I am a gypsy who loves music: Ila

Jasmine Singh

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If there is anything that she would want to hold on to ever is music and her zest for life. She breaks into a hearty laugh when complimented as how she is growing young by the day.

“The secret to it is my fans, they keep me alive, they keep me young,” she blurts out. Her rustic voice gets a new dimension in the latest season of Coke Studio where music director Dhruv Ghanekar brings the track Nimoli alive in a different way.

“I am a gypsy who loves all kinds of music, jazz, blue, qawaali and especially folk music. But Dhruv is someone who does work of international quality, I call him an international musician and my song couldn’t have got a better feel and look than what Dhruv has given,” shares Ila.

Without rubbing it in, Ila mentions in a passing reference that Dhruv is married to her daughter Ishita. “He is my son-in-law, but even if he was not, I could still talk nineteen to dozen about him. He is a passionate and dedicated musician.”

Singing, dancing, travelling, directing a play, Ila has enough reasons to keep her busy and rejuvenated.

That throaty laugh strikes again. “All this keeps me young and going.” She will soon be adding another chapter by doing a reality show. “This is going to be one of its kind based on pure folk music and nothing else,” she adds.

Maricheeka we bring in the name and then leave it to Ila to take over. The play went on stage last year in Delhi at the Isben Festival. The play directed by Ila has her daughter Ishita in the lead role.

“Marieechika is Hindi for mirage, and this conveys the mystery of the play. I am glad that Ishita has turned out to be an accomplished actress and done complete justice to her role,” shares the folk singer, who just wants to count her blessings and live every moment thoroughly.

As she heads back to her recording, Ila would love to talk about one more thing—a place she loves to perform. “Kolkata. I have performed everywhere but this place is simply amazing. Be it the audience, sports, theatre, machi jhol, everything about this place is lovely.”