Akriti Kakar, who has recently released Swag Wali Bride tells Shalini Saksena the reason for dedicating this song to all the brides in the country
What has been keeping you busyIJ
Sometimes promoting the song becomes a much bigger task than recording the song itself. I have been busy with pre-activities since a lot has to go out from our end as well as post song release. Even after the song is recorded, there is still a lot of work to be done.
You dedicated this song to the brides. Why
Swag Wali Bride, the name of the song, was a take off from my own wedding that took place in March 2016 – it was actually coined then. My friend was tagging all the photos under this hashtag. My wedding was not the typical bride, I had a lot of fun. I was not the typical bride who was sitting in a corner and being shy. I was jumping around and behaving as if it was someone’s marriage. I had meaning to do independent music for more than two years and thought of bringing folk songs to the fore. Also, the song is not just for the brides. It is about the whole concept of marriage and what a girl goes through.
Would agree that folk songs should not be modernisedIJ
I believe that not just folk songs but also some of the film’s songs are rehashed and make their way to Bollywood should be avoided. Having said that, a folk song from Rajasthan would not be heard in the South if it was not given a twist. But it should be done in a manner that keeps the sanctity and essence of the song intact. Take the Benarsi. Originally, it was a saree but a twist is that it now finding its way into lehenga. From thought process to food to fashion, everything is changing and evolving. We need to do this to keep things alive and exciting.
Your other two sisters are singers too. Is there a competition among the three of youIJ
There can’t be competition among siblings. We all have different voices. Competition is a very negative word. Exchange notes and come together and discuss music, more like life lessons. If one does well we come and celebrate the success. We take a lot of inspiration from each other.
Do you have a genre preference, something that you are not getting from BollywoodIJ
In Bollywood things have changed and one gets to sing all kinds of songs today. I have somehow managed to get sings from different genre. There was Saturday Saturday, then there is a slightest folkish song — Iski Uski from Two States. Back in the days there was a song from Johnny Gaddar — a rock based song. But looking forward, I would love to sing more romantic numbers. Sing songs that were challenging. There was a song from the movie Monsoon Shootout. There was song that totally challenged it and made me step out of my comfort zone. It was deep and very sensuous.
You did a TV show, do stage shows, do independent music and sing for Bollywood. How do you do the balancing actIJ
In today’s time, one has to multi-task. It is difficult to categorise. One must not waste time and make the most of what one has. When I did the TV show — hosting — I didn’t what I was getting into. I never realised the amount I would be spending and talking at a high pitch. It was very taxing mentally and physically but totally worth it. The fact that my husband is from this line helps.
What are the challenges and responsibility that music throws at youIJ
The biggest challenge is to better yourself. If you try to compete with the kind of talent that is out there, you are likely to get lost in trying to become someone else. Therefore, one needs o reinvent oneself, see where they are going wrong and how to improve. As for responsibility, I am very ethical. I sing in different languages and look up the meaning of the words. If I find that they are objectionable or it is something that I don’t connect with, I say ‘no’ and not go for the numbers. In all cases, I am very true to my fans.
You are from Delhi. What is the best and worst thing hereIJ
The worst is the pollution. The best is how the city keeps pulling me because of family and friends and of course the food.
What are your future plansIJ
I plan to release at least one single every six weeks till December. I know that I can’t compete with 10 million views but in my own little world, we are slowly making waves. My purpose is that people should not say: ‘Yeh kya gaana hai’.