Showing posts with label Shaan father. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shaan father. Show all posts
Shaan bahut badmash hai, kya kya bol jaata hai logon ko, main toh phir bhi soch leta hoon-Sonu Nigam
8:29 AM
Debarati S Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; June 21, 2023)
The film-music industry is fiercely competitive. Tell us about your professional relationship that has lasted for decades.
Shaan: There is a lot of mutual admiration and while people might think we are competitors, we aren’t. Sonu is my senior and from a very early stage in my career, he’s been an inspiration. I love his tenacity and how hard he works to achieve perfection in music. I think of him when I want to push myself creatively, otherwise, intrinsically, I am lazy! We’ve seen good times and bad times together.
Sonu: I heard Shaan’s voice before I met him and mujhe itna accha laga tha. I hadn’t really acquired that kind of modernized singing before that. And Shaan was my first inspiration. I learnt that modern style of singing from him.
Sonu, you have been embroiled in several controversies over the years, whereas Shaan, you’ve usually stayed away from them. What do both of you think of each other’s reactions to situations?
Shaan: Sonu has always spoken his mind and sometimes he is impulsive. Certain situations just happen with him, but good thing is that he comes through unscathed and comes back stronger. Sonu knows me; I am probably more impulsive and have more foot-in-the-mouth situations than him. People just don’t perceive me like that, so I have gotten away with it.
Sonu: Arre, Shaan bahut badmash hai, kya kya bol jaata hai logon ko, main toh phir bhi soch leta hoon. But that’s because he is childlike, extremely seedha and very loving. And main controversy mein nahi jaata, main sach bolta hoon. When I am asked something, I speak up. Ya toh pucho hi mat, pange mat lo, because if you ask me about certain things, I will surely tell you the truth, otherwise I don’t speak.
It’s great to see two talented people in same cut-throat industry rooting for each other. Does your connection go deeper than music? How do the both of you connect at a personal level?
Shaan: We have a lot in common and our sense of humour is also similar. We get the same jokes and the same ideas when together at parties. We are proud sons of very talented fathers and that is a big connection.
Sonu: When I first met Shaan, he told me he is Manas Mukherjee’s son. Little did I know then that his father and my parents had a history together. My mother used to sing for his father. So humara rishta humare paida hone ke pehle ka hai. Our fathers had met each other during their struggling days.
What does World Music Day signify for you?
Sonu: India is now the melting pot of music. Our country has always had traditional, classical knowledge of music, but now there are some singers in India who can sing jazz in classical sargam! No other country in the world can do this. People like Shaan have so much love in their voice, people like Arijit (Singh) are so astoundingly versatile, and we also have young singers like Salman Ali. We have so much talent here including producers, arrangers, programmers and sound engineers. India has become the hub of music talent and world music, and we should celebrate.
Shaan: Music is a universal language and there is no part on earth where it isn’t celebrated, and no Indian celebrations can happen without music. So, to have one day in the name of music across the world makes a lot of sense. Music is the glue that holds the world together. World Music Day is perfect to bring the world together with music.
Tell us about the first time you both met.
Shaan: We met at composer Babul Bose’s recording. Once I was sitting at the T Series office and aap dub kar rahe theyy, that’s when I first saw you.
Sonu: We were recording for Babul Bose, and he came in. He had long hair in those days. First minute se hamari bonding bahut acchi hui. I first heard of Shaan was from composer-musician Raju Singh. We were at a studio when Raju ne kaha, ‘Sonu sunn zara. Ek naya singer hai, uska naam Raja hai. Expressions dekh iss ladke ka, feel dekh iski.’ When I heard the song, I was blown.
Haven’t you ever had skirmishes, fights?
Sonu: Ek baar aisa hua tha, bahut saalon pehle ki baat hai and then I didn’t speak with Shaan for six-seven months.
Shaan: Yes. That was a misunderstanding we had. It was some miscommunication and luckily, we cleared that out.
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Sonu had created a song for Shaan and his wife Radhika after attending a party hosted by the couple. “We were leaving Shaan’s home after a very late-night party and he and Radhika came to drop us to our car. On the spot I created a song in the style of composers Laxmikant–Pyarelal and singer Shabbir Kumar and sang it for them. It’s titled ‘Hospitality’ (and sang it for us),” says Sonu.
Shaan adds, “It had an LP feel to it in Shabbir bhai’s awaaz. And since that night, he sings this song for us every time after a party. We have had some great times. There have been parties at our Karjat farmhouse.”
Vishal Bhardwaj and Gulzar to release Lata Mangeshkar’s lost song from the ’90s on her birthday
8:20 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; September 26, 2021)
On Lata Mangeshkar’s 92nd birthday (September 28), her fans will receive a surprise gift from Vishal Bhardwaj and Gulzar — a song. This unreleased number, called Theek Nahi Lagta, was sung by Lata Mangeshkar in the 1990s, penned by Gulzar, and composed by Vishal. The romantic song was supposed to be for a film that Vishal-Gulzar were working on at the same time as Maachis (1996), and was to be filmed on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The film eventually got shelved and the song was never released. Vishal tells us the story of how the song, which was recorded when he was just starting off in the industry, was lost and found.
‘I SEARCHED FOR THE SONG 10-12 YEARS AGO BUT COULDN’T FIND IT, THEN TWO-THREE YEARS AGO A STUDIO CALLED ABOUT A TAPE THEY HAD FOUND’
In the ’90s, when Vishal was new in the industry, he started as a composer, and was working with veterans like Lata Mangeshkar and Gulzar. “Along with Maachis, I was doing another film which was also written by Gulzar saab, but the film never got made. Maachis release ho gayi, aur main busy ho gaya,” he tells us, adding that it was for this shelved film that the song was recorded. When we point out that the song reminds one of Maachis’ music album, Vishal says, “Maybe because I was in that zone at that time.”
Sharing the story behind the song, he says, “I always used to think that that song was very good. Uss zamane mein cassette hua karte thay toh kahan release karte? Baat hoti rahi ki film banegi, and before I knew it, 8-10 years had passed. Phir woh gaana kahin kho gaya. Then, around 10-12 years ago, I started looking for that song. Lata ji ne gaana bhi kam kar diya tha, so that was another reason to find that song, ki unka gaaya hua hai. Maine bahut dhundha, par woh mila nahi.”
Continuing the story after a pause, Vishal adds, “Then two-three years ago, I got a call. It was from a studio that was about to be closed, and they said, ‘Aap ke naam ka ek tape mila hai, agar aap ko lena ho toh le lijiye nahi toh humlog fenk denge.’ There were many songs in that tape, and this song was among them. I retrieved Lata ji’s voice from that song and usko contemporarise kar liya.”
About his plans for the song, he says, “We will be releasing this song on Lata ji’s birthday. Later, I will use it (in a film). Some of the musicians who have worked on this version were not even born when it was originally recorded.”
VISHAL BHARDWAJ’S HUNT FOR LOST SONGS
Vishal says that one of the reasons he created his label was to find old gems and contemporarise and release them. He says, “I’ve been hunting for several such songs which have been lost. One of the songs which is really close to me, which I recorded when I was just 19, was with Manas Mukherjee.”
He pauses to ask, “Do you know who Manas Mukherjee is? He is Shaan’s father. Asha ji sang that song. Then there was a duet of Lata ji and Asha ji. Since they sing very few songs now, those songs are more precious. I have been looking for it for years. Kai aise gaane hain jo kho gaye hain.”
Vishal says that he wants to retrieve those voices to contemporarise them. He says, “We have the technology to retrieve even Begum Akhtar’s voice from her recorded songs. So, technology-wise, we have come really far. How musicians and singers work has also changed over the years. Now, every musician has their own studio, but in those days, musicians had to wait for dates of studios, and then the orchestra, singer and everyone used to come together to create music. Ab hardware toh sabke paas hai lekin woh collective energy missing hai. We’ve definitely lost that spontaneity.”
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WHEN LATA MANGESHKAR AGREED TO SING THE SONG
Vishal explains that even 25-26 years back, Lata Mangeshkar was not taking on many projects. When he sent her the song he didn’t know if she would agree to sing it. He recalls, “Lata ji sab ke liye gaana nahi gaati thi. First you had to send the song and then wait to hear back. I still remember when she called and said,‘Theek Nahi Lagta toh theek hi lagta hai’ (laughs!). Lata ji jab bhi phone karti hain toh hamesha ek joke sunati hain. Unke pass hamesha joke hota hai. Phir baad mein woh gaana jab release nahin hua, she would tell me, ‘Theek Nahi Lagta aaya nahi ye theek nahi hai’ (laughs!).”
He adds, “Now when I sent her the finished song, tab bhi unhone ek joke sunaya. Unko gaana bahut pasand aaya aur unhone kaha ki ise agar kisi film mein lein toh aur bhi achha hoga.”
I’d wake up shouting, ‘Aap ka swaagat hai’-Shaan
8:30 AM
Shaan explains why he is MIA in Hindi playback, reveals celebrations are in order for his first show as host, which has completed 25 years
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 8, 2020)
In recent years, Shaan had been missing in action as far as Hindi film playback goes, but the singer has been a part of several fundraisers to raise money for the needy during the coronavirus pandemic. Ask him why he is not singing more songs and he retorts, “I accept every work I get. But I won’t go asking for it. I’m not singing simply because I’m not getting too many offers.”He points out that he recently lent his voice to “Tujhe Rab Mana” in Baaghi 3 and has also sung for the upcoming John Abraham-starrer Mumbai Saga. Recently his song, “Dus Bahane”, was also recreated for Tiger Shroff’s last actioner. “Recreations, if justified, make sense, but using them just for the heck of it seems senseless. If something works, don’t go for an overkill,” Shaan cautions.
The singer rues that composers are limiting their creativity today. “A song that can be easily strummed on the guitar is what works today. Everyone is talking of the science of creating a chartbuster,” he laughs, admitting that he has dropped the plan of recreating his father’s Bengali compositions in Hindi for this very reason. “I don’t want my father to get angry up there for diminishing the value of his work by presenting it at a time when people don’t like that kind of music anymore.”
In 2002, Shaan started his career as the host of the musical talent hunt, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. “It was Sa Re Ga Ma before I joined, I added an extra note to it,” he laughs, admitting that he had never thought he’d be associated with the show for so long. “Even before my first son was born, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa adopted me. People knew me as a singer before that, but it was this Zee show that made me a TV personality and helped me improve my Hindi as there were no teleprompters or earpieces at that time. There were times when I’d wake up shouting, ‘Aap sab ka swaagat hai is pratiyogita mein jiska naam hai Sa Re Ga Ma Pa,’ leaving my wife stunned,” he reminisces fondly.
The franchise completes 25 years this year and Shaan reveals there is a big celebration in store. “Many of those associated with the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa franchise, including Himesh Reshammiya, Javed Ali, Udit Narayan and Richa Sharma, will be seen performing from their homes. In fact, 350 artistes will be a part of the 25 hour long musical marathon titled Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Live-athon which is taking place on May 23. The next day, the Ek Desh Ek Raag concert takes place and I will be returning on the show as the host and there will be lots of stories and plenty of nostalgia,” he promises, adding that the Live-a-thon would be telecast on the network’s Facebook pages and the three-hour concert will be played across all Zee channels, including Zee TV.
Any plans of returning to the show as a regular host? “In three years, I’ll be 50. My eyesight is getting weaker, so, I don’t see that happening. I just hope that people remember my smile,” he signs off and though you can’t see him, you can visualise his trademark smile.
At one point, I was contemplating becoming an investigative journalist-Shaan
7:40 AM
MID-DAY (June 2, 2016)
W e meet Shaan at his plush Bandra apartment and he is quick to tell us that he often gets nostalgic about his old childhood home in the city. Having started his career at 17, the singer, one of the most versatile of our generation, has dabbled in various genres of music such as pop, jazz, ghazals and hip-hop among others. He has also sung songs in over a dozen Indian languages, and has been felicitated with titles like Golden Voice of India, Voice of Paradise, Magician of Melody and Voice of Youth. Currently coaching the winner of The Voice, Pawandeep Rajan, Shaan confesses that he isn’t a choosy singer and is open to experimenting. Excerpts from an interview with him
Was playback singing always your career option or did it happen later?
It wasn’t really a career option. At one point, I was contemplating becoming an investigative journalist or getting into advertising. But then singing came naturally given my father’s background, and I stumbled upon lucrative opportunities which I grabbed with both hands. Eventually, IndiPop happened and Tanha Dil clicked. There was no looking back. However, in my early days, I did some odd jobs like selling Cable TV points (connections), working in a boutique and also setting up a DTP Company. Those days, Desk Top Publishing was the in thing (laughs).
Today, the concept of playback singing has changed due to modern technology. Has it affected your work?
Change is inevitable. Yes, modern technology has brought in new players, maybe not necessarily technically sound but they have brought in the X factor and spontaneity to singing. There is this callous charm in freshers today. I welcome the change, as I too have been evolving and am always ready to experiment.
What do you have to say about the new trend of actors singing even though they are not suitable for playback?
In the ’50s and ’60s, certain actors rendered their own playback. What matters is that the person ought to have ‘singing ki sense’, which most of those you mentor have displayed in their work.
A number of singing-based reality show winners are trying to make their mark in Bollywood. But do they really have a future?
Of course. We see a lot of singers on YouTube gaining recognition and it is comparatively easier for this generation. For me, I was lucky enough to be recognised by Aadeshji with Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai in the initial phase of my career.
We grew up listening to Loveology and your other hippop hits. Any new albums in the pipleline?
This is the era of singles. Hence, we are coming out with a single with T-Series composed by Armaan Malik. I hope listeners will shower their love on this one.
Your sister, Sagarika motivated you to sing. Will we see both of you reunite for a song?
We are poles apart. She gets up one day, moves to London, and the next day she is in Rome — more of a globetrotter. I am more the local guy, hanging out in Bandra. Sagarika was instrumental in pushing me into live shows. She is in Italy now and happy in her own world.
Live shows are keeping singers current and popular. How often do you do live shows?
I do around five-six live shows a month. It keeps me alive and I feel the energy of the audience which re-energises me.
Your wife recently started a website, Happydemic, that books artists for events. How did you contribute to her venture?
While I am pushing her to do something innovative, it’s Radhika’s baby. My wife is a peoples’ person.
You’ve danced on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Any other hidden talent you would want to explore in future?
Frankly, I wasn’t confident about taking part. I was literally pushed into it by my wife. Eventually, I began taking it seriously and wanted to prove her right. There were trying times during the competition but it was Radhika’s pep-talks that boosted my morale and kept me going till the end.
If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
It has been a good journey for me. I strive to better my habits and would want to inculcate more discipline in myself.
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