Madhushree recalls collaborating with AR Rahman, Javed Akhtar for Kisna: ‘Your romance is with your art, your voice'
Composer AR Rahman has often talked about having weird working schedules and how he doesn't even feel the need for extra friends, as he is content with his work. Singer Madhushree, who has collaborated with Rahman on films like Kisna (2005) and Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu (2022), echoed these sentiments in a recent interview, sharing her own experience working with the musical maestro.
In an interview with O2 India, Madhushree talked about the time when she recorded the song 'Hum Mile Na Mile' from the film Kisna and how she had to jump through several hoops to get it done. She shared, 'I was in my house in Andheri and got a call from Rahman's assistant who told me that I needed to get to the Taj hotel as soon as possible. I told her that it will take me at least 2-3 hours before I can get there, but she insisted that I get there right now. So I got into the local train, took a cab after that, and reached the hotel within an hour to work with him.'
ALSO READ | AR Rahman reveals real reason behind his recent hospitalisation; calls it a 'humanising' experience: 'Realised that people wanted me to live'
The singer added that her beautiful experience of working on that song did not end there, as she had quite an experience while finally recording the final cut of that song with Subhash Ghai and Javed Akhtar in the studio. 'I went to the studio, and I read the lyrics, and I usually always ask what the song means before singing. Javed sir asked me, 'Madhushree, what do you love the most?' I said, 'My music.' He said, 'I know it is a romantic song, but your romance is with your art, your voice. Sing this, keeping that in mind.' And that note really stuck with me.'
Madhushree added that initially Hariharan was supposed to sing the song with her, but he was unavailable, and Udit Narayan stepped in. The singer admitted that she wanted to do another take of the song and kept pleading her case for the coming days until she got a call back during the most unusual time. 'I normally don't fast, but I had decided to keep one for Navratra that year. On the last day of the fast, Rahman told me that he was doing the final mixing for the song and I could come in and re-take the part I wanted to. Even though I felt weak and not up to the mark, I went, and the moment I started singing, I forgot all about my hunger and fast.'
Kisna was directed by Subhash Ghai, and starred Vivek Oberoi, Isha Sharwani and Antonia Bernath in the lead roles. AR Rahman and Ismail Darbar both worked on the music for the film.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Indian Express
With 4.6 billion views, this devotional song is the most viewed video on YouTube; Hariharan recalls a priest ‘almost touched his feet' because of it
Singer Hariharan has been gracing the Indian audience with his soulful voice and unmatched skill of singing since the early 1990s. The singer, who recently held a Soul India program in Pune, for local artistes and musicians to showcase their talent, has sung many Bollywood hits and has also been celebrated in the independent music space. But, his biggest hit on YouTube with over 4.6 billion views, is his rendition of Hanuman Chalisa. In a recent interview, the singer talked about his rendition of Hanuman Chalisa, and shared that at one point, a priest almost touched his feet and got emotional upon meeting him. While talking to Radio Nasha, the singer talked about his career as a playback singer in Indian films and spoke about his version of Hanuman Chalisa. He shared that the love he gets for this baffles him to this date. He said, 'I was completely flabbergasted by the response it got. I didn't understand how it became such a huge thing and the kind of belief people have in it… It truly humbles me.' ALSO READ: AR Rahman reveals real reason behind his recent hospitalisation; calls it a 'humanising' experience: 'Realised that people wanted me to live' Hariharan shared a beautiful anecdote about this particular track and talked about his visit to Pushkar, where a priest's behaviour towards him completely took him by surprise. He said, 'I once visited the Brahma temple in Pushkar. The priest at the temple came up to me, folded his hands and nearly touched my feet. I asked him 'Maharaj ji yeh aap kya kar rahe hai (What are you doing?)'. He told me that they start the day with my rendition of Hanuman Chalisa.' The track which has transcended geographical boundaries worked wonders for Hariharan, who believes that every time someone listens to it, they pray for his well being and success. 'Not only in the north, but even people from the south tell me that they listen to my Hanuman Chalisa, it is the greatest blessing for me,' added the singer. At the time of publishing, Hariharan's Hanuman Chalisa stands at 4.6 billion views on YouTube, making it the most viewed Indian video on the platform.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Baba Sehgal disses AR Rahman's song Rukmani Rukmani: ‘Kitne vahiyat lyrics hai'
Singer Baba Sehgal worked with AR Rahman on the Hindi version of Roja's popular track Rukmani Rukmani. Now, in a new interview, he has revealed that he didn't like the lyrics of the song at all. Also read: AR Rahman says his recent health scare made him realise that people do want him to live The song has been composed by AR Rahman for Mani Ratnam's 1992 film. During an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Baba Sehgal looked back at the time when he was approached for the Hindi version of the Tamil song during a performance in Chennai. He shared that there was an assistant director who came and played Rukmani Rukmani's Tamil version. But he didn't pay much attention to it and just said 'yes' to the song. Baba claimed that Rahman, along with his team, came to his hotel and requested him to help release the song. He mentioned that he helped the team get in touch with some of his friends, who asked him to sing the Hindi version. He said, 'When I saw the Hindi lyrics, I was like, 'Kitne vahiyat lyrics hai yaar. Kisne likha hai ye?' (How cheap are these lyrics? Who wrote this?) The problem is, when we listen to songs in another language, they sound fine. But in our own language, we grasp the meaning. I don't think Rahman or Ratnam knew what those Hindi lyrics meant'. Baba also spoke about why the song turned out to be his only collaboration with AR Rahman. 'It was a forced thing. I was not at all convinced with the lyrics. They were very cheap, I feel. Another lady was called to sing the female lines. Later, I told Swetha Shetty to sing those too, and she nailed it. That was my first and last song with Rahman. Language was a problem. We never met after that,' he shared. Baba Sehgal is credited for introducing rap in India with his song Thanda Thanda Pani in 1992. An electrical engineer by training, Baba Sehgal attained stardom in the early 1990s as a rap star. His ascent had much to do with the rise of MTV in those years. Over the years, he released several songs that went on to take their place in the party playlist of people. Later in his career, he also appeared in films. He regularly takes to social media to share varied videos related to songs and music.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 days ago
- First Post
Singer Baba Sehgal says Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman's song 'Rukmani Rukmani' was 'cheap', reveals 'I understood then that they didn't like me and...'
He added, 'I didn't pay much attention to it and just said 'yes' to the song. AR Rahman was also there. He was very young at the time.' read more Singer Baba Sehgal is also a rapper and a very popular one at that. His catchy lyrics are hard to forget. In an interview with Siddharth Kanan recently, he recalled the time when he met AR Rahman and Mani Ratnam for the song Rukmani Rukmani from Roja for the Hindi version. Sehgal said, 'I had a show in Chennai. Somebody from the organising team told me that some director wants to meet me. There was an assistant director who came and played Rukmani Rukmani's Tamil version.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added, 'I didn't pay much attention to it and just said 'yes' to the song. AR Rahman was also there. He was very young at the time.' 'I called my friend Atul and gave them Shashi Gopal's number from Magnus Sound. They connected and eventually decided to do a Hindi version, on one condition that one song would be sung by me. I understood then that AR Rahman and Mani Ratnam didn't really like me.' Calling the song cheap The rapper said, 'When I saw the Hindi lyrics, I was like, 'Kitne vahiyat lyrics hai yaar. Kisne likha hai ye?' (How cheap are these lyrics? Who wrote this?).' Sehgal continued, 'The problem is, when we listen to songs in another language, they sound fine. But in our own language, we grasp the meaning. I don't think Rahman or Ratnam knew what those Hindi lyrics meant.' 'Thug Life' director Mani Ratnam made an amusing revelation recently in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter about his actors. The veteran filmmaker said, 'Not everyone. Some people you have to threaten. I've promised people that I'll throw them off the fourth floor if they don't do what I'm asking them to do.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added, 'Sometimes, you have to tell an actor that if a five-year-old child can work at odd hours, so can they. There's no one solution. But, if you have a good actor, and if what they bring in adds value…'
