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By Vickey Lalwani Š2003 Bollyvista.com |
Recently, a melodious quartet comprising of lyricist Javed Akhtar, music composer Raju Singh and singers Alka Yagnik and Shankar Mahadevan launched a new video album 'Shairana'.
The album was formally launched by guest of honour Karan Johar at a glittering party. It has eight solo numbers, four sung by Alka Yagnik and four by Shankar Mahadevan. Two of these songs - 'Chandan Si Dhuli...' and 'Hazaron Chehron Mein...' - have been made into music videos by the direction of filmmaker Meghna Gulzar. On date, 'Chandan Se Dhuli' has gone on air, while the other one is due shortly.
Vickey Lalwani spoke to the 'Shairana' team at the music launch.
Javed Akhtar:
A new album, a new venture. How do you feel?
I have great expectations from this album. Alka ji , Shankar and Raju - all of us have worked very hard to make this album and Universal has released it with great care. We are proud and confident of the product.
Tell us something about 'Shairana'?
This album, in a way, can be called a cross-over album that falls between ghazal and geet. It has the language, discipline, culture and restraint of a good ghazal, and at the same time it has the simplicity and structure of a geet. There is a certain sophistication in the treatment, the ghazals don't weigh too heavily on the mind, and the geets are not too frivolous.
Which is your favourite song from the album?
It is coincidental that there are eight songs in this album and I have only eight favourites (laughs).
We heard, Shabanaji been your source of inspiration for 'Shairana'. Right?
Yes and no. Generally one doesn't get inspired by things on a very conscious level. When somebody is a part of your life, she consciously and unconsciously contributes to everything that you do and you consciously and unconsciously accept the influence. This influence is a two-way street between Shabana and me. We have contributed a lot in each others' life without making a conscious effort in that direction.
Alka Yagnik:
So, you are going to say that 'Shairana' is melodious. Right?
(Laughs loudly) You want me to say something contrary? (Laughs again). Now that you have made me conscious, let me put it this way. The album is a must hear for all music lovers. The lyrics are on the lines of ghazals. No difficult Urdu words that are hard to understand. At the same time, they are deep, meaningful and intense lyrics, put to simple yet very sweet tunes by Raju Singh.
The buzz is that JavedSaab wanted you at any cost for this album?
You should be asking Javed Saab that. But for me, it's an honour and a pleasure to be working with him. Of course, I have sung a lot of songs for him in films and this is my third non-filmi album with him. The fact that he considers me to sing his lyrics for him so often is a matter of 'huge' honour.
Your favourite songs from the album?
'Chandni Se' and 'Titliyan'.
Shankar Mahadevan:
We know about 'Shairana' now. So, just one question, Shankar Saab. Its' said that you start singing all of a sudden, any time, anywhere. True?
Yes. Music compositions come to you at the most unexpected time. It may be while you are travelling, bathing or even driving. You just don't have control over the best ideas. They just come and go as quickly. So it's important that music composers carry a medium like a mini-disc or something to record. I have an mini-disc in my car and I carry a phone that records.
Raju Singh:
How different is 'Shairana' compared to the other albums you have done with Javed Saab?
The last album that I did with Javed saab was called 'Tum Aaye', with Hariharan and Alka. It had eight duets. Doing eight duets for one album is quite taxing. So, in this album we have eight solo songs - four from a boy's point of view and four from a girl's. The USP of 'Shairana', however, is that there is no season for it, no mood for it. It's truly universal (emphasises on the word universal) .
Pun intended?
(Winks) You gotcha!
Meghna Gulzar:
What was your reaction when you heard that you were asked to direct videos for Javed Saab 's album, 'Shairana'?
I was pleasantly surprised. All said and done, it was daunting and tremendously awe-inspiring at the same time. I feel privileged. I took it as a challenge to at least try and do justice to Javed Saab 's writing and the songs that have been created for this album. I've tried to give it all the aesthetics it deserves and I've tried to make it stand out from the rest of the music videos that are coming on screen today.
Doesn't it become difficult telling a story within a three-minute time frame as opposed to the three-hour time frame filmmakers are used to working within?
Telling a story is difficult irrespective of the time frame; sometimes we find that even three hours is not enough and sometimes we feel that five minutes is more than enough. It all depends on what one is trying to tell. Generally the stories are very simplistic, with not too many ups and downs. In films, because you have to hold on for three hours, there are ups and downs. But the amount of effort and hard work that goes into either is the same.
So would you say that making a film is as challenging as making a video album?
Definitely. Any form of creative expression is a challenge and when it stops being a challenge, it stops being creative.
Is having knowledge of music a pre-requisite for directing a music video?
I wouldn't say that you have to be a master at music, but you at least have to have a feel for music. If you are completely tone deaf, it's going to be a prob. You have to at least be able to feel the song to do any kind of work on it, even if it means designing the cover of the album.
Coming to the title of the album - 'Shairana' - how much of a shayar are you?
Well, I do write poetry of the very personal kind, but I wouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath with all these esteemed people here.
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