Music & lyrics

Sukhwinder Singh always finds Kolkata to be a tough venue for concerts as listeners here appreciate good lyrics and melody over crass ‘hit’ numbers. Over to Mathures Paul

Performing in Kolkata has always been a challenge for most singers as music lovers here look beyond the glitz and glamour, at elements that distinguish mediocre from the talented, melody from a clutter of notations, feels Sukhwinder Singh, who arrives in Kolkata on 2 November to perform at Rabindra Sarovar Stadium, after successful concerts in Bangalore, Ambala, Ajmer, Rourkela and Thane. An extremely selective singer, quite like most composers/musicians he works with, Singh is currently in the news for Fashion Ka Jalwa, the hit track from Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion. Speaking to The Statesman, he shares thoughts beyond films.
His Kolkata performance would feature mostly his hit numbers, and the list is quite long ~ from films such as Dil Se to Tashan to Fashion, played with a twist in terms of orchestration. He shares his fear. “Usually listeners here expect something more than film numbers. A touch of classical music is always welcome in Kolkata. The tracks selected for concerts usually come to my mind a day before the programme and thus I have a fair idea of what I would perform but the final list is yet to be prepared. In Kolkata the emphasis is always on tunes that are rich in vocals.”
Singh is usually found inside recording studios, making fans look forward to his concerts. Yet, to the singer there is little difference in approach to live concerts and studio sessions. “Two elements remain the same ~ mood and environment. I would never choose venues that don’t complement my songs, neither would I sing for the sake of singing. These days special arrangements are made in studios to make recordings sound ‘real’. Depending on the song, I decide on the arrangement of speakers and microphones. Same goes for the mood; for example, while recording Dil Haara (Tashan) there was a need to have lots of flowers around us (musicians). During recording sessions I close my eyes and imagine thousands sitting before me, listening to my songs. Similarly, during live concerts I try to feel the pulse of the crowd.
It’s been a while since we heard a solo album from Singh but the wait should be over in March 2009. “We have planned an album with Gulzarsaab. This time I am looking forward to AR Rahman composing for it. He knows my taste in music ~ The Wall or music from The Killing Fields, The Woman In Red, etc.” Already two songs have been recorded and the rest shouldn’t take too long. “I usually don’t work on more than four or five films every year. It does sound clichéd but I’m selective. Let’s admit it, there are a few composers in India who are really good. I always tell directors that I am very busy with very few projects!”
Returning to the Haywards 5000 Solid Nights concerts, hosted by the SABMiller group, Singh says, “It would be a tough one. People are calling me quite frequently enquiring about the track list. I mentioned earlier, the crowd here likes melodious numbers, those with a strong vocal element.”
For those interested in how Sukhwinder Singh started his career, his early hits include Chaiyya Chaiyya for Mani Ratnam’s 1998 film Dil Se, composed by AR Rahman (he won the Best Male Playback award at the 1999 Filmfare Awards) and recently he gave us hits in films like Chak De! India and Om Shanti Om (Dard-E-Disco). His other recent hits are from films like Shootout at Lokhandwala, Tashan, Bhootnath and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.