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| INTERVIEW | Aditya Narayan | |
| The new Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge host | |
| Chaya Unnikrishnan Aditya, the young singer son of Udit Narayan is all set to host Zee's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007 starting May 4. A chat with the rising star... One would have thought you'll make your presence in the industry with a song. Instead you are anchoring a show... I want to be a playback singer but I am not yet ready for that. I was in London completing a diploma in English Contemporary Music and returned a couple of months ago. My parents tell me that I have a lot of singing offers and my father is surprised that I am not taking those up. But I feel, I am not yet prepared to get into full-fledged singing right now because I am still growing up as a singer and even the industry deserves much more from me. I want to complete my graduation in Literature and only then take up singing as a career. So, what prompted you to host Sa Re Ga Ma Pa...? When I returned from London, Zee approached me with this offer. I have been watching the show since I was a child and it is the longest running exclusive musical show. Many singers like Kunal Ganjawalla and Shreya Ghosal have come out of it and gained popularity. Even the hosts Sonu Nigam and Shaan became famous after the show. Moreover, I realised that, the host of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has a major role to play. It is a platform for him to showcase his talent. Since its inception 13 years ago, every episode opens with the host' s performance which serves as a benchmark for the contestants. It is an honest show giving good singers to the industry. What kind of look would you project? New, fabulous and different. The kind you have never seen before on the show. My clothes are designed by Narendra Kumar and you will see me wearing suits, kurtas, cargos and jeans. After Sonu Nigam and Shaan, there will be great expectations from you, does that bother you? Sonu Nigam became a household name with the show and catpulted to fame as a playback singer. Even Shaan who was known as a pop singer is now one of the biggest names in playback singing and I am sure he has gained a lot of confidence and exposure from the show. Even I have been listening to songs since I was a baby and have taken music lessons. In my own small way, I will do my best. There are times when the situation gets out of hand with heated exchanges between the judges. How do you propose to tackle that? All the judges on the show are famous and experienced. Bappida is older than my father, Ismail Durbar is my father's age, Vishal-Shekhar are like my brothers and I consider Himesh my mentor as a music director. So, whenever there are arguments I will let them speak out their mind. There are times, when a mentor is speaking about a contestant belonging to his gharana, he is bound to be a little biased which is understandable. My job is to put their point across to the contestants and the public. But if the judges are unwilling to hold back their opinions, I will try and calm them in my own creative way. I will be balanced and since I myself appreciate good music, I think I will be able to smoothen ruffled feathers. Yes, why not? We have heard you as a child singer. Now, do you sound like your father? (Laughs) Genetically I am designed to sound like my father but he is the first one to advise me to evolve a style of my own. I wish to sound completely original. My father, as you all know, has been and will always be an original. How did your father react to your hosting a show? He is very sweet, he's always said 'do what you want but whatever you do, work hard and be good'. If it was any other musical show I wouldn't have agreed to anchor because in these shows which I don't want to name, the anchors don't need to have a knowledge of music and I doubt whether they can even sing. Your father is the judge on one such show, Indian Idol? Yes and thank god he is not the anchor. As a judge, I know he will be honest. |
