Source: http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=10877
Twenty-five years ago, a young man came to Mumbai with a music scholarship from the Indian Embassy in Nepal as well as a dream.
Udit Narayan Jha, son of a poor farmer from the village of Maithili (Sita’s birthplace) on the Bihar-Nepal border, had a single-minded goal - music, and excellence at it. After sacrifices galore, his focus has paid off. At a time when the careers of his contemporaries are facing rough weather, Udit Narayan has been a consistent as well as evolving singer since his breakthrough in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in 1988. When he came in, it was a world of Rafi, Kishore and Mukesh clones, but he forged his own style, and his distinctive voice sat pat on heroes from Rishi Kapoor and Anil Kapoor to Hrithik Roshan and Shahid Kapur. In today’s insecure scenario, Udit Narayan radiates calmness and has evolved from the time (almost a decade ago) when he would not be very accessible to the Fourth Estate. In a world where success breeds arrogance and complacence, success has made Udit a humbler man. 2005 has been a normal year for him, with popular songs like ‘Hum hai iss pal yahaan...’ (Kisna), ‘Subah hogi...’ (Waqt - The Race Against Time), ‘Jaane jaan tujhse bicchad ke...’ (Zeher), ‘Sajan mere pyar...’ and ‘Ishq chunariya...’ (Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya), ‘Mera dil jis dil pe fidaa hai...’ (Bewafaa), ‘Aake bhar lo...’ (Lucky - No Time For Love) and now ‘Dhadak dhadak...’ (Bunty Aur Babli). His Bhojpuri home -production Kab Hui Gavna Hamar has also proved a hit. So we begin our chat on this note.
Excerpts from an interview:
You are fairly low-key this year. Why is that?
I don’t think so, I had have six or seven real hits, which is pretty good. I think that it is music that is at a low key. How many musicals have we had this year as compared to the last two years when we had Tere Naam, Koi..Mil Gaya, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Hum Tum, Fida, Veer-Zaara, Swades and so many others. I am even singing so much in other languages that I barely have spare time. I have chalked up songs in 26 languages!
But surely you must concede that it is Hindi films that have made you a household name?
True. But you must concede too that in a phase where music isn’t as important and so many films are even being made without songs, I have had so many popular numbers.
And your home production is a hit.
Yes. That is all due to God’s blessings and the good wishes of friends and the media too. Frankly I was apprehensive about going into film-making, but my wife Deepa wanted to make a film. So I told her to go ahead and give it a try. I financed most of the film, but I wasn’t involved otherwise.
Why not?
As I said, I was apprehensive. Filmmaking involves a huge effort, big money and ultimately is a dicey and risky affair. I respect those who make films a lot. And we were making the costliest Bhojpuri film ever at a budget of almost two crores. It was also the first film in that language to be shot abroad - in Mauritius.
Surely you must have been involved in the music?
Frankly, no. I was very busy and had no time. I just put in my share of the money. My wife and the film’s team decided even the music directors, lyricists and singers. I just went in to sing three songs, and to make a special appearance in the song ‘Saagar beeche swarg se sunder...’.
What about attending the shoots?
Well, I did go for a shoot, and was reassured that my money was in safe hands (laughs) because my wife had put together a very professional and talented team. For the first time I felt that I need not regret my decision to present a film.
Has this success spurred you for more productions?
Yes, and maybe I will be involved a little more in at least the musical aspects of our next films. Ideally I would like to make films in several languages, and then make a big film in Hindi. Right now we are working on three possible projects - in Maithili, which is my mother-tongue, in Bengali and in Bhojpuri again.
So many of your seniors, contemporaries as well as juniors have turned to music direction. What about you?
I have been a singer since birth and will remain so till death! Music director banna mere bas ki baat nahin hai! Every person cannot do every thing. I know that nothing is impossible: if I try hard enough, maybe I can compose music for a film or an album. But I have always felt that I should do what I am best at, trained in and famous for. God has gifted me with an original voice that people have loved. I had enhanced this voice with tons of hard work, so many personal sacrifices and consistent dedication and riyaaz. Why should I try my hand at which others are masters? As you know, I have received so many acting offers in the past - in more than one language.
It’s years since you did an album too.
Yes, that’s true. I had an exclusive contract with T-Series for three years, but somehow they did not exploit it. I did not push the issue because I was very busy anyway, though I would have taken out time for a concrete project. Ab kuchh karenge. (Smiles)
I asked this question to Sonu Nigam too. Have both of you have revived the Rafi school of singing?
I completely agree. Without imitating Rafi-saab’s voice and style, I basically follow his school of soulful yet punch-filled singing. But I have this permanent habit of observing every other singer too, like Kishore-da, Mukeshji and all the greats, including even Lataji and Ashaji. You could say that this is the only music research I have done - analyzed why they lasted so long. I have studied minutely how they feel and express every word, bring out their beauty and make an impact with their throw of voice.
Your contemporaries are at a low ebb. Have you analyzed why this is so?
I primarily think that a man’s success is decided by the power above. Fate is all important. This is precisely why I am so thankful to God that I am around still, singing for heroes as young as Shahid Kapur. It’s been 25 years since my first film Unnees Bees was released, and seventeen years since I became a top singer with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.
But I also feel that with hard work, a sadhana and determination, anyone can bounce back. What should not be allowed to happen during a low phase is a decrease in dedication and effort.
What is happening with your son, Aditya?
He has all along been learning music, from Pt. Satyanarayan Misra. But we have kept him away from films. He passed his 10th Standard with distinction and now passed his 12th in First Class. He wants not only to study more of music but also complete his graduation in Economics. That’s something which I completely support.
Aditya is also learning Western music by himself. He plays the keyboard aur woh tunes bhi banaa leta hain. His voice too has changed to the adult one.
Does he sound like you?
Ab woh to hoga hi.(Smiles)
Today even Sonu Nigam has clones. But Udit Narayan has no clones. Why is that?
I guess I am lucky. (Smiles)
But you have your detractors - those who say for example that Udit has won three National awards because of factors other than merit.
When God is with you, they say that so is the Devil. I take them philosophically. They are a part of the package deal of my success, but I would rather not dwell on them.
Any other secret of your long innings?
Good behaviour plays a major role, aur main sant hoon! And when I say this, my intention is not to praise myself but to state a fact. I think that being a good person is even more vital, not only for personal success but for one more reason - I have always believed that if your deeds are good, your children benefit from it, just as they suffer from the results of your own misdeeds. You reap what you sow, and if you plant a mango, you cannot reap a coconut! This is what has been written in Hindu philosophy and proved right every time, and I am happy that my son Aditya is having a smooth sailing.
What about the woman behind every successful man?
Man must have some kind of rein on one’s thoughts, words and actions after success. My wife Deepa who is a singer herself, always encouraged me, and even added to the values that were already inculcated in me by my parents.
And if success comes always at a price, what is the price you paid?
I lost my childhood, and all my jawani in my single-minded pursuit of music both as a sadhana and a profession. I was 32 or 33 when my struggle phase ended! From the very beginning, I have mostly stayed away from my parents, and as a parent too, I could not spend as much time as I would have liked with my son and my wife Deepa. But in all fairness, I must also stress that I never neglected my wife and son either.
At your level, singers tend to turn choosy. What is your approach?
I don’t believe in that. believe that I will continue being active till my body permits. How can I turn choosy jab har kaam important hota hai ? As I said, kaam kabhi chhota ya badaa nahin hota, kaam kaam hota hai! From my many nominations, I won my second National award for a small film! All our great singers never went on this trip of becoming choosy. I think that they were right.
You have had a remarkably controversy-free innings. And suddenly this problem with Anu Malik has come up.
A burst of childish behaviour was all that happened, and I was as guilty as Anuji. But when we work so much for so long together, such upsets can happen. I hope and wish that we can put this small upset behind us soon.
A technical question. How do you approach a song?
I study the hero’s face and persona to decide my style and throw. I also understand the music director’s vision of the song, and try and mimic the way he sings it. My voice is the same, so obviously it is the modulations that are going to make all the differences.Variety is important too. I am delighted that my voice is still considered trendy along with singers like KK, Sonu Nigam and Shaan when I began singing in the era of Kishore Kumar and sang my first song with my idol Mohammed Rafi!
And you also became the voice of Amitabh Bachchan in Deewaar - Let’s Bring Our Heroes Home.
It was a great honour. And I think that with Aadesh (Shrivastava)ji’s help, I did a decent job of making my voice sound mature and sober.
Is there any philosophy that you believe in?
Yes, I believe in the wonderful philosophy expressed by the late (Anand) Bakshiji in his wonderful song¸ “Duniya mein kitna gham hai/Mera gham kitna kam hai/Logon ka gham dekha to main apna gham bhool gaya.” Life has had a dream-like quality for me. At the age of five, I began to work out of majboori - and today God has given me everything beyond my dreams. Why should I crib about the few problems that come as a small part of this package?