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'I forget everything when I sing'
Along with RJ Manish Paul, Abhijeet interviewed Udit Narayan, who relived the Don experience.
Continuing in our series, rediff.com presents excerpts from an interesting conversation between the famed singers and Manish.
Manish: Welcome Abhijeet. Ready for today?
Abhijeet: Yes, just watch me with Udit Narayan.
Manish: Tell us about your first song with Udit.
Abhijeet: My first song with Udit was from the film Khiladi. Jatin Lalit's music Khud Ko Kya Samajthi Hai.
Manish: It's time to introduce our guest and he requires no introduction. He just has to speak two words and people will guess who he is? Welcome, Udit Narayan.
Udit: Namaskar.
Manish: Sorry to wake you up early. We are very happy to have you over here.
Udit: I am happy too. The best part is that my best friend and the best singer Abhijeet is with me here. Whenever we are together, we share a good camaraderie. People say that we are husband and wife.
Abhijeet: Yes, I am the wife.
Manish: No, Abhijeet you are the life of this programme.Abhijeet: I am flattered. Udit and my journey started from a bus stand. We used to meet at a bus stand and go to music directors during our struggling days.
Udit: (interrupts) Yes, later, I would stand at the bus stop and Abhijeet would pass in his car without stopping.
Abhijeet: No. He is joking. I got the car many years later.
Udit: When I see his shows, I am very impressed by his style.
Abhijeet: I remember your first hit song was Papa Kehten hai from Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. It was in 1987. Though you used to sing before that, this was the song that put you in the limelight. When I first heard this song, I thought it was song sung in Shailendra Singh's style. After hearing it four times, I thought it was unique. Your voice has a visual effect in it.
Udit: You are praising me a lot. I feel only those who are good can see good in others.Abhijeet: Udit is being modest. He is the engine. I always follow him like a bogey. After he got a break, I got a break. When he succeeded in QSQT, I knew my time for success had arrived. There is no music director for whom you have not sung.
Manish: Tell us about your childhood.
Udit: I was always a shy child.
Abhijeet: Yes, but not in the studios when you are singing.
Udit: Yes, that is true. I forget everything when I sing.
Abhijeet: I would like to mention that I was very upset when there was negative publicity about you (over your marriage). I felt bad that many people did not stand up for you. I always and supported you.
Udit: I am proud of your support. I have a good image. But it happens that even if you are 99 percent good, the one evil percent is always there. And people like to backbite about it. I will remember your help and your support all my life.
Manish: Uditji, tell us about your struggling days.
Udit: My struggle started when I was six. My elder brother would carry me on his shoulders to the fair in different villages. I used to sing in those fairs. In appreciation, I would get a garland made of currency notes, which would be Rs 11. First, I was in Bihar and then I went to Kathmandu, where I joined Radio Nepal. I sang songs for nine years in Nepal. I did my college from there too. I have always wanted to come to Mumbai. My father used to say that singing is not a profession and that I should become a doctor or an engineer. But my mother always supported me.Manish: How was your first day in Mumbai?
Udit: I came to Mumbai in July. The monsoon was at its peak and it was raining very heavily. I got scared.
Abhijeet: Your wife, Deepa, has always supported you. She could afford to fly in planes but she preferred travelling in trains with you.
Udit: yes, she has always supported me. I was nothing when I met her. I still call her Deepaji. I only call her Deepa when we are arguing.
Abhijeet: How did you feel singing with me after Salman Khan's Baaghi, when you were on top and I had still not established myself?
Udit: You are being modest. You too were at top after Baaghi.
Manish: Tell us about Khaike Paan Bana Ras Wala of Shah Rukh Khan's Don.
Udit: The old Don released in 1978. I bought a ticket in black at Ganga Jamuna theatre to watch it. At that time, I never thought that 25 years later, I would sing the same song. When Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy called me, Javedsaab was also there. When they told me that I had to sing this song, I was apprehensive. I said I could not compete with Kishore Kumar. But they explained to me that this film is different from the old Don, and there is no need for me to compete with Kishore Kumar. They wanted something different. By God's blessing, I succeeded and everybody loved the song.
Abhijeet: That is right. The song was different. I know Kishore Kumar's style and they were right. If they would have selected someone with Kishore Kumar's style then there would have been a comparison.Manish: Who are your idol singers?
Udit: There are many. Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi and Hemant Kumar to name a few. They all struggled so much and worked so hard. But Rafi is the best according to me. I have heard Rafi from childhood and there is no comparison for him.
Abhijeet: Yes, to be a top singer, hard work and quality is necessary but today that is very rare to find. If you do cheating and do remix you will become top, but, then you become topless (laughs).
Udit: That is true. However, there are many good and talented singers even today. They are doing good work.
Abhijeet: After Rafi, Kishore Kumar and other singers, there was a gap and then came singers like Anwar, Shabbir Kumar, Amit Kumar and Nitin Mukesh. After that, you came and started a new era. Since then, 150 singers have come, but you are still on top. Don't you feel today, that there are many music directors who are compelled to take some singers by force.
Udit: I feel those who sing honestly get work and they are doing well.
Abhijeet: The biggest example is R D Burman. His songs are always legendary.
http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/jan/24slid1.htm
