Dance numbers bring out the best in me: Sukhwinder Singh

Singer Sukhwinder lent his voice for a Marathi film in 2009 and ever since, he has been regularly associated with the Marathi film industry. The song ‘O raje’ (Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy, 2009) was his first venture and then he went on to feature and sing another song in the film Lord of Shingnapur (2016). This year, he is back in a special appearance in the song ‘Zannata’ from the film Raja. Speaking about his experience of singing the song and featuring in it, Sukhwinder says, “Director Shashikant Deshpande approached me for the song. He is a genuine person and I really liked the approach of the song. Music director Pankaj Padghan has done a great job with the music.”

Sukhwinder believes that his energy and mood reaches a 100% when the song is a dance number. “I immediately agreed to sing the song and asked them to record it right away. For a peppy number, I like to be in the mood to sing. Dance numbers bring out the best in me. They were so surprised to see my reaction and expression while recording that they offered me to feature in the song too. I had a blast while shooting it. I danced my heart out. It is an honest and completely non-choreographed performance.”

The singer feels that the Marathi music industry is doing extremely well and he loves the works of music composer duo Ajay-Atul. “I have high regards for many musicians and composers in Bollywood. But, I deeply feel that the next international award for music will be won by Ajay-Atul. They are extremely talented and their music is par excellence. If you see their graph, you will see they have fared well even in Bollywood with movies such as Singham (2011) and Bol Bachchan (2012), and their forthcoming Thugs of Hindostan (TOH). Their songs are brilliant.”

Singer Sukhwinder Singh in a still from Marathi film Raja

Speaking about his forthcoming projects, Sukhwinder adds, “Aamir Khan was present at one of the song recordings of TOH and he appreciated my work. It is a dramatic dancing number and the music helped me enhance my performance. Then, I have another song from Zero, which is picturised on Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. Another from Abhishek Choubey’s next which is a peppy and melodious number composed by Vishal Bharadwaj and written by Gulzar. When Vishal heard the song he hugged me and said, ‘You are the best’!”

This year, the singer after a gap of 14 years released his independent single titled ‘Nacchunga sari raat’. “I have another surprise lined up before Diwali. I will be releasing a single which I composed and sang 20 years ago. AR Rahman has heard it and he wanted to record it for Taal (1999), but we had already closed the album then, and after that we all forgot about it. I came across it recently while surfing my library, and I was so happy to find it that I kissed the record several times.”

The singer has completed close to three decades in the industry and is happy with the way his career has shaped up. “I don’t believe in doing everything and anything. I want to be slow, steady and humble. I like to enjoy the moment and live to the fullest. I am not aggressive and don’t keep a count of my songs. I am secure and happy.”