Page 12 - Seniors Today -Volume no1

Some people praise me to the skies and
criticise me the minute my back is turned.
I made Hridayanath listen to my Jiya jale.
He liked it very much. I’ve always been very
particular about songs that I sing for him. At
times, I even get angry at his exacting ways.
I feel the way you sang for Madan Mohan was
extra-special.
His compositions were like that. But no
matter whom I’ve sung for, I’ve tried to give
my very best. If I feel I can’t do justice to a
song, I opt out. If composers can’t wait for me
to give my best, then they’re free to get their
song recorded by someone else. I’m told that
some singers criticise composers on their face.
I could never ever do that.
You sang for Twinkle Khannna in Jab
Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai. You sang for her
mother Dimple Kapadia debut in Bobby. I
have a feeling you’ll be singing for Dimple’s
granddaughter after we’re all gone.
(Laughs) Then who’ll listen to my songs? I
don’t remember if I’ve sung for Shobhana
Samarth but I’ve sung for Nutan, Tanu and
Kajol. You’ll be surprised, but recently I
saw an old film on television located in the
Arabian desert. I was surprised to see myself
singing for Ruby Myers (Sulochana)! I didn’t
even know the song. But I said, chalo if I’ve
sung for her as well, toh bahut badi baat hai.
When I was a child, I used to run off to see her
films.
How do you feel when you hear your own
songs?
I always find faults with my singing. If I don’t
like what I’ve sung, I put my fingers in my
ears and run away.
You know what (the renowned classical
singer) Bade Ghulam Ali Khan said about
you, don’t you (“Kambakht, kabhi besura
gaati hi nahin hai!”)?
(Laughs shyly) Yeh unka badappan tha. He
was a very great singer. I truly admire him.
Believe me, I always find faults in my singing,
Once, Kishore Kumar told me that if he heard
people listening to his songs, he would start
speaking loudly to distract their attention. He
‘God has given me more than I deserve’
would continue to talk loudly till the weak
spots in his song were over. If one doesn’t like
one’s own song, there’s turmoil within oneself.
If I’m not satisfied with a song I’ve recorded, I
can’t sleep that night.
Which songs haven’t you been satisfied
with?
Offhand, I can’t recall any. But there are songs
which the music composers and listeners have
liked. But I’ve felt that I didn’t do full justice
to them.
Your songs for the films of Raj Kapoor are
timeless. What it was like working with him?
His style of working was unique. With him
around, there would be unforeseen tension.
Sometimes, he’d come on the sets and change
the entire song. Since he was a musician
himself, he knew exactly what he wanted.
When he wanted a hit song he’d say he
wanted a popatiya number. But personally I
feel that Shankar-Jaikishen gave better music
outside Raj Kapoor’s films. For Raj Kapoor,
they had to work within prescribed limits.
Raj Kapoor and you started your careers,
as singer and director, almost together,
didn’t you?
No. When he made Aag (1949), I was doing
bit roles in films. I hadn’t started singing
professionally. I sang for him, starting with
his second film Barsaat.
Ram Ganguly (who composed for Aag)
was supposed to do the music for Barsaat.
Shankar-Jaikishan were Ganguly’s assistants,
they’d composed some of his songs. Raj
Kapoor wanted to use them instead. Jiya
beqaraar hai was my first song for R.K. Raj
saab would joke that since I’m a classical
SENIORS TODAY | Volume 1 | Issue 1