This is proving to be quite a happening year for Siddharth Mahadevan. While his Pehli Baar has turned out to make waves, he is also kicked about the music he's composed for a few Marathi films. In a chat with Bombay Times, the 22-year-old opens up about singing for his father, Shankar Mahadevan, and why composing is closer to his heart.

How did Pehli Baar happen?
We'd recorded the song almost a year-and-a-half ago. I was in the studio when SEL (Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy) were composing the track. The first part had lyrics in English that were penned by Loy. And for the hook, dad has written some dummy words. They wanted someone to sing the scratch and since I was around, they asked me to record it. Then, when the song was ready, Zoya (Akhtar) listened to it and she liked my voice. She asked me to come over and give the song a final shot. Actually, Sukriti Kakar and I sang the numbers with different feels. We had a blast behind the mike.

Was singing the song easy since your dad is one of the composers?
Nothing is easy in the industry because everything is professional. I had a goofy experience singing the number, because the brief given to us was quite simple. We were given a lot of freedom to experiment. Even picturisation-wise, Zoya had let the actors (Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma) choreograph the number. But yes, when I sing for my father, there's a sense of security. He knows my potential and won't be satisfied with anything less.

Did you have any tips to share with Sukriti, since she's a newcomer to play back?
Her sister Akriti sings with my father on his shows, and they are like family friends. We went to record this song together, and probably because I'm used to recording studios and have sung before, I was more comfortable than her. I didn't have any tips for Sukriti because she was quite cool herself. The best thing about SEL as composers is that they make artistes feel very comfortable. They don't intimidate you, and keep the studio set-up casual. That said, being nervous while recording is good as well because for me, it helps bring out my best. I was nervous when I recorded my first number too!

You've composed for a couple of Marathi films recently. How was the experience of working in a regional language?
I've sung in South Indian songs as well, but I don't understand them. That said, language is never ever a problem. Music transcends all barriers. In fact, I can say, Marathi is my mother tongue. My mom's Marathi and I speak the language.

What do you prefer - singing or composing?
Composing is dear to my heart. My brother Soumil Shringarpure and I have been writing songs from our childhood and have always jammed together. I also play drums and keys. We've been putting down tunes and playing for our family.


How important are awards for you?
Awards come with a lot of responsibilities. They drive you to achieve more. The RD Burman Award for New Music Talent (for Zinda in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag) is quite special because it's also the first award my dad got for Dil Chahta Hai!

Is there a difference between singing your own numbers and singing for other composers?
Whichever way, a music director is the captain. When you record your own number, you have lived with that song since its inception, since the time it was composed, produced and arranged. So, the tune comes naturally, and you probably relate 0.1% better to it. But with others' songs, you know about it only when you reach the studio. So, it takes a wee bit longer for you to own it. Singing another composer's song like you know it inside out is a challenge.

What's your present line-up?
I am working on films, a couple of theme-based albums and collaborations.

The Kakar sisters' medleys are a hit with audiences but this is the first time that 21-year-old Sukriti is attempting Bollywood by embarking into the terrain of mainstream music with her debut song Pehli Baar from Dil Dhadakne Do. Sukriti speaks to Bombay Times about the thrill of working with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, the 'undressing' brief Zoya Akhtar gave her and how she is an absolute Bollywood music maniac. Excerpts.

How do you feel about the reception to your debut?
The day Pehli Baar released, I woke up to my microblogging site account flooded with messages. This doesn't generally happen. The kind of love I have received for this song is overwhelming. It is making me giddy with happiness. I couldn't have asked for a better debut. I had recorded many songs but for this one to come out first is an absolute treat. I am grateful to Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy to give me the coolest love song ever.

What do you think gives Pehli Baar its cool quotient?
I am not being biased but the song is so unusually lovable. It is offbeat, yet the typical Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy classic romantic rock number.

Tell us how you landed the song.
I got the song about a year-and-a-half back and I never got to re-record the whole thing again. I remember going to Purple Haze which is Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's studios. Ehsaan and Loy had called me for a jingle recording. I just wanted to go there and give my best shot because I look up to them and their music. The recording went pretty well and at the end of it, Shankar Sir came and asked me if I could record this one song. We recorded it the next day and back then, it was just a scratch. I had no idea it was for Dil Dhadakne Do. When I saw the lyrics sheet, I realised it's for Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh. The song was in my space, the kind of singing I have been influenced by all along - poprock and classic rock. After a year, I got to know that the song has made it to the final check and that's it, it became my debut song.

Was the wait frustrating?
In the last one year, my sister has had two songs. When I sung this song, I was 19. But this industry is so uncertain. When you record you don't know when it's going to come out. I had my fair share of thoughts but it was all worth it.

How was it recording with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy in your very first song?
I was trembling when I went there. When it is someone like Shankar Sir coaching you, it is a dream. I was intimidated thinking about how it would turn out. But the atmosphere they create is fun. They give you freedom to experiment. It is the best bet for a musician to be allowed to be as creative as possible.

What was the brief they gave you?
My brief was to be flirty and teasing. This was a song where actors and artistes were simply expected to have fun. It was all natural with negligible lip-sync. Zoya (Akhtar) was in the studio during recording and she gave a few rushes. She explained how Ranveer will be in the navy uniform and there will be a lot of undressing happening.

Your contemporary punk voice quite suits Anushka's vivacious personality. Do you agree?
Somewhere it is our grunginess rolled in together. My voice was really liked in this register because it is low. Once you hear the song a few times, it grows on you. I am happy I could sing for her. She gave me this giant hug when I told her how much I adore her.

You seem more into Western music. Do you prefer it over Bollywood music?
I am a complete Bollywood music maniac. I am well-versed with Bollywood songs. I am a 90s kid but I still prefer listening to Kishore Kumar and RD Burman. Their songs are never going to age. My parents have brought us up on the pedigree of Lataji and Ashaji. Whenever we sisters are jamming, we always begin with one old song.

Are you more inclined towards rock and pop?
I want to be a versatile singer. I am waiting to discover my fortes and flaws. Normally, the first song defines you but I am open to singing everything else.

We all know that Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh are both great dancers. We have exclusively learnt that Anushka and Ranveer took the brief from their director Zoya Akhtar and choreographers Bosco Caesar and choreographed the song Pehli Baar in Dil Dhadakne Do. This is a romantic song that required chemistry. They took about an hour to decide on their steps and then just followed their instinct. We saw a preview of the song and can only say that the final result is magical.Well done Ranveer and Anushka. Dear choreographers, watch out as our stars have now turned choreographers.