‘I don’t take awards seriously, but this one is special’

Monali Thakur won the National Award for Best Playback Singer, Female, for "Moh moh ke dhake" from 'Dam Laga Ke Haisha'

April 12, 2016 11:34 am | Updated June 11, 2018 05:05 pm IST

Monali Thakur, who recently won the National Award for Best Playback Singer, Female, for “Moh moh ke dhake” from Dam Laga Ke Haisha , shot to fame with “Zara zara” from Race in 2008. She sang two songs in the album, which instantly became favourite dance numbers. But it is the Anu Malik’s semi-classical composition that gave her the nation’s most sought after award.

Monali, who has also acted in a few Bengali and Hindi movies, is busy writing and composing songs for her singles, where she will be seen flaunting her dance skills. In a telephonic interview, the Bengali beauty spoke about her career, industry stereotypes, indie music scene and more.

Excerpts from the interview:

So, how does it feel to win a national award?

- (Laughs) Awesome! But honestly I think I need time to believe it, specially because I never thought of it or did I expect it. My phone was on flight mode and once I switched it on, billions of messages were pouring in. I thought I probably got a big film offer, or I am getting married. A film maker friend of mine from Bengal then called and gave me the news. For a moment I was silent and then I started jumping around. I called my mother at home, who was equally overwhelmed.

You started your Hindi film career with pop numbers like “Khwab dekhe jhoote moote” and then surprised music lovers with melodious “Sawarloo”. Do you think that helped music directors notice your versatility?

- It is unfortunate, as you know, the industry stereotypes people. And specially for women, there are not much scope in film music to experiment. Because music in movies are created according to the script and these days even the female lines are sung by male singers.

But mine, fortunately, is a different story. I started getting offers for similar kind of songs – songs that conveyed no meaning– so I consciously refused them although I was not earning enough. Then I met Amit Trivedi, who offered me “Aga Bai” for Aiyyaa. He liked my work and then “Sawarloon” happened. Amit knew I was trained in Hindustani classical (Patiala gharana). So, it certainly helped people notice the other side of me that I can even sing a thumri.

It is just not singing, you are also an actor. Your last big ticket venture “ >Lakshmi ” may not have got rave reviews but you were mostly appreciated. You had acted as a child artist in Bengali soap opera Aalokito ek Indu. So are we going to see you more on screen now?

-(Laughs) Oh gosh! Don’t tell me you have watched it (serial). Well, I like to think myself to be an entertainer. You meet creative minds as you move ahead in life. I met a few people who saw that I was interested and can act so that’s how it all started. I enjoy film making and I want to express myself as an artist in every creative form possible. So yeah sure, why not?

Given that you had started acting and singing almost simultaneously, as a child, what you wanted to become?

- I always wanted to become a musician. At the age of six, I had my first song recorded with HMD. So, I was clear that in order to reach maximum people I need to become a playback singer because in this country sadly only film music gives you that kind of recognition. But now I want to do different things – from dance to composing to writing songs – anything that interests me.

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

- Definitely family, to begin with. Baba (father, Shakti Thakur) himself being a professional singer and even Maa, who is also a singer, have always been a great inspiration. Other than that I have also been greatly influenced by music of the West. I would listen to indie music, blue, pop rock, basically anything and anyone that appealed to me. It will be unfair to just name one, there are many.

What is your take on present indie music scene in India.

- Not much is happening in the indie scene and the reason there is not much support from big banners. If producers start taking initiative in individual projects, things will improve. I don’t think what MTV is doing is enough. I mean, sure it is giving a platform to showcase one’s talent but we need to push harder to reach the level where we have singing divas and superstars in the country because we have so much talent.

What are your future projects?

- Currently, I am working on my single album and focusing on it. In film music, a new song "Cham cham" from the Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer Baaghi has been released and there are a couple of other songs that are yet to release. But I don’t want to name any until they are out. Other than this, I had finished shooting for Mango, which is yet to be released and last Christmas a short film named "Jangle bells" was released.

Watch the short film

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