On my pinboard: Siddhartha Belmannu

Siddhartha Belmannu, hailing from Karkala, has made a mark in the Kannada film industry with songs like ‘Baana toredu neeli’ from the film Pushpaka Vimana and ‘Badukina Bannave’ from Tagaru. Having been trained in Hindustani classical music, he has been performing across the country from the age of 19. Siddhartha also excels in light music, Marathi Abhangs, Kannada Devarnaama and Vachanaas. The singer has many new projects lined up in the coming days.

Food
Jolad Rotti
“I am a foodie. I like exploring the local dishes in the places I visit. Exploring the food culture of the place fascinates me. We also own a hotel called ‘Suprabhata’, so I mostly head there and eat whenever I feel like it. Jolad Rotti is my favourite. Apart from that, I like going out for chaats with friends. Paav Bhaji and Masala Puri is something I like the most. Chandra sweets in VV puram is the place I go to for Pav Bhajis; it’s the best in town. I also like sweets. Homemade Holige is my all-time favourite.”

Inspiration
Vinayak Torvi
"I look up to my guru Vinayak Torvi, not just when it comes to music, but in general; I got a chance to observe this when I went on music tours with him. The way
he leads his life is an inspiration. It is difficult to say what I look up to in him.”

Films
Vikram Vedha
“I like watching films but I wont call myself a movie buff. I like watching Tamil films; I put on the subtitles when I don’t understand the language. Vikram Vedha, 96, Kaala , Pushpaka Vimana, Ondu Motteya Kathe and Shivaji are some of my favourite films. Santhosh Narayanan, Charan Raj, Judah Sandy and Anirudh Ravichandar are some of my liked music composers. Among actors, I like Vijay Sethupathi, Vikram and Rajinikanth the most.”

Travel
Varanasi
“As a musician, my work takes me to a lot of places. But, I also take some time off from work and spend it with family and friends. Manhattan is one of my favourite places; it is like a whole other world. In India, I like visiting Varanasi for its divinity and the Western Ghats for the beautiful scenery there. I like spending time close to nature. But my go-to place will always be my hometown, Karkala.”

Music
Bhimsen Joshi
“I have been into Hindustani music as a kid. I enjoy listening to the works of Bhimsen Joshi, Vinayak Torvi, Rashid Khan and Salamat Nazakat Ali. I also like Jazz. John Coltrane, Esperanza Spalding and Chick Corea are some of my favourite singers.”