'AB' the costliest album: Abhijeet Bhattacharya

Veteran singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya, who has delivered multiple hit songs for films like "Khiladi", "Yes Boss" and "Main Khiladi Tu Anari", says his latest album "AB" is the costliest one as he has used animation for one of the tracks.

He didn't disclose the amount spent on making the "Pankhudi ki palki" video, directed by Paresh Mehta, but says it was heavy on his pocket.

"This is the costliest album. For the first time, animation has been used in a music video. It is so costly that even a regional film can be made (for the same ammount of money). I have a bonding with music lovers, so it was my duty to give good music like oxygen to people," Bhattacharya told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

He says working on the video was a "challenge".

"Animation is mostly used for comedy or cartoons. Paresh Mehta came up with the concept. He took the chance. I gave him free hand. My USP is romantic and melodious songs. He symbolised my music as sweet as honey. Animation is a big challenge. We got two contrasting things together," said Bhattacharya.

He is not thinking of making a profit from the album and plans to give the amount earned from it to his charitable trust - Kamladevi Welfare Foundation - dedicated to his mother.

"When I give a gift to the public, I don't expect anything in return. It is one of the costliest albums. I could've signed a big actress too instead of animation... It's my job to help the needy through my trust, which was established two years back. I like it when people ask me for help," he said.

"They are mostly patients or even struggling musicians who used to play in recording studios everyday at one point of time. Now, there is software for everything that can be downloaded and musicians don't have money," he added.

Bhattacharya, whose last non-film album "Tere Bina" came out in 2003, wants to sound fresh and not follow the trends in the music industry.

"My album is always the star. My album is only about music, melody and romance. If nasal singing is the trend, it doesn't mean I'll do the same. People are also singing in a high pitch, so everybody is sounding same. I won't do that. Let my voice be fresh," said the singer, whose latest film track is "Dil ka jo haal hai" from 2013 Ranbir Kapoor-starrer "Besharam".

A popular voice of Bollywood superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar in the 1990s, Bhattacharya continued to sing for films like "Dhadkan", "Chalte Chalte" and "Om Shanti Om" in the past few years, but his voice has been less heard in films now. Now that "AB" has hit the stores, but he doesn't like to use the word "comeback".

"I don't like the term comeback. What comeback? I am one of the luckiest singers like Lataji, Ashaji and Kishore Kumar. I've always got evergreen songs. Like their music is always haunting, my music will be always there," he said.

"It's not like I am eagerly waiting for forthcoming songs. My songs are always evergreen. They're always played on the radio. So much so that people message me and ask am I okay? I am Abhijeet... a brand singer. It doesn't matter whether I am singing for films or not," he added.

Bhattacharya, who has studied chartered accountancy, is also a businessman and promises that he will soon come up with a "big hospitality project".