In small rooms, music feels eternal: Nithya Mammen on intimate performances

Playback singer Nithya Mammen, one of Malayalam cinema’s soulful voices known to have lent her voice for songs in films like Sita Ramam and King of Kotha, says some of her most meaningful moments come not on massive stages but in intimate gatherings.
‘SMALLER CONCERTS BRING PEOPLE CLOSER’
“Recently, I performed for a small group, and it felt so different from big commercial shows,” she shares. “I could talk to the audience, sing in multiple languages, and really connect. In these settings, music feels like a conversation that was healing, personal, and lasting. After the show, we shared stories, clicked photos, and laughed together… something that rarely happens in large arenas,” she says.
‘EVERGREEN MUSIC MATTERS A LOT MORE THAN PASSING TRENDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA’
While social media keeps artists visible, she believes true music truly transcends it. “A post may go viral today, but it fades. Songs that linger, that people search for decades later — I want to make such songs; that’s my dream. Evergreen music matters more than trends,” she points out.

PLAYBACK VS. INDEPENDENT MUSIC
For Nithya, who is also working on an Indie project with musician Arun Sukumaran, both playback and indie music hold beauty. “In films, you sing for a character and the director’s vision. Independent music is more personal — you’re expressing your own truth. But in both, the secret is to stop overthinking and just feel,” she feels.
‘SINGING WITH SONU NIGAM WAS A DREAM COME TRUE’
Nithya, who is singing alongside Sonu Nigam for an upcoming Hindi film, says, “I’ve always loved Sonuji. His album Deewana was on loop during my childhood. So recording a song with him was surreal — proof that music connects across languages. Recording with him was a dream come true.”