After a gap of eight years, Mika Singh, known for churning chartbuster item numbers and pop songs, is working with Imtiaz Ali in his upcoming film Tamasha. While in Jab We Met, Mika’s song Mauja Hi Mauja became a rage, his new peppy song Heer from Imtiaz’s new film has those elements which can make it become a chartbuster.
Recently, the singer took an unusual turn by bringing out a single album named Maa . Though the lyrics of Maa are in Punjabi, the essence of the song can be well-understood.
Mika was recently in the Capital for the promotion of his song Maa in Junkyard cafe in Connaught Place.
Excerpts from the interview:
You have sung for almost all the present hit stars of the industry. Tell us the process you follow before singing for a particular actor.
I do not sing situational songs but once the film is ready, then the producer calls me to sing a song which later becomes hit and the selling point for the film. I do not prepare for a particular actor as most of my songs do not relate to the actual plot of the film but I am happy my fans receive me well even if I sing for newcomers like I did for Pyaar Ka Punchnama.
Tell us about the songHeer. How was singing for Imtiaz Ali and working with A.R. Rahman all over again?
Heer is yet again A.R. Rahman’s own way of portraying a girl and it is always a unique experience working with him. I spoke to Imtiaz in my Punjabi humour and messaged him, ‘Don’t you need a hit song again for your film’. And he called me again to sing Heer after a long gap of eight years. The film is also special because of Deepika Padukone. She is very lucky and whenever she associates with something it invariably becomes a hit.
Are you trying to change the perception about Punjabi singers by singing different genre of songs likeHeer?
I always wanted to become a pop singer but at the same time I also had a vision of taking my Punjabi community to the next level. That is why I was motivating new singers from there. But later I realised that people are imbibing a superficial image of Mika and my fans were getting diverted to a negative territory. I like to avoid violence in my songs and believe in clean lyrics. So I decided making songs which are not purely pop but have the Mika factor in them.
Between so many hit item numbers, how did the idea of making a song likeMaacome to you?
I had planned to make a song for my mother as she is closest to every person in this world. Mother is someone who does not ask that if the child born is a boy or a girl, she just loves the baby.
That kind of pure love should be made into a song and it is my dedication to all mothers of the world as there are only seven to eight songs in Bollywood dedicated purely to mother.
Is this in consonance with the fact that singles are becoming a trend?
Punjabi singers were releasing singles from the time when pop singing culture came into India.
And many of the famous Punjabi singers today in the industry started with singles. So I cannot say that I am following a trend.
