TALK
On a song
A hot contender for a host of upcoming music awards, singer Shaan has definitely made all the right noises this year
Zoha Tapia
FORTUNATELY for me the Indian cricket team is playing so badly that I hope to have a good crowd today," he jokes flashing his trademark smile that just adds to his boy-next-door appeal. But the most endearing part about singer Shaan is that even after hitting the top music slots every time he comes out with a new album, he really is the quintessential boy-next-door! And as he prepared to perform at the Magarpatta City on December 3 on the occasion of their Foundation Day, his plans for the evening were clear. "I am looking forward to entertaining the crowd by crooning to all the popular songs I have sung over the years"he stated.
Performing in the city after a gap of four years, he asserts that his unusually long absence from the city music circuit doesn't really matter much. For him, Pune has always been close to his heart. "My relation with the city goes back a long time even before I became a singer. I remember hanging out at my friend's place at Clover Retreat and playing pool," he recalls. Over the years he has found major changes in the city. "There is so much development in Pune. Unfortunately I am here for such short periods that I don't get to see much of what's happening," says Shaan, who is also the only Indian artiste to be signed up by Virgin EMI giving him a chance to perform with the likes of Blue and Michael Learns to Rock.
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And for this singer who gives music lovers at least one exceptionally melodious tune to hum every year, this year he has been exceptionally lucky with Don , Fanaa, Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna being major chartbusters. Obviously, the next thought that his fans have is whether he is going to walk away with all the awards this year. But his modest approach keeps him grounded. "Well I don't really know. But my well-wishers have been speculating that Chand Sifarash might just fetch me one," he shares. "Who knows, maybe Kailash Kher who is everyone's lucky mascot, may prove to be lucky for me too, as he has also sung some parts in the song," he laughs. But the versatile singer already has his eyes set on the future with the music of Salam-e-Ishq having just released, he hopes that the song Mera Dil may just help him start the New Year with a bang.
"Right now I'm very content doing playback singing for films because I am getting opportunities to prove my versatility and thankfully in the past six years that I have been around I have managed not getting typecast," he says.
However surprisingly, the singer has a different take on anchoring to which he owes a great deal of his popularity. "I think I may just stop anchoring for a while, as it is taking a toll on my throat. Besides I don't agree with the fact that such shows make instant celebrities out of ordinary people. A few months is not enough to make a good singer into a professional one."
And, in a music market that is dominated by Bollywood music, he feels that the advent of Pakistani singers on the Indian music scene will make a positive difference. And what about an album that his fans are so eagerly looking forward to? "I want to come out with an album with my sister Sagarika. Right now she is going the family way as she is preparing for her second child. So it will be sometime before this happens," he says.
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