Interviewed By: Goher Iqbal Punn
He is really a very talented singer, Bollywood has seen so far. He is today amongst the top notch vocalists of the industry. Goher Iqbal Punn catches him in a casual mood and finds him chatting about his new album, playback singing and his acting and his show.
Your third music album, ‘Untitled’ has just come out in the market with much oomph. What’s the response so far?
I am very inspired with the kind of response it has received, especially from my music industry colleagues. Although in my pre-releases interviews I refrained from making the cliché “statement” that I tried something different. The truth is that like any other artist, I too tried a few different things with my voice and the compositions! It feels great when my listeners tell me that it’s very different…Babul. That’s all a playback singer loves to achieve with a non-film album.
Which are your most favourite numbers on the album?
‘Sunoh’, ‘Tu Aa Bhi Ja’ , ‘Gungunade’ and ‘Khushnuma’.
You are still remembered with the spongy romantic number, ‘HUM TUM’ (the title song of ‘HUM TUM’) amongst the listeners. Although, prior to crooning this track, you had already been doing playback singing, but this song became your recognition. Don’t you want to erase this impression from people’s minds?
I have had a couple of hits after that namely ‘Lamha Har Lamha’ (Ankahee), ‘Dil Mein Baji Guitar’ (Apna Sapna Money Money), ‘Chanda Chamke’ (Fanaa), ‘Zara Gungunalein Chalo’ (Lagaa Chnri Mein Daag), etc. But ‘HUM TUM’ will remain a milestone in my career and people will always associate me with that. It is a double century in my career and no matter how many centuries I score in the long run, they will always stand out like ‘Kaho Na Pyar Hai’ (the title song of ‘Kaho Na Pyar Hai’), ‘Sochta Hun’ and ‘Aate Aate’.
In this industry, work fetches you work and though people do tend to type-cast you, I don’t see that as a problem because HUM TUM fetched me a lot of very good songs; it’s a different thing that most of them got lost in the deluge of fast paced numbers that suddenly seemed to dominate all film music albums. But ‘change is the only constant’; everything changes with time, so do I and my music.
Earlier you were a banker by profession. What made you switch over to singing for films?
One life one chance… My musical qualities are a free gift from God. It demanded me to take up this challenge than sitting relaxed in a secure bank job.
Have you received any training before stepping into the world of music?
‘Yes’…I come from a very prestigious musical family in West Bengal and am a grandson of noted composer Banikantha N. C. Baral. I got extensive training from my grandfather since early childhood. And I’ve won several inter-school musical accolades while studying in Don Bosco School. I was “All India Don Bosco Music Champion” in 1983 and was awarded “The Most Enriching Talent” title in 1985 as well. While in college in Calcutta, I won almost 45 inter-college music competitions in different categories and was also a regular performer of AIR and Doordarshan since childhood.
You have sung for almost all the leading musicians. Who are the ones, you feel comfortable with while recording the songs?
It will be politically incorrect to answer this question… 
I LOVE ALL my music directors!!!!!
Who are your favourite singers from yesteryear’s time and among current bandwagon?
Kishore Kumar, Mohammad Rafi and Manna Dey (from yesteryears). Shaan and KK (from the present time).
Which singers do you often think about … had you rendered a duet with, you would have found yourself lucky?
Obviously… Lata Ji. Although, I have had the privilege to work with the legendary Asha Bhonsle Ji.
Music critics term you brilliant, versatile, classy and virtuoso. How does it sound to you? Do these praises make you proud or do they help you learn more?
Like a cricketer improves by playing, a painter improves by painting. I too have learned my art by singing and singing. I think, I am gaining experience every single day and you learn and grow only from experience. I have not been an overnight star and therefore I am not afraid of fading away soon. I am not a visitor in the industry. I am and will remain permanent resident of this industry.
You are handsome and have got dashing personality, debonair and charming look, you must’ve got acting offer from filmmakers.
So much praise to handle at one time… :). ‘Yes’, I have worked in a Bengali film, ‘Chander Bari’ directed by the legendary Bengali filmmaker Tarun Mazumdet. I loved my experience with acting.
You know that the singers, turning to actors, fall flat on acting front. What do you say about it?
All I say is that, though apart from the great Kishore Kumar, history has not been in the favour of a singer trying to act. As for me, I like to say because I loved the experience of acting, so if I am offered a good role, I would love to do.
You have warbled the lines for TV soaps also. What’s the difference between singing for films and television?
I don’t differentiate it… They all require me to perform at my best and that’s what I try all the time. I succeed in some and fail in a few.
Recently we saw you anchoring a musical show, ‘K for Kishore’ on a TV channel. Would you share your experience with us?
It was great…! Besides it was superb working with Asha Ji once again. I always had a feeling of hosting a show and several people told me that I will do well as a host… I am very happy with the good response from my fans and the film fraternity, and I am doing more of it too. I have a long way to go in that direction and I am working hard to be very good at it.
So you support this ongoing trend of the vocalists turning hosts?
Since I myself did the same, I will have to support it by hook or by crook. People, who stay in the glass houses, should not throw stones at others…(he.he.he.) Jokes apart, a responsible artist knows if he is good or bad in an art and whether or not he should pursue it.
Many of your contemporaries have rendered songs for Pakistani flicks. If you are offered any assignment from across the border, would you go ahead with that?
‘Yes’… surely. And though I don’t remember the names of the films, I have already sung quite a few songs in Pakistani films. Not aware of … whether they were hits or not.
Many Pakistani vocalists are trying their luck in Bollywood and some have succeeded to get their standing. In your view, who have potential to stay? And have you sung with any yet?
There are rarely any male duets in Bollywood so I have not sung with them :), but ‘yes’, Shafqat Amanant Ali Khan and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan are very good and will continue to do well. Unfortunately, like a few Indian singers out here, some Pakistani singers are also very bad and are just riding their luck presently. They will fade away with time.
You are among the top Bollywood singers today. Where do you see yourself after five years?
Taller, Darker. Handsome (he..he), Richer and the story goes on …
When we might expect your next music album?
A cricketer should retire when he is asked ‘why’ and not ‘why not’…. A singer should come out with an album when his listeners repeatedly ask him “When is the next..?”
It’s really nice chipping in words with you.
Same here…
- The interviewer is a coveted and experienced Bollywood & Indian TV Analyst and swathed with good rapport with the swanky worlds of Bollywood and Indian television fraternities. You may write to him at the E-mails: goher.punn@yahoo.com, bollywood.tv.analyst@gmail.com and goheriqbal@yahoo.co.uk