“A live performance connects the performer with the audience brilliantly and is experiential. If the audience is bored they react instantly and the performer registers it,” says Sunidhi Chauhan, the sensational voice of India.
Hers is the voice behind many hit Bollywood numbers. In fact give her any genre and with her own touch she belts out the numbers for them to become chartbusters, like Beedi Jalai le (Omkaara), Sheila ki Jawani (Tees Maar Khan), Desi Girl (Dostana), Pyar ki yeh Kahani Suno (Honeymoon Travels), Hey Shona (Ta Ra Rumpum), Dhoom Macha Le and Kamli Kamli Main to (Dhoom, Dhoom 3) Kaise Paheli Hai Yeh (Parineeti) and other popular film tracks.
Recalling her recent performance at the 3rd Hum TV awards ceremony in Dubai, she says, “The reaction of the audience was so striking that I could feel them enjoying not only the popular songs but also relish each word of the song. I could feel their euphoria and I too got caught into it. It was unforgettable.”
After laying her claim on the playback turf, singer Sunidhi Chauhan is now prepping up to act in films
Sunidhi, now in her early 30s, says the best compliment she ever got was from the legendary Lata Mangeshkar. In an interview the doyen of Bollywood music had said, “At present Sunidhi is numero uno. She can sing all kinds of songs and her voice and style is one that the Gen-next hankers after!”
Sunidhi is comfortable singing peppy item songs to melodious slow numbers also. And Hindi film music isn’t the only forte of this talented singer. She has sung in several languages in India — Kannada, Tamil, Marathi, Punjabi and Telugu films too. She has also lent her voice to Pakistani films like Pyar hi Pyar Mein and others. To her credit are title songs of TV serials like Pavitra Rishta, Hitler Didi, Tumhari Paakhi, Sharaarat etc. Currently along with other singers such as Shaan, Himesh Reshammiya and Mika Singh, Sunidhi can be seen judging the musical reality show Voice of India.
Talking about musical shows she says, “There may be numerous musical reality shows and equal number of winners. But only the real talent lasts. Others just vamoose soon!”
Recalling her recent performance at the 3rd Hum TV awards ceremony in Dubai, she says, “The reaction of the audience was so striking that I could feel them enjoying not only the popular songs but also relish each word of the song. I could feel their euphoria and I too got caught into it. It was unforgettable.”
Way back in 1996, Sunidhi too was the winner of the very first musical realty show, Meri Awaz Suno on Doordarshan channel. Then, she was just 14 years old. She has also been a judge along with the likes of renowned singer Asha Bhosle on the popular musical reality show Indian Idol (seasons 5 & 6).
Ask her about the change of contestants and competition from 1996 to now she admits that since she appeared on the scene there has been a huge change in the functioning of music reality shows and its participants. Then it was just a competition and now it’s a reality show. “Then, the judges gave their verdict. Now it’s the audience and their votes which make a winner,” she says. She also admits that many a time the audience is swayed by other factors rather than talent and may not deliver a right verdict. But the industry does take note of real talent. “Of late,” she laughingly acknowledges, “only losers have been successful playback singers!”
The display of arrogance and over-confidence by some participants of music reality shows puts Sunidhi off. “We have to bring them down a notch or two to make them behave and sing in a normal manner!”
Reality shows do a give a leg up for the singers, according to her. “Even if the participants don’t win and reach the Top 10 positions, the visibility of the shows is good enough for them to get calls from event managers to appear on events,” she says.
Sunidhi is now readying to don a different cap — act in films! She has lost oodles of weight and has trimmed down for her new role. “Music will always be my first love. But if I get a chance I would like to act in a couple of films. Who doesn’t want to be seen on the big screen?”
Presently, Sunidhi is busy collaborating with several international composers. She has already worked with composers like Enrique Iglesias on a song titled Heartbeat ; Pakistani band Junoon for two tracks and singer Faakhir Mehmood for the album Mantra besides Raghav Sacchar, Apache Indian and Ishq Bector of India. “Today there is immense scope to experiment in our music. It’s the best time to be in the world of music,” says the sensational singer.
Though she has sung almost all genre of songs, one hasn’t heard rap, “I have recorded a couple of raps also but they are yet to be released.”
Asked if she is worried by the entry of new singers diluting the quality and the competition, she says, “I don’t believe in competitions as there is a huge space here. Everybody’s invited. The audience loves variety and they are also the best judges. It doesn’t suffer fools gladly.”
Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, July 19th, 2015
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