Shahid Mallya recorded his first song “Rabba main to mar gaya re” in the movie Mausam in 2011 and received a good response. The same year he partnered with poet and lyricist Irshad Kamil for his song in Yash Raj Films’ Meri Brother Ki Dulhan too.
Recently he was in the Capital to promote his upcoming track in the film 2 States . Of late, he has started receiving a steady flow of playback singing offers in Bollywood. Excerpts from the interview:
What is the genre of the track you have sung in this film?
It is a peppy song or we may call it the club song. This is the song in which protagonist of the film gets introduced. It has been composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.
Have you received any formal training in singing?
All of my training in music took place at home only. My father was a singer but unfortunately neither was he noticed nor received his due. And so I learnt everything from my father and have tried to make his dreams come true.
With so many newcomers at present making a bid to sing playback, do you think that the era of old singers is over now?
Newcomers are getting a chance only because of the experiment by music composers. The old era of singing has its own trade mark. The newcomers are not sure if the song recorded by them will make it since the same number is sung by many singers. It is only after release that one is aware of it.
Do you think newcomers compromise by singing songs with crude lyrics which seem to be in vogue these days?
No, I do not think so. I am trying to establish myself as a singer in Bollywood but luckily I never had to compromise. The quality of all my songs is such that one can listen to them with the family. It all depends on one’s conscience whether one wants to sing such tracks or not. As far as I am concerned, I will never compromise on lyrics.
Apart from Hindi do you sing in other languages also?
Yes, I have sung many Punjabi songs. And now I am working for an album for which I have composed the music too.
Published - April 17, 2014 05:28 pm IST
