The Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer- - Page 3

Originally posted by: vinit_fan

Sonu Kunal and HIMESH bhaiya are rockin 👏

I JUST LUV THEIR VOICE 😳

agreed vinit ji

Life after 'Murder'

Meet Kunal Ganjawala, Bollywood's happening playback singer with Tamil links

"Everybody asks, 'How did he happen?'," says Kunal about his success as a singer. The fact that he had a late start (he took to singing only in college) has been a blessing. "Because I never wanted to be a singer, I never aped anyone. That's why I sound so different," he says. Be it "Bheege Hont Tere" from Murder, the "Hai Re Hai Tera Ghungta" remix or the "Doodh doodh doodh" commercial, you've definitely heard, sung along and raved about the voice. Considered the biggest success story of the music industry in recent years, it took Kunal a good 14 years to get there. "I started in 1992, and spent years working hard, singing jingles but I worked with the best — Ranjit Barot, Leslie Lewis, Clinton, Ranjit Dolakia — I couldn't have asked for more." Then came A. R. Rahman and "O humdum Suniyo Re" from "Saathiya."

COOL CROONERS Kunal Ganjawala and Vasundhara Das (right) at the musical night organised by the Madras Sterling Round Table 123 PHOTO: R. SHIVAJI RAO Rahman, Karthik, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Vidyasagar... Kunal has worked with most of the music directors down South, well before he got his big break in Mumbai. "That's because they are more open to new ideas," he says. And then you hear him gush about the Tamil culture. "I married Gayatri (Iyer) not only for who she was, but also because of her background. I don't know how to explain it, but the values she has are very Tamilian. They are so expressive about their religion and culture," says Kunal. Gayatri Iyer, who has just returned from playing Princess Anjuli in "Far Pavilions" in London's West End, is also a singer in her own right. Is Kunal the dream husband? He sings well and will gladly sing her praises too. "That's because she's far more talented than I am. She manages her career, her time and takes care of everything that a partner has to," says Kunal. "But then women are cut out to do so much more." Loves Tamil phonetics The singer, who was in the city recently, for a music show with Vasundhara Das, organised by Madras Sterling Round Table 123 to raise funds for its education project, had promised to sing a few of his Tamil songs. "I love the phonetics of the Tamil language, it's very rhythmic." But the first thing he did coming on stage was to reassure the predominantly North Indian audience that he would not sing any Tamil songs and the spirited audience was already screaming for "Channa Vey". Like Vasundhara, Kunal had the audience, old and young, swaying and screaming for more. Pop is resurfacing after a while, says Kunal, whose last album "Channa Vey" was a huge hit. The next one should be ready by September. "When you want to write an album, it's for yourself. I refuse to let the record label dictate the terms; artistes have to be left on their own," says Kunal. The singer has nearly 30 films on hand including "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehena" with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Rajesh Roshan's "Krish" for which he also sings the Tamil version. But what he is really thrilled about is Pooja Bhatt's "Holiday." "After a long time, after the days of "Roja", "Pudhiya Mugam", "May Madam" and "Kal Ho Na Ho", here's an album that's complete, every song a great composition," says Kunal.

MEERA MOHANTY

Music with a mission

Listen to Kunal Ganjawala and Vasundhara Das live

TOP SINGERS, TOP TUNES Kunal Ganjawala and Vasundhara Das The Madras Sterling Round Table 123 in association with Kurl On Furnishings presents Kunal Ganjawala and Vasundhara Das live in a programme titled "Music for education" on February 4, 7 p.m. at the Music Academy. Kunal Ganjawala has become one of the top playback singers in Bollywood with songs such as "O Humdum Suniyo Re" in Saathiya and "Bheege Hoth Tere" in Murder to his credit. He has also cut a few albums and won some prestigious awards. The song "Shaka Laka Baby" in Mudalvan shot Vasundhara Das to fame. Besides A. R. Rahman, she has worked with Anu Malik, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Shekhar and Vishal and Ranjit Barot, and has rendered songs in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada.
The mission of the Round Table India is to educate one million illiterate children by 2008. Towards this endeavour it has initiated a Freedom Through Education project funding for which is by individuals and associations. The Madras Sterling Round Table 123 has contributed its mite by organising various events. The proceeds from the musical nite will be earmarked for its ongoing projects and for the Freedom Through Education initiative. Tickets are available at Landmark (Spencer's Plaza and Nungambakkam), Mocha (Khader Nawaz Khan Road), Mobile Zone (Fountain Plaza) and Odyssey (Adyar and Anna Nagar). For door delivery and bulk booking, contact 52176630/74 or 98402 00568. For ticket information type "GETTICKET" and SMS to 4545.

Copyright 2000 - 2006 The Hindu

Qwest Ji...thank you! 👏 👏 The articles were a delight to read, especially on some of my favourites....the very talented Sukhwinder, Shaan and Sonu. Even nice to read about Himesh. 😊 I feel Udit Narayan is simply a classic, a great singer despite any new singers that enter the industry. Nice articles...thanks for sharing 😊

Originally posted by: smiling_haseena

Qwest Ji...thank you! 👏 👏 The articles were a delight to read, especially on some of my favourites....the very talented Sukhwinder, Shaan and Sonu. Even nice to read about Himesh. 😊 I feel Udit Narayan is simply a classic, a great singer despite any new singers that enter the industry. Nice articles...thanks for sharing 😊

I agree😉