Your association with Rahmansaab proved to be a winning combination for the music fraternity as it churned out some captivating chartbusters and even went onto win an Oscar on international stage. What do you think spells fireworks for you two?
It’ s the comfort level and understanding of each other I suppose. Currently, he is undoubtedly one of the best composers we have on the board of global music. But once he finishes off with his scores, he allows me to toy with that bulk output and live with it for some time, before okaying it for recording at the studios. In between, Gulzar sahib adds his magical Midas touch with the pen to that tuneful creation. See, every song has three basic components which make it a success. Song composer, lyricist and last but not the least, the singer— all three departments are extremely important to the job and must unanimously arrive at a consensus to be on the same page. As for the three of us, we are very secure with one another and trust our trio’ s synergies completely to match our wavelengths and decisions. If suggestions pour in, they are accepted with an open mind and with full confidence. Although the creative field is believed to be highly territorial, still it is essential to remain amenable towards accepting ideas from your colleagues and teammates to reap benefits.
But don’ t you think, prestigious gongs like an Academy Award and a Grammy recognition for the song‘ Jai Ho’ could have prompted a bright, promising career for you on the world-pitch with important collaborations( with universally acclaimed artistes) or as an independent soloist for that matter?
You see, I was already singing for international films, for example, Inside Man, Bombay Dreams, Million Dollar Arms and other similar projects. I do have an international fan following and keep doing shows in Australia, USA, Canada and across the European belt where apart from Indian expats, white spectators congregate to delight in my concerts. Yeah, I can’ t deny the accolades and a pervasive platform that Slumdog Millionaire’ s‘ Jai Ho’ and its ensuing Academy Award feat has brought me and I’ m sincerely happy for that. Especially because the song was in Hindi and the lines were written by none other than Gulzarsaab. It is very much our song, a desi creation. However my identity in music is accredited to the Indian film industry where I belong to and my fellow compatriots hold me in highest regard and esteem. For me, music is my passion and soul. So whether it’ s Bollywood or Hollywood, quality music irrespectively finds a peak seat on my priority list.
Is an album in the works?
Frankly speaking, launching an album is almost like making music for a film. It is as demanding and equally challenging, may be a little more creative since it lacks that extra edge of a film’ s storyline and its valuable casting of actors. On the other hand, a private non-film album is solely embraced on the basis of its musical content. Besides my debut albumMunda South Hall da, I did unveil a single called‘ Aatish Para’ which dealt with the issue of child labour and dignity, and was well-appreciated amongst the industrywallahs plus music lovers in general. We had released it digitally. Singles have become a trend of sorts now which is an appreciative sign. I have yet another concept on paper and have been dabbling in it for quite sometime now. It’ s a full on commercial entertainer.
With mainstream Bollywood monopolizing every musical realm, does India have much to offer in its independent category?
You have assessed this quite correctly as the bracket of indie music has palpably limited space but we still have some satisfactory work springing out from the bedrock of original, free-spirited music. We can certainly boast of some very good independent singers despite Hindi movie music ruling the roost on a pan-Indian plane. On the contrary, if you look at the scenario abroad, any good piece of music gets an equal place of significance whereas Indian music is predominantly represented by Bollywood and routinely generates films comprising music and melodies in enormous proportion. Since cinema has its own expansive appeal and impact, it absorbs the maximum market share. Also with digitalization, accessibility has increased. Now every first-class work of music is quickly able to reach its listeners more effectively.
What about experimental music and the band scene in India as many music fests are still patronizing and rooting for independent voices?
Yes, music festivals are like oxygen to independent voices as well as experimentation in music which is conducive to its growth and overall development. So there are bands on national as well as local podiums as Indians in generic are blessed with music in their DNA. Add to this, the nation’ s assorted social fabric which prides in an unlimited room for different types of music in different regional languages. Bands like Parikrama, Indian Ocean and Pentagram have thus survived the onslaughts of changes and thrived over the years. And as a case in point, singers like Raghu Dixit, Vasu Dixit( of Bengaluru’ s folk-fusion band Swarathma fame), Palash Sen, Mansi Scot, Sneha Pant, Anushka Manchanda have their own fan following as powerful independent performers. So on a positive note, they have been there and done that and are hopefully here to stay for many more seasons ahead.
Do you feel there should be a resurgence of indie-pop like the 1990s’ decade when a host of solo careers with the likes of Alisha Chinai, Gary Lawyer, Remo Fernandes, Baba Sehgal, Daler Mehndi took a to a meteoric rise?
Indie-pop in the 1990s rose to dizzying heights in absence of a global reach. Some of them had even exercised mass-hysteria but today world music is easily available at one’ s finger tips at the click of a mouse. You just need to browse the net and Youtube at your sweet will. People are invariably downloading stuff on the I-pods or as caller tunes on their mobilephones, much to
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