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 There
is no escaping Himesh Reshammiya these days. The 30-year
old music director's trademark nasal vocals are blaring
out of everywhere-car stereos, home theaters, night
clubs and parties. In fact, he recently became the first
music director to win a Filmfare award for playback
singing for his monster hit Aashiq Banaaya Aapne. That
combined with the success of his music album Aap Ka
Suroor has made him the hottest property among Bollywood
musicmakers. He is also reportedly scoring music for
30 films right now. Subhash K Jha caught up with him
You're
the first composer since Nadeem Shravan to sell a film
entirely on music.
I don't think the music can make a film sell. But yes,
people do go to see my songs these days. I'm trying
to work hard. But I can't be responsible for a film's
success or failure. I've control over the music, not
the way the music is used. For my part, I've to make
sure that every song of mine works. Last year, I had
a bank of 500-600 songs. Today I have a thousand tunes
ready. My focus is on melody.
You've
patented that Sufi-rock sound of Aashiq banaaya and
Janaab-e-jani…
I'm about to change that style in the next two to three
months. I know it has become a successful formula. But
I can't be stuck in one style. When I was doing predominantly
Indian styles in Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya and Tere Naam,
they said I cannot do any other style. Then I entered
a new phase with Just chill and Nikamma which connected
big time with the youth. In a few months I shifted to
the sound of Aashiq banaya aapne. I now want to combine
world music and Indian melodies. Today's target audience
is 22 and below. I now want to aim at an audience that's
slightly older.
Your insistence on singing your own compositions
is causing a lot of heartburn.
I don't know why. I've sung just three or four of my
own songs. If they're hits, what can I do? All I can
tell the professional singers is that March onwards
I'll give them even bigger hits than the ones I've sung.
In Dharmesh Darshan's Aap Ki Khatir I've used all the
top voices from Sonu Nigam to Shreya Ghosal. I think
I sing well. I've taken classical training from my dad.
People kept insisting that I sing. But I waited for
the right time. Today fresh voices are being accepted.
But music direction will always be my main passion.
Himesh the music director selects Himesh the singer.
I won't be singing in all the thirty films that I may
do in the near future. I'll sing exclusively whenever
required. I've never forced any producer to let me sing.
I've been accused of singing only in the high range.
I'm going to sing in the middle and lower octaves.
People
ridiculed you for being nasal.
That's over. After the stupendous sales of Aap Ka Suroor
where I've explored my entire range, that has stopped.
Now those who still call me nasal are just talking for
talking's sake. I've sung seven super-hit songs, the
latest being Jhoom in Tom Dick and Harry which I predict,
will be the biggest chartbuster of them all. I insist
I am not a professional playback singer. I'm a music
director first. If I sing one out of my six compositions,
what's the problem?
Most music directors have had a tough time selling
their own private albums. How did you manage?
Mine is the highest-selling album. I don't think there
has ever been a private album with the production values
and sales of Aap Ka Suroor. The first order was for
five lakh units. Then there has been a repeat order
of another five lakh copies. I haven't invented these
figures. You can check with T-Series. Where an average
album sells 25-30,000 copies, this one has already sold
10 lakh copies. I wanted to try out music that's normally
not possible in films.
You're
also seen in your music videos. Are you going to take
up acting as well?
I'm tired of people accusing me of starry ambitions
just because I'm seen in music videos. All i want to
say is… everyone who cuts an album does music videos.
But because my songs are hits, my presence is more visible.
I've no acting ambitions. I'll restrict my screen presence
to my music videos. The concept of a rock star is alien
in our country. I'm trying to fit into the mould of
a rock star, like Michael Jackson and Bryan Adams. Otherwise
I'm as far removed from acting as humanly possible.
As for Salman-bhai, he's my God and friend. My album
Aap Ka Suroor is dedicated to God, Dad and Salman Khan.
You've
come a long way as a music director…
I work on every song as a student. I'm not saying this
to be modest. If I start thinking about why people are
calling me No.1 I'll go completely wrong. I concentrate
only on my music. Today, I give filmmakers five instead
of three options for every lyric. I've to keep going
from Friday to Friday. Two flops, and I'll be back where
I started. I give my best to every film. But I really
think the impact of a song depends on the way it's used.
Now I'm really looking forward to the response to my
music in 36 Chinatown. And then Aap Ki Khatir where
the director has switched from Nadeem-Shravan to me.
So naturally there are expectations.
You've
made history by becoming the first music director to
win a Filmfare award for singing.
It doesn't mean that I see myself as a threat to the
playback singers who were nominated alongside me. I
do feel sorry that I didn't win the best music director
award. The award for the best playback singer is special
because it's the first song that I recorded for a film.
I don't think anyone else got an award for his first
recorded song.
Would
you sing for other composers?
Only if A R Rahman asks me. No one else. He's the No
1. And he did say in an interview that Aashiq banaya
aapne is his favourite track of the year.
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