam – the mellifluous singer, whose musical journey continues to reflect the vibrant artistic spirit of the Malayali community in Mumbai.
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