Telugu Indian Idol 2 singer Sruthi Nanduri finds a connect between music and medicine; Thaman’s reaction will leave you puzzled

Telugu Indian Idol, the first edition of the popular singing reality show Indian Idol took in Telugu, took off on the streaming platform aha in 2022 with a bang, garnering impressive viewership across the globe. The second season of the show, hosted by (singer) Hemachandra, with Geetha Madhuri, composer S Thaman and singer Karthik as judges, commenced a few days ago.

A recent episode on the show unearthed a Telugu American musical sensation, who took to the stage and left audiences, judges in awe. We’re indeed discussing Sruthi Nanduri, a doctor from the United States with a honeyed voice who surprised many with her vocal range on Telugu Indian Idol 2. Her cultural roots and her efforts to stay true to them are certain to grab your attention.

Sruthi hails from a family with a rich legacy of ‘enki paatalu’ - a musical tradition where the songs are largely associated with journeys, first love, relationships, tragedies, while reflecting the cultural roots of villages. She’s born in the family of Nanduri Venkata Subba Rao, often credited as the father of this musical style. While being a doctor, she discovered the healing power of music only recently.

The contestant, who always had a passion for music, realised it wasn’t impossible to combine two of her interests - music and medicine to change the world. She rendered the popular melody Sri Rama Lera Oh Rama from the Bapu directorial Sri Rama Rajyam on the show recently. Her vocal range and spirited rendition were indeed a delight for music buffs.

However, by the end of her performance, the judge S Thaman left the stage for reasons unknown and it remains to be seen what was the motive behind his gesture. How far will Sruthi Nanduri progress on the show? We’ll get to know soon. The reality show streams on aha every weekend, on Friday and Saturday.