Benny Dayal may have made sound “Besharmi Ki Height” and “Badtameez Dil” absolutely rumbustious but in real life he is all grace.
The singer who is as much at ease with Tamil numbers as Punjabi songs was in full flow the other day when he performed at Worlds of Wonder in Noida for Mirchi Live in Concert. When the audience didn’t respond appropriately to “Tu Meri Dost Hai”, he quickly switched to “Daru Desi” kind of songs inunderlining his range and the beauty of his luscious voice.
Excerpts from a chat:
Tell us about the point in life when the idea of becoming a singer came to your mind?
I still remember the bus ride for my school when I heard the song “Dil Se” of Rahman sir and that time I decided this is the thing which I want to do in my life.
In your early days you were associated with a band called S5. Tell us about your journey from a band singer to a playback singer?
I basically hail from Kerala but I was born and brought up in the Gulf. I came to Chennai to do my college and after that I was fortunate to be selected in a talent hunt after which we formed a band called S5. Initially, I started as a chorus singer but later on good things happened and here I am.
You are termed as a blue-eyed boy of A.R. Rahman. How is it working with the maestro?
I met him after I had got a job but after listening to me, he gave me lots of assignments and compelled me to quit my job. Eventually, one day I left my job and started my career as a playback singer. Right from my initial days A.R. Rahman was an inspiration for me and working with him is always a learning experience.
Having worked in almost every film industry in India, how is working in Bollywood different from the South?
I don’t categorise any industry because it is music and it remains the same everywhere. Yes, timings can be different like in Chennai, it is very disciplined. If you have given the time in morning then it will start on time while in Mumbai it could be afternoon or evening.
Tell us your experience at Coke Studio?
I have done three seasons with them and it is always a good experience doing fusion because I personally hold a view that music does not have a language or form. What ever soothes your mind is music.
You have performed across the Europe and America. Tell us the kind of audience there and any incident you want to share from any concert there?
I have performed at many prestigious auditoriums and audiences have received me warmly everywhere which yet again proves that music does not have any language. I remember when I had performed at Durban a lady came to me and said, ‘I saw all your work yesterday night to watch you here’ and at another incident one cleaner was mopping the floor while puffing a cigarette. He came to me and said, ‘I don’t know who you are but I really enjoyed the show.’
Any suggestion for young struggling artists…
Go real. That’s all I can suggest them and don’t follow anyone’s style bring out yours and it will be received well.
