Everything I did was deprecated by the media and others. I think I derived my strength from it. There was brouhaha over my singing my own compositions. I wondered why I cannot choose words to express myself. That's what Tyagaraja did. He described Rama the way he saw him. Ironically many of my works are now being used by musicians and dancers. It's heartening though. I never expected to reach where I am today. I learned music without knowing it will one day become my calling.

In: Chitra Swaminathan "He defines 'style' as tradition".