Singer Usha Uthup's idea of a tribute to the survivors of last year's Tsunami disaster was to collect almost every playback singer in South India, pack them all into a bus, get them on board a naval ship and ask them to sing an anthem to the sea.

Eager to do something to mark the anniversary of the tragedy, the attempt was to keep a positive spirit alive and this group of singers happily agreed.

"We are singers. Singing is what we do best." said Malgudi Subha, singer. Usha Uthup seconds that feeling. "You know, people forget disasters. We just wanted to spread some positive energy. Money isn't always the answer, you know," she says.

And so was formed the idea that brought together several acclaimed singers, including SP Balasubramaniam, Chitra, Unni Menon, Srinivas, and Vijay Yesudas on board a nava vessel to compose an anthem to the sea.

But the rough seas, left them green in the face, dreaming of land and reminding them of what this sea must have been like a year ago.

"It might've been a pleasant experience, but we all never forgot the purpose behind it. I mean, we were all on a comfortable ship and couldn't manage. I can imagine those poor fishermen on boats," said SP Balasubramanian, playback singer.

"It's disgusting. No multinational company came forth to help us. I mean, the money is such a small amount, it means nothing to them,"said the director, Trilok.

The artistes consider the anthem a prayer offered to the sea, a sea that has calmed down since last year. And all went well till the ship engine broke down mid-sea, These 11 singers got on board thinking they'd just have to lend their voices to the tsunami anthem. But a whole day of being thrown back and forth by the rough sea, they say their solidarity is more heartfelt.