Debojit is back with a new Album

Millions who tuned into the grand finale of Zee TV's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007 a fortnight ago saw Debojit Saha back on the stage from where he catapulted to fame two years ago — rocking the Andheri Sports Complex crowd with Dekha to tujhe yaar/Dil mein baaji guitar (from Apna Sapna Money Money). But some in Calcutta got to see him up close a few weeks before that.

Debojit was in town to shoot for the music video of his first Bengali album Sapna Sajiye. The Saregama production has just reached the racks.

Why did it take you so long to bring out an album in Bengali?

I have sung for Bengali films before. But this is the first bouquet of original, modern Bengali songs from me.

Why just a Bengali album?

I have been flooded with offers to record in Assamese as well. But I am contract-bound with Zee till March. The channel decided to release my Hindi album first. The album has eight numbers; mostly groovy tracks.

How does it feel to release an album during the Pujas?

It brings back memories of my childhood in Palonghat, in the outskirts of Shillong. In those days, booklets used to come out from HMV with the lyrics of the Puja releases. I learnt the words of the evergreen hits like Amar pujar phool, aamar moyna go and Bolo ki achhe go from those booklets.

Did the recording happen in Calcutta?

Yes. It was an overwhelming feeling to record in the Dum Dum studio where greats like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Hemanta Mukherjee and Manna De have sung.

Aneek Dhar followed in your footsteps by bringing the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge crown back to the east. How would you rate him?

Even when I saw him on the Zee Bangla show, he sang well. In fact, in comparison to this year's winner Soumen, Aneek was more versatile and an extrovert. The exposure to the camera must have helped him when he reached the national platform. But I hope he does not forget his past. Public voting can make a hero out of you overnight, but if you don't keep your feet on the ground, the same people can toss you back to the floor.

Has Debojit changed?

Only in the vehicle I travel in — a Honda City in place of a public bus.