Singer connection with legendary artist M.F. Husain is something he will always treasure
Sukhwinder Singh
Sukhwinder Singh wasn’t his “usual shy” self, when he was in Hyderabad last week, to launch an Urdu anthem for a university. Sukhwinder, who visited Hyderabad after more than a year, says, “I usually don’t talk much. But I feel energetic this time. The weather is so pleasant and Hyderabad looks greener.”His love for the city goes beyond biryani. “I love Tollywood films (he has sung for many). The films here are out-and-out commercials.”
In the last two months, Sukhwinder has released three different tracks – Bismil, a ballet for Haider, Satkali, a catchy number for Happy New Year and the very cheesy Happy Budday for Kill Dil. “I count myself lucky to be doing such variety of work, including the Urdu anthem. I work with different musicians and have different experiences. For instance, A.R. Rahman makes music at 3 am. He feels most energetic then. But I feel the least energetic at 3 am. So I sleep in his studio,” says Sukhwinder.
He has garnered a lot of awards and rewards since his debut in the Hindi film industry, in 1998. But the one from the painter M.F. Husain is his most special. “I had sung Chiannama Chilkamma for his film, Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities. When I met him in his Dubai home later, he took his paint brush, splashed all kinds of colours on the canvas and in three minutes, he asked me to have a look it was a sketch of me, which is now hung in my home.”
Despite the craze for Hindi music in India, why have singers still not attained a rockstar status, like the West? “In India, playback singing is huge. That’s one reason. Second, music companies aren’t giving importance to albums. But I am hopeful, gradually, the music scene will change.”
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