No one has the right to spoil our language: Pranab Patnaik

Eminent playback singer of Odia cinema Pranab Kishore Patnaik has been ruling the industry with his soulful voice for over five decades. The ghazal maestro selected for Jaydev Samman-the highest film award of the state for his contribution to Odia films, spoke about past, present and future of film music in Odisha in an interview with Minati Singha .

Q: How do you feel after receiving Jaydev Samman? Do you think it was delayed?

A: I am very happy. With this award I got recognition. I am really thankful to the jury members and also to friends, family and fans. I don't think it is delayed. I believe things happen when destined to be, neither before nor later.

Q: Some raised question as you are the first playback singer to get this award. What are your views on it?

A: I don't want to bring any negative thought to my mind. I don't pay any heed to such controversy. People raising questions to awards are a universal phenomenon. I think it has opened doors for many more talented singers to get this award in future.

Q: How would you describe your musical journey over the last five decades?

A: I feel really lucky to get a chance with almost all music directors of Odia film industry. Starting from Bhubaneswar Mishra, Balakrushna Das, Upendra Kumar, Santanu Mohapatra, Akshay Mohanty, Prafulla Kar, Basudev Rath till the contemporary music directors. Each of them was different from the other and had influenced my singing immensely and explored my voice in myriad ways.

Q: What are your views about present day film songs and lyrics?

A: I feel sorry for the lyrics. We have no right to spoil our language. Whatever be the mood of a song be it sad or romantic or comedy the language should be direct and have some meaning and sense. How can you make a girl naked in your music? I feel today's songs are confusion, pollution and without any dimension. And that is the reason why they are not lasting.

Q: Are you getting offers to sing these days?

A: yes, I have some good songs, which I will record soon. But now-a-days I refused many proposals and offers. Some people come with badly-written songs and ready to pay me heavily. I don't want to lose my name, which I earned through my hard work and dedication for music.

Q: Any regret you have in life?

A: During my struggling days in Mumbai, I was selected for playback in two songs for legendary composer duo Shankar Jaikishan. Everything was ready but a few hours before the recording Jaikishan ji fell ill and admitted in hospital. And after a few days he passed away. Following which all scheduled recordings were cancelled. I wish if I could have got a chance to record those two songs probably I would have been somewhere else.

Q: Your voice took Odia Ghazal to a new classical height. Are you specially trained for this?

A: Not actually. My voice is God gifted and of course I do lots of riyaz (practice) and take care of it. I don't yell or shout. I talk less. I am the only Ghazal singer in Odisha. I learnt the gayaki (style) when I was a student of graduation in Aligarh Muslim University. I had many Muslim friends and I learnt Urdu from them, which was like my mother tongue. I learnt a lot by singing songs of Mirza Ghalib, Naqvi and other great Urdu poets and of singers like Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Hariharan etc.

Q: Your message for young and upcoming singers?

A: Music is something spiritual and immensely powerful. It can cure cancer and effect growth of plants. If you cannot fall in love with music, how can it love you? Have a clean heart and don't lose your temper. Keep learning, continue practice, have dedication, success will be yours.