Hriday Gattani, the 23-year-old singer of Lekar Hum Deewana Dil's Maaloom, knows the maestro since he was three years of age
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; June 20, 2014)

He has a mentor in none H other than globally acclaimed composer AR Rahman, who he's been around since the age of three. Bollywood's latest playback singer Hriday Gattani feels extremely lucky to be singing two songs for the maestro in Lekar Hum Deewana Dil. Excerpts from an interview.

How did you get your Bollywood break?
When I was studying in Rahman sir's school of music in Chennai, I was also partly working at his studio. Rahman sir would often listen to me sing. One day, out of the blue, he asked me to sing a scratch and I was shocked. I sang Tu Shining. Both, the lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya and the director Arif Ali, liked it. Later, I was offered Maaloom with (singer) Jonita Gandhi. While Tu Shining is more energetic and fun, Maaloom is a free-spirited song. I had more scope to express my creativity in Tu Shining with its unique lyrics. Both the songs were different from the kind of songs I write. I tend to write more soulful stuff so this was a different experience for me.

What is the bond you share with Rahman?
I have known Rahman sir since I was three years old. My father Deepak Gattani has been his official concert manager for 18 years now. He heard me for the first time when I sang the fusion mix of The Beatles' song Let It Be with Suchismita Das. While studying at his music school, I did a recording for him of One Vision, a song composed from prose written by then President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Besides, I have also toured with him for live concerts. He is my mentor and I hate making mistakes when I am around him. He is a man of few words, but contrary to what people think, he is quite fun to be with. He is at ease with the people he works with and constantly improvises on the way I sing. I want to sing and be like him, but he keeps insisting that every one should be unique.

Don't you think you'll be slotted as someone who got promoted because of his proximity to Rahman?
I don't mind it. To get an opportunity like that is also luck. Your work speaks for you as you go along. So such slots I have never bothered about.

You write and compose music too...
When I was studying music in Chennai, I started developing a taste for writing lyrics and composing music. I felt later that I could actualise my creativity by forming an indie band. I believe composing and songwriting run parallel to each other. Since I feel indie music has a lot of potential, I felt the need to write and pursue it with my band. On the other hand, my focus will always be playback singing, because it is huge in India.

You've collaborated on a single with singer Neeti Mohan. Are you two more than friends?
(Laughs) Of course not. I am only 23 years old and have to be focused on my music. Neeti is a great singer and a great friend. We have collaborated for a single and together we have sung on many of Rahman sir's tours. When it comes to getting married, I will find a girl. Those days are gone when a girl didn't think much of a musician.

Now that actors are also singing, are they eating into your share of the pie?
It is a scary thought but it is true, and they sing really well also. But every song has a voice and it is chosen only when it suits the song. Bollywood music has really grown in terms of production and is as good as music coming from the West. But the indie music scene here should get a boost. There are so many musicians looking for a platform there.

There are new singers coming to Bollywood every day and the adage goes that you are only as good as your last hit song.
I agree. Music has no boundaries anymore. Even if there are new singers, social media and the Internet have opened up a new world for us. Even if you don't know me, you would still end up watching my song or performance on the internet. Look at the range of songs that Arijit Singh, Sanam Puri or Shraddha Pandit are singing. We all get a variety of work so it's an interesting phase right now.