‘Biggie Music Directors Did Not Entertain Me Because I Am Not In Their Camp’ Singer Shibani Kashyap Stands By Sonu Nigam’s ‘Music Mafia’ Comment

Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide case has stirred up a storm online. There is a massive outrage against Bollywood nepotism and the young actor’s decision of ending his life has created an uproar that seems to not stop.

Bollywood celebrities are facing the wrath of trolls for their alleged groupism and camping in the showbiz, and Sushant’s tragic step has paved the way for many artists to come forward and talk about the struggles and their dark experiences of the industry.

Recently, Singer Sonu Nigam put out a fearless video, where he exposed the dark reality of the Music industry in Bollywood and opened up about the plight of new singers. Sonu stated that the music industry is a bigger mafia and warned about suicides in the music industry due to the unjust treatment towards new and young singers.

We got in touch with singer Shibani Kashyap for an exclusive conversation, where she opened up about her thoughts of the music industry, Sonu Nigam’s comment and her personal experiences. 

When asked about her opinion on Sonu Nigam’s take on the music industry, Shibani said: “I completely agree with him and now the Pandora box is opening ever since we lost a talented actor like Sushant. There are a lot of things that are being unearthed, a lot of revelations happening at the moment and we should not be scared to speak our mind out.”

Shibani stands by Nigam’s comment about a ‘Music Mafia’ and says: “Yes there is a music mafia and it is very difficult to break in. However, at the same time, I believe that when your talent is good and you are a good artist, today we have access to digital platforms like Saavn, Gaana and others. So we can put our music there, we can put our music on Youtube but having said that artists who do not have the money to promote that music, they lose out.  Apart from talent hunt shows and reality shows, we need a forum where artists can approach music directors and music labels and be meritoriously looked upon.”

Further, Shibani goes on to narrate her own experience of the ‘camping system’ in the industry and how she paved her way through the struggles:

“I have always brought my own music to the table. Some of my songs became a hit but despite that, even today when I call a famous music director and say that ‘Hey, I’d love to work with you’, they don’t even pick my phone. I don’t know why, maybe because I am not in their ‘camp’.

“The struggle does not necessarily happen at the beginning of someone’s career, the struggle can also happen once you become famous. So that’s when people start feeling that ‘Oh, she/he is an ‘outsider’ so why to let them become more famous.’

“Initially, yes when I auditioned for the album ‘Ho Gayi Hai Mohabbat’, they selected me on my merit and the song was a big hit. But after the song was a huge hit, the music label did not collaborate with me again, they did not release my second album. I had to again start from scratch and make my own album” she revealed.

Revealing more about her journey, Shibani shares: “Post the success of my songs, I knocked on many music directors' doors but they didn’t entertain me. Nobody entertained me, so I had to again start from scratch and make my own album. And then I got a chance to compose a song for the film ‘Zinda’. The song was again on merit and was a good hit, but after that, again when I approached music directors, the biggies, they would say they would let me know and never entertained me. And till today, the scenario is the same.”

“I have met a few good people who believed in my work but if I had to look outside the forum, there was nobody to even pick up my call. Camping system exists in a huge way and it blocks you out. So the mafia system definitely exists but I am keeping at it and will continue to do so” the singer concludes.

Shibani achieved fame by singing the signature tune of the AIR FM channel of All India Radio and Amul India. She has been actively working in the Bollywood film industry and tasted success with her debut hit album Ho Gayi Hai Mohabbat (1998). She has crooned songs for films like Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part 2 in 2003, Zinda (2006) and 1971 (2007).

Meanwhile, Shibani has collaborated with GoNuts and Ferns N Petals for Father’s Day campaign ‘Not a Superhero’ and will be going live with superstar musician Pallash Sen of Euphoria band fame on 20th June 2020, Saturday at 6.30 pm.