I would love to hear what the original was like.” For kids, it is great because they can even say, “Oh my god, this song is really cool. If we look at it in a positive manner, these songs give the kids a chance to hear songs which they’ve missed out on.
What are your views on the ongoing trend of revamping old songs? If an actor can sing or if a singer can act, then why not?Īlso read: Exclusive: Sukhwinder Singh, the singer who went to self-imposed exile after success of Chhaiyaa Chhaiyaa, bares his soul I think delivering art is of utmost importance. Maybe, I think singers should start acting to compensate (laughs). I love Shraddha’s voice and I am a huge fan of Parineeti. What do you feel about actors like Shraddha Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra singing for themselves? I don’t care about what people say on paper because everywhere I go, I listen to my song playing.
I got to experiment with my tonality and it gave a new dimension to my singing. I said ‘Yes’ to the song because it gave me an opportunity to work in a revamped version of a Rahman Sir’s song and that meant the world to me. More than the reviews, if you see the YouTube views, the song has been successful. How did you deal with the criticism that ‘Humma Humma’ received? Having said that, I would love to do a song in which I’m given equal lines as the male singer and for that, I guess, we need to make movies like that.Īlso read: Exclusive: Impressing AR Rahman and his dream after Jabra fan success, Nakash Aziz talks all If that is the requirement, then it is fine but, if there are no such criteria and your version gets a backseat, then that’s absurd. It is also about the placement of the song, or the director’s demand. However, at the same time, there are female versions which have done really well in the past. We do want a return in terms of recognition or prominence in the industry. From that point of view, it leaves a hollow as at the end of the day we deliver an art. Not that there is anything wrong in it but it is not satisfying as an artist.
Because of this, it immediately translates to the guy singing and getting noticed. The society, in a very stereotypical way, has been the hero rescuing the heroine-despite the fact that we are in an era that feminism is being promoted but the truth is genetically still there. I think perhaps it is because of the whole heroism. In the past too, we have seen that female versions of hit numbers don’t get as much popularity as the male ones. ‘Phir Bhi Tumko Chahunga’ is being seen as Arijit Singh’s song. He believed in me when even I didn’t have the same faith in myself. I didn’t ever think I was capable of doing what Rahman Sir extracted from me. He doesn’t shy away from seeking inspiration from others, he is very welcoming to the new talent and music and technology. It is not just music, it is the amalgamation of various elements like the spiritual thing, or the direction you get. Going to Rahman Sir’s studio is like going to the temple. How has it been working with the maestro AR Rahman? For me, the biggest privilege is that I’m singing alongside Arijit Singh and the composition by Mithoon, someone whom I’ve held in high regard since Anwar. It feels more special because I am neither from here nor South, I am a Kashmiri from Canada. It is overwhelming to me that the admiration has spread from South up to North. Till now, I was singing mostly in the South and had worked with Rahman Sir (AR Rahman). Excerpts from the interview:įirst and foremost, how do you see the appreciation that ‘Phir Bhi Tumko Chahunga’ received?įor me, this is my second big hit after Humma (The Humma Song) and I am really glad that people are appreciating my voice. Speaking to on phone, Shashaa not only elucidated her association with the film Half Girlfriend but also mentioned about her experience with AR Rahman and the lesser recognition that female singers get sometimes. This overwhelming response has pleased Shashaa so much so that she feels blessed to be a part of it. Crooned by Arijit Singh and Shashaa Tirupati, the song has been at the top of the charts ever since its release. You can call it the ‘heartbreak’ or the ‘romantic’ song of the season depending on the way you see it, but Half Girlfriend‘s ‘Main Phir Bhi Tumko Chahunga’ is one song no one seems to get enough of.