For 60 years, Vanaja Hariharan who worked for a pharmaceutical company in Mumbai, was content crooning within the four walls of her Thane home. Her humming was for her ears only. Until she was introduced to event organiser and vocalist Laxmi Sirur at a cultural event. Sirur runs Swarmala, an organisation that gives amateur singers a stage to showcase their talent. The organisation has a clear-cut agenda: amateurs only. "I look for raw talent and hone it. In that, I want people who are above the age of 40. I believe youngsters have it easier due to talent shows and their ease with social media," says Sirur. For Hariharan, it was a chance to finally do what she dreamt of. "I have always enjoyed singing but because of career and family obligations, I could never pursue it," she says.

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