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Classicist Rekha Bhardwaj
Soumita Sengupta
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| Rekha has sung two songs for 'Delhi 6' |
Initially starting off to become a singer to fulfill her father's dream, Rekha is now an accomplished singer and also helps her director husband Vishal Bhardwaj with his films. In an interview, the spiritually inclined singer spoke to us about working on Delhi 6, meeting her husband during stage shows and why private albums don’t sell in India.
You are as involved in your singing as you are in your husband Vishal Bhardwaj’s films. How do you manage it all?
It's smooth sailing really. I am trying to manage both equally. Vishal is busy with his next film, Kaminay, and I am busy with my family, singing and work. But we manage to find time for each other.
The music score of Delhi 6 is getting rave reviews.
To sing for this film has been a dream come true because I have sung for A R Rahman. He is a brilliant musician. I have two songs in the movie – 'Aarti Tumhare Bhawan Mein' and 'Genda Phool'. Although the Delhi 6 album has rocked the charts with ‘Masakalli’, I like 'Kala Bandar' and the title track.
At what stage in your life did you decide to become a playback singer?
I have been singing since my childhood days. It was my father's dream to become a singer but he couldn’t pursue his dreams for some familial reasons. So, he wanted his children to become singers. I have learnt a lot from him as he trained me initially. Even as a five-year-old I knew I had to sing well.
Tell us about your first stage performance.
That happened in my father's office; I was pretty young then. They used to have these club parties where I would sing some ghazals. I remember I used to be applauded very well.
Can you tell us how you met Vishal Bhardwaj?
We met during my college days. Both of us did stage shows then. We fell in love and now here we are.
Do you think there is lots of politics in Bollywood's music industry?
If music directors feel that my voice will suit the character's voice, they call me. So I have never felt any politics. If your voice and your work speak for you, I don't think any one can play politics with you.
What kind of songs do you listen to?
I love old songs of Lataji, Mehndi Hassan and many other classical singers. I believe classical singing is the base of all types of singing and its knowledge is a must for becoming any kind of singer.
Are you a spiritual person?
Who isn’t a spiritual person? I think everyone believes in god, but some people just don't show it. If you have everything in your life, why not give something back to god? Why can't we make some songs for god?
Artists aren’t coming up with private albums these days…
That’s because no music company is ready to produce it. When you release an album, it doesn't sell because, frankly speaking, in an album only one or two songs are good. Sicne an album cannot sell on the basis of just a couple of songs, music labels face a loss.
Do you intend releasing a private album any time soon?
Yes, right now I am working on my album. The songs are ready but the videos are yet to be shot.
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“Simplicity. What turns me on.” Please enlighten me.
