PINKY MAIDASANI, popular for her single Kikli Kalerdi in the film luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, talks to AKANKSHA SONI about her new songs & music industry
How did you get into singingIJ
From my childhood, I wanted to be a singer. There was a temple I used to go in MP, so in the temple there were always bhajans and all going on, and whenever I heard them I always wanted to be a singer so I would sing along with them. And then when I was 8, I started learning, and gradually it grew and I learnt more and more. And then I came to Mumbai and the journey has been for 16 years, so that is how it has developed.
You can sing in 13 different languages.
I love my job. I sang for IPl, I was the official singer for Chennai Super Kings, so in that I have to sing Tamil, Telugu and Kannad. I do corporate shows, we have a lot of people from different areas coming in. So it’s good if you just sing a few songs in their language. Gradually, I started to learn them. On top of that in Mumbai, where I live, there are Punjabis, there are Maharashtrians, people from Bihar, UP, Bengal, Gujarat.
What’s your greatest achievementIJ
There is nothing that I have achieved that is that great, but my first song that I sang for a movie luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana with Amit Trivedi I still believe it’s one of the greatest things to have happened in my life, I am still waiting for something big like that.
Experience of working with Honey Singh in luv Shuv Tey Chicken KhuranaIJ
It was great. Honey Singh is an institution, you know sharing a mic with them was an amazing opportunity, and it was fun.
How hard is it to make a significant mark in the Indian music industryIJ
Now it is good, as now there is a trend for singles. If you see 10 years ago it was not like that but now it is easier. There are also a lot of platforms to choose from, like my first track (Aaya ladiye) I released form Zee TV, and then I thought why not from T-series, I released Tera Rang.
Your role model.
AR Rahman. I have always wanted to work with him. He is on top of my list. Amit Trivedi was also one of the prominent names in the industry I wanted to work with. That has happened so now AR Rahman is the dream.
You have participated in many reality shows over the course of your career. Why soIJ
I wanted to be a singer so if I was getting some recognition through reality shows I went for it, so I did Indian Idol, I did Entertainment Ke liye Kuch Bhi Karega and all that, but unfortunately didn’t get any recognition by Indian Idol; I was working as a music teacher.
You have sung for movies, live audiences, reality shows, Ad commercials, does the technique vary from platform to platformIJ
Yes, it is always different, like I rap as well. In case of doing jingles you have certain limitations, in movie songs it’s a different format in live shows it’s altogether a different audience.
What can your fans look forward toIJ
I am about to release a Rajasthani folk — Chaudhary — on the digital platforms so I am excited about that song. After this, in September we are releasing Bhojpuri folk too.