Showing posts with label Anuradha Paudwal interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anuradha Paudwal interview. Show all posts
30 Years Of Beta: I never thought the word ‘Ouch!’ would become so iconic-Anuradha Paudwal
8:40 AM
As Beta completes 30 years today, actor Aruna Irani shares how she became a part of this film
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 3, 2022)
One of the highest grossing films of 1992, Beta, starring Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit Nene, clocks 30 years today. One of the pillars of the film was Aruna Irani, who played the vile and scheming matriarch Lakshmi Devi. She recalls how challenging it was for her to bag the film, despite the fact that it was helmed by her brother, filmmaker Indra Kumar.
“I had seen the Tamil version, and I wanted to do this film. But my brother never asked me to be a part of it, when he decided to remake it. And I didn’t want to ask for the role. He called up other actresses like Mala Sinha, Waheeda Rehman ji and Sharmila Tagore ji for the role, but nobody accepted the role. They didn’t want to play the vamp,” Irani shares.
The actor reveals that Kumar did come to her with the role of Mainavati (which was eventually played by actor Bharati Achrekar) but she turned it down.
“I felt very sad. I said I won’t do it. I used to do these chhichhora roles. Ghar chalane ke liye maine aise roles kiye hai with (actors) Shakti Kapoor and Kader Khan. So he (Kumar) kept on insisting that you do such roles in other films, so why not in my film? But I put my foot down firmly and told him ‘tere film mein nahi karungi aise roles, baahar karungi’,” the 75-year-old tells us. Irani says that it was actor Shabhana Azmi who convinced her brother to cast her as Lakshmi Devi in the film.
“When he finally offered me the role, I started crying. Before Beta, I used to do only chhichhora roles. This film reintroduced me (in the industry),” she adds.
While her character has attained an iconic status with her big bindi, saree and hair bun, Irani does have a regret. “A big blunder happened with my look. My hair patch didn’t look good at all, as it was not made properly. I didn’t take care of my hair. It was very patchy. I feel stupid,” she concludes.
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As told to Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 3, 2022)
When I gave voice to the love song Dhak Dhak Karne Laga, I didn’t think it would become such a huge hit. After I saw the film, I realised the magnitude. All credit goes to (actor) Madhuri Dixit Nene, who enacted so well, that the song became a huge success and is still remembered. Meri bahut aachi yaadein hai uss film se. I am grateful to God that I got the opportunity to sing such a song, and even won awards for it. In fact, I remember when we were recording, we were thinking of how to start the song, an opening, a seductive word, and then I suggested that we could go with ‘Ouch!.’
And little did I know that it would become iconic. Ek choti cheez kabhi kabhi bada roop le leti hai. There have been times at concerts jab farmaish aati hai iss gaane ki. Ek baar Bahrain mein ‘Ouch!’ sunne ke liye 7-8 baar gaana gavaya tha.
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As told to Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 3, 2022)
Udit Narayan says:
The film Beta has a special place in my heart. I have some wonderful memories.
When I heard that they were making the film, I wanted to be a part of it. But I had given playback for (actor) Aamir Khan till then, and they felt my voice might not suit Anil ji (Anil Kapoor; actor) who has a mature personality; while Aamir was a chocolate boy hero back then. I was sure my voice would match Anil ji’s persona. So, I sang one song as a trial and told them that if they felt my voice didn’t suit Anil ji, they could re-record it. But it worked out.
Even today, at concerts I sing it. This iconic song became a trademark for Madhuri ji (Madhuri Dixit Nene; actor). There is no function where I am not asked to sing Dhak Dhak.
Some remixes broke my heart-Anuradha Paudwal
8:27 AM
Anuradha Paudwal, adds that good remixes are very rare; feels most “sound like they’ve torn a Banarasi sari and made a bikini out of it”
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 7, 2019)
A recipient of the Padma Shri and a National Film Award winner, playback singer Anuradha Paudwal, who has sung many popular songs in the ’80s and ’90s, was one of the most sought-after singers till 2000. But with the dawn of a new millennium, she shifted her focus to singing only devotional songs. She admits that she consciously refrained from singing film music. “The kind of songs I sang, were no longer being made,” she states.
Talking about the quality of music today, she says, “Every era has its own style and one can’t say if it’s good or bad. Art imitates life. Today, we have an audience who watches content from all over the world, so the music needs to have a universal appeal. One can’t expect them to enjoy a Bharat Bhushan (actor-singer) kind of song. Today, the singers and composers are trying to do justice to what is expected of them which is the need of the hour. But there are some musicians, who aren’t that good (laughs) and God forbid, if one of their songs becomes a hit, then everyone will want a song like that. Then, it will be a sure-shot suicide for music.”
Paudwal recently shot for an episode on the singing reality show Indian Idol 11 and enjoyed the trip down memory lane. She says, “I was on cloud nine and was overwhelmed with the love from all the singers on the show. They sang my songs and did a fantastic job. Bahut badhiya mahaul create ho gaya tha.”
The singer of many popular tracks including Dheere Dheere Se Meri Zindagi (Aashiqui; 1990), Tu Mera Hero Hai (Hero; 1983), Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin; 1991), Dhak Dhak Karne Laga (Beta; 1992), among others, Paudwal isn’t opposed to remixes. While many of her songs have been recreated and remixed, she hopes that the new composers keep the essence of her songs intact.
While she reveals liking the remix of Tamma Tamma (Badrinath Ki Dulhania; 2017), there are some remixes, which Paudwal doesn’t want to name, and doesn’t approve of. Talking about them, the singer says, “Some remixes broke my heart. One has to consider the mood and situation of the song. There are some remixes that sound like they have torn a beautiful Banarasi sari and made a bikini out of it. I console myself with the thought that maybe the current generation of composers love my songs and interpret it in their own way.”
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