Why is Vishnu Ravindran’s ‘Ma Cheri’ more than a dance number?

Self-deprecating humor and life lessons flow in waves from singer-songwriter Vishnu Ravindran, which is unusual for someone so young. Speaking about the launch of his 26th single, ‘Ma Cherie’, the musician says, “My pronunciation may not please the French, but I think I can reassure people here that I’m pronouncing it right.”

“By the way, it means ‘my darling’,” he adds, adding that it was suggested by his graphic designer and his team found it so amusing that he couldn’t even articulate it correctly. Before the launch of the song, this inside joke went viral on social media, making fun of Vishnu.

Vishnu says, the song is a layered response to life. “‘Ma chérie’ is where I found myself when I was entering my 30s. I was under the impression that the work ethic of my 20s, where you push yourself to work hard and barely take breaks, is fine. However, your body has a different view. You can no longer go 30 hours without sleep, sitting at a keyboard or playing guitar. It takes a toll on you.”

He says, “Initially, I was disappointed, but then I decided to take a more positive approach, seeing the issue as an interesting creative puzzle to solve.” He added, “When you try to abandon something that has always worked, and try something new, it doesn’t happen easily.”

To stay motivated, Vishnu asked himself what attracted him to this act of creativity, and he realized that it was the museum itself.

“Artists are constantly searching for an other-worldly vibe that will elevate what they are creating. I felt this song should encapsulate that journey, helping people understand what an artist is busy with or struggling with most of the time.”

Having said that, Vishnu admits that there has never been any specific inspiration or source of inspiration for him. To explain his quest, he says, “It has to be imbued with transcendence. It has to make you dance in the mundane; it could be a person or a culture or a trip that makes you feel, ‘Wow! I didn’t know that was possible’. I believe that’s the most important factor.”

In addition to the knowledge that long, uninterrupted hours are not the way to go, Vishnu talks about the notion of how entertainment and fun conflict with “serious” art, music, and literature.

Vishnu Ravindran

“No perceived compromise exists between the two. In this age of constant reels and shorts I would like to tell people that finishing a book or learning an instrument, working on something until you get really good at it, is a worthwhile journey. We don’t have to agree with the notion of this versus that; you can have both.”

Vishnu says, inconveniences or challenges will keep appearing in life in some way or the other. “You can also choose a path that will produce some meaning, talent or skill. I believe ‘Ma Cheri’ represents that part of an artist’s journey as well.”

Ma Cherry by Vishnu Ravindran is available on all streaming platforms