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P Susheela is an inspiration to new generation singers and music lovers. A five-time National Award winner and a recipient of the awards given by Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh governments, the veteran has sung in 12 languages, which include Tulu, Sinhalese and Padugu. The legend shares her musical journey.The beginningsI got to study music at a very young age since my father Mukund Rao, a lawyer, was very much musically inclined. I was singing for the All India Radio when Pendyala Nageswara Rao came in search for  a new voice. I was auditioned and still remember him shedding tears of joy. I was overwhelmed when he chose me to sing the shloka ‘Gajendra Motcham’ for ‘Petra Thai’ and its Telugu version as well.The first complete song to be recorded was ‘Ethukku azhuthai’ with A M Raja in 1951.  My first Malayalam song was recorded by V  Dakshinamurthy for the movie ‘Seetha’.  I remember him teaching me the nuances of the Malayalam language especially the pronunciation of  certain syllables, along with the meaning of the lines and the context of the song. Himself an accomplished singer, he could render ‘sangathis’ with ease.