Song of the soul
Manpriya Singh
If you are still hung-over on last year’s hit single Bulleya, and reach for the volume every time it still plays on the radio or TV, you aren’t alone. “That song is one of the closest to my heart,” Bollywood playback singer Amit Mishra shares how lyrics play an important role in any song. Being a singer songwriter, any interest in lyrics is a given. Any interest in music has been there since kindergarten or may be even before that. “I grew up in Lucknow and during school counseling itself they zeroed in on music for me. Participation in school assembly further led to the next step. We formed our school band in Class 6 or 7.”
However, Mumbai did not happen until at least 2010. “That’s when we participated in a reality show Idea Rocks India 2009 and we were among the finalists that season.”
While his band mates came back, he chose to stay on. “My first big hit was for Dilwale with the song Manma Emotion Jaage,” shares the singer who grew up listening to folk songs and Mohammad Rafi, among others.
Moving on, isn’t there is a flip side to rendering a smash hit just like there is to enacting a famous character? You are known by the one great song you sung. “Not really because even before Bulleya I had already spent 6 to 7 years in the industry and rendered 9 to 10 hit songs,” shares the artiste, having professionally studied music at college level for close to four years and having sung for films like Jagga Jasoos, Munna Michael, Lucknow Central, Judwaa 2, Aksar 2, Golmaal Again, Aiyaary. Courtesy the protocol of exclusivity, he can’t talk much about his upcoming films and songs, though he assures lots of collaborations and videos are on the way.
Note on the Punjabi rock stars
Like everyone else, he is sold on Gurdas Maan, when asked about singers from Punjab. “He is the ultimate. Apart from that it is always nice to come across Punjabi singers. I have met Diljit for a very short while,” shares the artist who has sung a couple of Punjabi songs. Even though he grew up outside of Punjab or North India, there is an affinity for the language. “I love Punjabi, though I understand it better than I can speak.” Here’s hoping to hear a few Punjabi numbers too in future.
manpriya@tribunemail.com
