Sonu Nigam is shocked that abusive music is being patronised by top Bollywood actors. He talks to Karan Bhardwaj about his penchant for quality work and how new technology is ruining the younger crop
If Bollywood is a land of politically correct stars, then there’s also no dearth of those who call spade a spade. Sonu Nigam can actually take you by surprise by his crude frankness. He slams the Khans and the Kumars for succumbing to mediocrity and laments on the young rappers who are shamelessly getting away with abusive lyrics. In the capital to promote his forthcoming concert Klose To My Heart at Entertainment City (Noida), he spoke about his private albums, recreating a lost era and doing quality music.
The era of live concerts with huge orchestra is a rarity now...
I will be singing along with 30 musicians, recreating the era of melodies and soulful songs. We will stage the journey of Indian music in a three-hour show. We have musicians who actually played in those original tracks. This is one of my biggest concerts. I have always been inspired by old melodies. There were live recordings and if you look at those symphonies, they were marvellous. The reason why old songs became evergreen is that they were a team effort of so many musicians recording it live. If one went wrong, then the entire entourage had to replay the track.
You began your career with a reality show. What is the difference between old and new talent programmesIJ
A lot of talented artistes such as Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shekhar (Vishal-Shekhar) among others have come from reality shows. But we were not brats. We were conservatives and used to save money. Today a lot of youngsters are being benefited by these shows as they get more opportunities to make money and get noticed. There are more live shows than before. The performers are getting handsome money and they charge as high as Rs1 lakh per show. But you have to keep working really hard and remain grounded. It’s difficult to find your footing in industry even if you are a winner.
You disappeared in the mid 2000s. What happenedIJ
I was not getting good songs. There was a wave of composers who didn’t give me songs which I deserved. I thought I would settle down abroad. So I procured a green card, bought a property and furnished it. But then I had to come back because my mother was ill. Now I am here and striving for quality music.
Your son Nevaan is a singer, too...
I want to see him as a satisfied man. People can be known and successful but they are not at peace. I want him to be a secure and satisfied person no matter what he becomes. He can do whatever he wants. He doesn’t have to be a star. He can lead a normal life.
You tried your hands at acting but it didn’t work. Are you still open to actIJ
You need to have apt support and platform to make it big in movies. I think I didn’t get right filmmakers or a team of people as I found in music. As a singer, I got good songs. As an actor, I couldn’t find right films. But I am happy and contented. I was never desperate to be an actor. I am not going to make a film for myself. If somebody approaches, I can do it.
What do you think about the lyrics todayIJ
I am shocked that insane lyrics are approved and enjoyed by the masses. How could one approve tracks like G*** Mein Dum Hain To Band Karwalo. At my cousin’s daughter’s birthday, all the children were dancing and humming this song including my son. I was very upset. For this, everybody should share the blame — composers, producers and actors.
How can one deal with itIJ
These songs are demanded by actors and producers to impress the masses. They give a damn about music. I think private music can be an alternative to such unholy songs. like I am working on an album The Music Room with Bickram Ghosh. In this album, nobody instructed us to write a particular kind of lyric or tune. We are doing what we think is right. I think indie music needs encouragement from the media and music lovers.
Are you irritated by the actors and musicians promoting these songsIJ
Indians follow clichés. If one formula works, everybody will follow it. If I had been the top actor in this country, I would have done what Brad Pitt does. Hollywood actors are way bigger but they still do not compromise with quality. I just hope we get the same attitude in music also. Nowadays, music has become cheating. You hymn Paani Idhar Pada Hain…, repeat it smartly and become a new sensation. How can you forget about your duty of leaving a legacy behindIJ After 40 years, nobody will remember you.
But a lot has to do with Honey Singh...
I’m the last person who will negate any change happening in music. But why are we stooping so lowIJ look at the lyrics, they are blasphemous. Honey Singh is a very good kid. I don’t have any problem with him. We belong to different genres. I’m a singer and he’s a rapper. But I cannot appreciate the fact that he can actually succumb to such lyrics and get away with it. Also, look at the hypocrisy of actors. They talk about ‘love Jihad’ but they are so naïve to understand what they are fostering in their films through music.
How have recordings changed over the yearsIJ
It has changed in a way that even a besura can be made surila. Technology has taken over the soul of music. There are a couple of software, Antares and Melodyne, which can fine-tune even the plain speak. So one doesn’t have to be a skilled vocalist to become a singer today. How do you think Salman Khan could sing Hangover in Kick, which was originally recorded by me. The young singers are skipping riyaaz because they know it’s not required anymore.
Do you regret being the face of copyright issueIJ
The copyright issue is in the favour of music industry. Unfortunately, nobody read about it. We are not taking royalty from music composers. It is simple that if a singer’s song is being played at a public platform, then he/she will receive the royalty. Even that money won’t go to the singer. It will be given to India Singers Rights Association (ISRA), which collects this money on our behalf. I was projected as the face of it. I regret in a sense that a lot of songs which I recorded and could have come to me were distributed freely among others. Ek tu ga le, ek tu ga le... But somewhere we needed to make the sacrifice. Today, after so much of scuffle, we have come to some understanding with music companies. Now they are creating contracts which are workable.