‘Want to explore global music’

Paroma Dasgupta, singer-song-writer known for her songs like Coffee Peetey Peetey from Gabbar Is Back, talks to SHALINI SAKSENA about her latest single Mann Ke

What is the reason for Bollywood singers doing non-film music?

Bollywood is a movie based format. The songs here are always talking about a situation. But if as a singer, I have something on my mind, it can’t find its way to film songs. Therefore, a lot of singers are taking the non-film route to express themselves. In this case, the song is totally ours and tell their side of the story. When it is your song, you don’t need anybody’s approval. Also, there was time Bollywood had few singers. But now there are so many, one can’t base your life on just singing film songs. We are not even sure if film song we have sung will find its way into the project. Doing our stuff helps to further our creativity.

Should there be some rules to restrictions on the number of singers in Bollywood?

There can’t be any rules and regulations when it comes to music since it is an art form. In the West, every kind of voice, music and genre has a place for itself — a market. It is only in Bollywood where one gets typecast. This is something that doesn’t exist even in Kolkata where singers come out with albums, something that is unthinkable in Mumbai, which is all about singles. Every singer has a different and there can be a place for all of us. But since there is competition, one has to be more than brilliant.

Does that mean that this is boom time for singles?

I am not sure if this is a boom time. But thanks to social media platforms like YouTube, it has become easy for singers to reach the listeners. One is no longer dependent on a music label. So it makes sense to come up with singles since we are not restricted to Bollywood alone.

You have been in Bollywood for almost a decade, which has been your toughest number?

Most singers will tell you that each song has been special to them and to choose one would be unfair. But having said that, there was this song from the film Department — Dan Dan Cheeni Shoot — an item number. I never realised that I could sing such a song. Everyone thought that I was only capable of singing soft songs. This proved everyone including me, wrong. It was extremely challenging to sing this song

Do you have a favourite composer?

Everyone in Bollywood is very professional and knows how to bring out the best in you. But there are composers like AR Rahman who is on top of my list, he is my dream composer. Then there is Amit Trivedi, I wish I get to work with him some day. I love Sachin-Jigar’s composition as well.

You are a song-writer as well. Have you written and sung a film song?

I am good with prose, not poetry. I have ideas and when I sit somebody I can put the words in a more lyrical manner. And yes, there are a couple of songs but there are yet to be released. But it is not as if I would interfere into somebody else’s work.

How is singing for an ad different from a film song?

When one is singing a film song, one has three to five minutes to express yourself and convey the feelings. In an ad, one only has 30 seconds to a minute to convey a message since one is selling a product. So the mindset is totally different and helped me how to deliver things.

You are a classical singer. Did you ever feel that you should have pursued it?

I have grown up listening to music from all over the world. But I didn’t want to restrict to one form and explore global music. While classical singer is good for your base, I love to dabble into different music forms.

What are the future projects?

Like I said, there is no point to talking about them since I am not sure whether they will find their way into the film. But there is one project — Nimmo by Aanand L Rai, I look forward to the song.