After starting out as an assistant music programmer, Divya Kumar gradually shifted his focus to playback singing. With songs like Shubhaarambh, Maston Ka Jhund and Jee Karda to name a few, he has surely made a place for himself in Bollywood. Known for his versatility, Divya talks about his journey, why he feels the need to bring back the melody in songs and his desire to sing a romantic number. Excerpts:

Your last few songs have been a hit. Do you feel that music composers have finally started noticing you?
Yes, I feel so. When I was assisting Sachin-Jigar, I never thought that I would become a playback singer but as destiny would have it, Amit Trivedi gave me a break with Ishaqzaade and since then, there has been no looking back. Last year, I sang for many established composers and all the songs were liked by the audience. I sang not only in Bollywood but also in many regional films and that boosted my confidence.

At the same time, awards have eluded you. Does that bother?
For an artiste getting recognition is very important so I would be lying if I say that I don't care about awards. Even a mention or a nomination encourages any performer. I have been lucky that the audience have appreciated and liked my work. I still have a long way to go and I'll surely be rewarded for the dedication towards my work.

What was the brief given to you for your latest track, Pyar Ki, from Housefull 3?
I had recorded a few songs with composers Sharib-Toshi and this track was one of them. Initially, I wasn't sure whether my part would be used. It's an ensemble of voices with Sharib Sabri, Toshi Sabri, Nakash Aziz, Anmol Malik and Earl Edgar pitching in too which makes this a peppy number. We had experimented with different versions and I am happy with the final result.

Was it easier for you to get access into the industry due to your filmi lineage?
It wasn't easy at all. My grandfather, Pandit Shivram, was a music composer and singer, who worked extensively with acclaimed filmmaker V Shantaram. My father, Bhagwan Shivram, was a dholak player for almost 40 years and everyone thought I would also become a composer. But that didn't happen. When I was eight, my mother discovered that I could sing. So, my struggle started at an early age. Whenever I would go and meet any composers, I would never tell them about my family as I wanted to prove myself. In fact in my initial days, my vocals were best suited for Sufi or folk songs, so I never thought that I could be a playback singer.

You still have a rustic and folksy voice. Does that limit your singing?
Like our actors, the industry has given tags to singers too, which is quite sad. This makes it difficult because every film may not have all kinds of songs. It is definitely challenging to continuously get work. Every time you have to prove your worth and win the trust of music composers. I'm sure every singer feels his or her voice is perfect for a certain genre. Being typecast may not necessarily be a bad thing. At the same time, these days composers are ready to experiment and create new sounds. So, things are changing slowly but gradually.

Which genre do you personally enjoy singing?
I love singing folk songs. But I like to get out of my comfort zone and experiment with my voice. That's the reason I have been able to deliver tracks like Chanchal Mann (Shuddh Desi Romance), Shake Your Bootiya (Finding Fanny) and Jee Karda (Badlapur). I'd really like to explore the romantic genre. I hope people try me out for soft numbers.

How do you look at competition?
Unlike the '80s and '90s where they were only a few singers, now we see a lot of talent coming in everyday which is good for the industry. But at the same time there is a lot of competition and you need to prove yourself in order to survive. My focus is to sustain as long as I can, show my versatility and work harder.

How do you perceive the current music scenario?
Every kind of music is accepted today and of late, the industry is open for anyone to come and showcase their talent. People don't consume music as they used to do earlier. Commercial music is being promoted as many composers aren't concentrating on melody. But I think it's just a phase and I am sure it will mellow down. Independent music is making a comeback and a lot of singles are being recorded. I am also planning to come out with my own single.

Are you saying that the melody from our songs have been lost?
Composers like Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Amit Trivedi and a few more are known for their melodies. Even their item numbers look classy. I don't think the melody is lost but I feel it is not reaching the audience. The corporate culture has taken over and people now promote music according to their whims and fancies. If we promote the right songs, I am sure the music industry will flourish and we can bring back the melody.

Do you plan to become a composer in the near future?
Currently, I want to concentrate on singing but I would definitely like to try my hand at composing. However, I am not sure when will that happen.