Baba's back

Baba's Back

It's the start of a new year and look who's on a roll! Just when you thought Baba Sehgal was content with his latest acting stint on Sony Television's 'Jugni Chali Jalandhar', he arrives in the city on the first day of 2009 with his bag full of good news. "There's so much to share," smiles the affable

Sehgal, best remembered still from his rappin' days. "And this year I have taken it upon myself to revive not just Indian rap but pop music too," mentions Sehgal who was enroute to Mumbai after having performed on this New Year's eve in

Jalandhar. Interestingly, as Sehgal lists out himself, this year will see him play on the music charts with an album after five long years. "It's titled 'Apni Life Ki Gaddi Ko Dhakka Maar' and it packs in lots of rap sung to my own lyrics," mentions Baba who finds his album, due for release in the second week of January, as "apt" for the current mood. "These are pep-up songs that urge the listener to push his own cart when it comes to achieving all that one is aspiring for," the singer mentions his mantra for the album. That's not all. Baba's even penned a thought-provoking song pegged on world peace. "There's so much happening around us. We need to get together as one. Take the Mumbai attacks and the after effects. I am glad to see so much support now for one another," Baba adds on a sombre note. In fact, before his performance last evening at the launch of a new five-star property in Jalandhar, the singer insisted on making the guests stand up and observe a two-minute silence in memory of those killed in the Mumbai

attacks. "I was there and I know the system is to blame...but I don't wish to get into that," Baba bounced back mentioning the positive feedback he's got for his comic role in the ongoing show 'Jugni Chali Jalandhar'. "The going's great and I am all geared up for more shows. One among them is my own talk show 'Baba Sehgal Live' that will go on air soon," informs the actor-singer and soon anchor who is looking to format his show on the lines of that by Jay Leno. "There will be stand-up comic acts as well but I would also call in guests who can directly hit out at people they are upset with," the singer's new line of thought makes us take notice. Clearly, he's been

meaning to prove a point. "I want to get Indian pop back on the scene. There's just filmy music that's dominating right now," he rues.

Speaking of playback, not many are aware that Baba's a big guy down south. "In Andhra Pradesh in particular where many of my playback songs are chart toppers," Sehgal tells us. Telegu apart, he also sings in Kannada. What about Bollywood? "For the moment, it's acting and my album that I am concentrating on. For a music album to do well, it has to be coupled with the right promotion. You'll see lot of me now on shows like Indian Idol, Balika Vadhu to promote my album," Baba warns. Told you, he's rolling on full steam ahead! .