MUSIC
Why do you say that singing for Bahubali 2 was nothing short of a miracle?
Every human being goes through some miracle or the other in his or her life. Sometimes we ignore them or do not understand them. When I was judging Sa Re Ga Ma Bengali with Kumar Sanu, Jeet Ganguly, Palak Muchchal and Santanu Moitre, I received a call a month before Bahubali 2 was released from music director M.M.Kreem’s office in Hyderabad asking me to fly the next day to sing for Bahubali 2. I was zapped. I was undergoing some legal problem with some organizer. I did not dream that I would get an opportunity to sing for a cult film like Bahubali 2.I had sung for M.M.Kreem earlier for films like Kasak and Paheli and I am a fan of Bahubali. So I requested the producers of the music reality show to let me go to Hyderabad and sing for Bahubali 2.
Go on!
I went by the morning flight to Hyderabad. M.M. Kreem told me that he had thought of me to sing that song because it was quiet tough and felt only I could do justice to it. When I rehearsed for the number, I felt I should practice more and requested him to keep the recording the next morning, though I had a return flight booked. They cancelled the ticket. In one take I recorded the song Mere Bansi Bajaye Nandlala Kanhaiya and there was a miracle in store for me when I reached Mumbai. I was told that my legal problem was resolved. It is the best song in my career.
You have been associated with A.R. Rahman since the last 15 years. What changes have you noticed in his music and in him as an individual over the years?
A.R. Rahmanji is one music director moves with the times. I sang for him for the first time the song Naina Milayke for Saathiyaa. How I met him makes very interesting reading. After I sang a jingle at Worli, I was told that he was going to record for Ashutosh Gowarikar at night for Swades. I decided to wait till 3 am just to meet Rahmanji. When he asked me to sing, I sang Kaali Megha Kaali Megha with a lot of harkat. He liked it and said he would call me. I waited for him to call the next day but it took him a year, when he called me to sing form Saathiya. His treatment and arrangement of the songs have evolved too. So has his singing.
Do you regret not being able to sing for A.R. Rahman for some years now?
Ever since he won the Oscar, he has become so busy with international assignments that he hardly stays in India. But I’m happy that if he is working on a film in India, he does call me whenever possible. I feel honored that he has such faith in my singing. My journey with him started in 2002. I have been singing for him from Saathiya till Raanjhaana.
Which are the five best songs in your career?
Mere Bansi Bajaye (Bahubali 2) In Lamhon Ki Daaman (Jodha Akbar), Hum Hain Is Pal (Kisna), Vaaji Vaaji (Sivaji The Boss) and Kabhi Neem Neem (Yuva).
The item numbers have become the real rage in Hindi films. As a singer trained in traditional classical music, what do you think of this trend?
It’s now the race for item songs as previously was for romantic songs. I have nothing against item songs. Every situation demands a different type of song. Earlier, we had Lataji (Mangeshkar) singing only for the heroines, who would never do a cabaret. Those roles were reserved for actors like Helen or Bindu. And their songs were reserved for other singers. Now, even the top stars do not hesitate to do such songs. You have to move with the times.
In what way do you think music has changed over the years?
There is more of Western influence in film songs these days. Music today has more experiment and less melody. Today I am happy that anyone can sing. Today songs sound alike, tune-wise as well as voice-wise and lack variety. It is also good that today a song is more important than the singer
Apart from Rahman and M.M.Kreem, is there any other composer you would like to work with?
Every composer today has a different style, whether they are Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Vishal-Shekhar, Salim-Suleiman, Pritam, Sohail Sen or anybody else. I have not sung till date for Sachin Jigar, Mithoon, Bappi Tutul, Amaal Malik and Sajid Wajid.
How would you describe your journey till date in Bollywood as a singer?
I started off as Sujata when I began. I was hard working and a very obsessed girl. Today I am known as Madhushree, who is very mature and what’s more samajhdhaar. In a span of nearly 17 years, I have sung around 1000 songs including 65 in Tamil, beginning with Moksh for Rajesh Roshan. I got to learn a lot of things and I feel that my journey is still going on. I look forward to doing even better work, more challenging compositions with a greater number of music directors. If I had tasted only success all the time, I couldn’t have digested it. Today I am rooted to the soil because I have struggled a lot.
Tell us about your future films and albums that you are working on!
I am working on exciting projects with young music composers and established ones. Not only will I be singing a lot more songs this year, but also collaborate with International musicians.
