The dreamcatcher

Pop sensation Arjun Kanungo drops in for an evening of sing-along, filmy dance hits that are sure to get you on your feet

May 31, 2018 05:12 pm | Updated 05:12 pm IST

If you are still recovering from IPL fever and need a good dose of entertainment to get you back to your routine, head to Orion Mall this weekend as GIMA Award-winning singer, composer, actor and entertainer Arjun Kanungo plays his peppy, rap-infused collection of party anthems.

Arjun, who loves coming to Bengaluru, says, “I enjoy the music scene the most. It is way better than Mumbai. The musicians and the audiences here are chilled out and open and are musically very well informed.” He adds: “In fact, when people give me a listen, I hope they take away the music. As a musician I love giving to people what I love, and I hope people take a tune or two back home from me.”

While a lot of us in our teens would still be deciding what to do in life, Arjun was sure of music at the age of 17. “A lot of my peers were unsure of what they wanted to take up as higher studies, let alone a career. But I knew my calling was in music. It was a feeling I went along with and I’m really happy I made the right choice.”

The journey since, the self-taught guitarist says, has been amazing. “I’ve been doing this for about 10 years now. I didn’t know anyone in the industry back then. My family had everyone from business people and psychologists to lawyers and other careers, but not one of them was in the music industry. I started from scratch. I set up a professional recording studio when I was 18 where bands and musicians would come to jam and record music. I learnt on the job about how things work. A lot of people who are big names in the industry came to me at that time. Although my seniors are stars now, they were only making a name for themselves in the industry back then.”

The singer’s biggest break came when he caught the attention of veteran singer Asha Bhosle. “I actually went to audition for a guitar slot in her band. She, however, said I sing better than I play guitar,” Arjun laughs and adds: “For two years, I toured with her around the world, doing shows with her as the opening act and male lead singer. After that I started singing for films for a while. It was good fun.”

With his classical music training aiding him, Arjun went on to taste his first commercial success with ‘Khoon Choos Le’ in Go Goa Gone , following which he delivered the hit singles ‘Baaki Baatein Peene Baad’ ft. Badshah, ‘Fursat’, ‘Ek Dafaa’, ‘Gallan Tipsiyaa’ and ‘La La La’. Apart from his Bollywood stint, his South Indian music debut was in the hit song ‘Sirrikadhey’ from the movie Remo , composed by Anirudh Ravichander.

“After that, I took a break for a year and dabbled in some acting. Strangely enough, I landed in Mumbai right after I finished shooting for my first film and got signed to a record label. Now, however, I’m an independent artiste and waiting for the release of my first film.” Arjun points out that he is living in interesting times. “There’s new music coming out, gigs lined up and I’m dabbling with the thought of doing a movie in the South. So it is, indeed, exciting times.”

Arjun agrees that eventually, he’ll need to decide what his focus is going to be. “Although there are a lot of acting offers, I’ve always been a singer first and I’m trying to do as much singing as I can. This year I want it all to be about my independent music. Let’s see next year how things turn out.”

To those starting from scratch like him in the industry, he shares a thoughtful message. “If this is what you’re meant to do, give it time. Initially, you have to struggle. Enjoy it. I did. I put in 15-16 hours every day. To me it was not a job. I was doing music. I was getting paid ₹500 per track to make music for this channel called Bindass in a sitcom called Lagegi. I was the sound man and that was my first paid job. I did about 300 tracks in six months. It was gruelling work. But I enjoyed it. I was getting paid for something I loved to do.” He adds: “Continue to do music the right way. It takes time to get noticed. First, develop your skills and never stop learning. If you’re in the entertainment sector, it’s best to be good at being a singer, dancer and actor. They’re all connected and you never know where your ability will take you. Also, I’ve learnt that it’s not enough to be a playback singer. You need to be active on social media and strive to be the best in everything.”

Check out Arjun Kanungo live in concert along with a line-up of Bengaluru’s top DJs at Orion Mall, Brigade Gateway, Malleswaram, on June 3, 5 pm onwards. Tickets on BookMyShow.

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