He introduced me to Vishal Dadlani sir, who at the time was
scoring notes for the title-track of Shah Rukh Khan-Deepika
Padukone starrer blockbuster, Chennai Express. After
listening to some of my music he asked me if I would want to
try out a few lines on the track. I went in to record with zero
expectations and thought nothing of it after I left, beyond
being simply obliged for the surprising scope that fell in my
lap to have had him hear my voice. It wasn’t until weeks
later that I found out my vocals being retained intact in that
number. I was over the moon and you know what — I guess,
am fortunate enough to suddenly notice things turning in my
favour and falling into place without any hiccups. I was quite
naturally welcomed within the industry and never ever made
to feel like an outsider.
You share a wonderful rapport with the musical genius A.R.
Rahman and have not only lent your vocals to his film-tunes but
also collaborated on an album with him called Raunaq and even
crooned at his concerts. How has your entire tryst been with the
‘Mozart of Madras’?
I really mean it when I say that working with Rahman sir
has been a dream come true so far and I feel so blessed for
every single opportunity I got to record and perform with
him. There always used to be something new to learn from
him and I am humbled by the fact that he taught, directed
and threw challenges at me to live up to. You won’t believe
how much I have learnt about myself and grown as a singer
because of his guidance and the tenacity with which he has
goaded me beyond my self-defined limits. It’s been a total
revelation or me!
DISCOGRAPHY
Sau Tarah Ke - Dishoom
Pink Anthem - Pink
The Breakup song - Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
Gilheriyaan - Dangal
Saajan Aayo Re- Ok Jaanu
Meetha Zeher- Playing Priya: Short Film
Blessings from the Sky- Pelé: Birth of a Legend
Kahaan Hoon Main and Implosive Silence-Highway
16
The
Score Magazine
highonscore.com
Does it irk you when you come across mediocre singers or
even actors getting to sing tunefully by virtue of the Auto-tune
technology?
Initially I won’t deny that it did bother me a bit. But now, I’ve
matured and realized that there is room for everyone in this
industry. Everyone has the right to give a shot at something
new, especially if it makes him/her glad. You can’t blame a
person for using technology to do a certain patchwork. And
today, audiences are more aware than ever. If you need to
rely on Auto-tune to sing, the astute listeners would anyways
come to detect it, and that may not always fare well for you in
the long run.
Working with hitmaker Pritam Chakraborty also fetched you a
winning streak as you bagged the Mirchi music award for Dangal
and also got a Filmfare nomination for the ‘Breakup’ song. So it’s a
double bonanza for you. What do you have to say to this?
I feel so honoured to have received such a prestigious award
and to have been nominated for so many other accolades
this year. I take it as an added impetus to become the best
musician I can be. You know it’s such an overwhelming
experience to be bestowed with recognition by multiple
committees for these songs. My sincere gratitude goes to
Pritamda for giving me such lovely compositions, and also
to both the teams of Dangal and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil for
absorbing me into their folds as a significant part.
Are you doing any musical collaboration?
I’m working on a slew of collaborations, both on film music as
well as YouTube material, but nothing that I can elaborate on
at the moment. So please stay tuned for the updates (smiles)!