'I have no full-time interest in film music'

As she stepped on the stage and held her sitar, the buzz in the audience came to a halt and all stood motionless to listen to her magical voice. While listeners think that it is her magic, she denies the fact.

“It is not the sole magic of singer but the magic of music that speaks across countries. There are still a lot of mistakes that I commit but it is the love of audiences that I keep rehearsing more,” says Padma Shree awardee, Shubha Mudgal. Metrolife caught the soulful singer in a candid chat when she was recently in the City to promote the genre of thumri.

She is extremely selective in her choice and doesn’t believe in the popular notion of western music spoiling the Indian classical strings. “The wonderful thing about Indian music is its enormous diversity which should never be compromised. Don’t think that classical are the standards by which one should judge the success of any genre of music. My son is a Rock musician and I am delighted that he has music in his life.”

Her parents were professors of English literature and in love with arts. “We always discussed poetry and theatre over diner. My father was a great fan of Kishore Kumar and made me a cassette of all his songs.” Much before singing, Shubha learnt Kathak. “At the age of four I learnt Kathak. I thought it was great fun to put on lipstick and dress up to dance.”

However, the question of Bollywood singing is not her cup of tea. “Playback singing is not my area of specialisation and therefore, my involvement with film music has been very infrequent. I have no full-time interest in film music.”

But the small screen seems to have attracted her voice in the popular TV show, Diya Aur Baati Hum is much loved by the audience. “I had worked earlier with the Adil Behram, one of the two young composers of the title track for Diya aur Baati. The experience of working with Adil had been a very pleasant, and therefore when Adil and Prashant invited me to dub Diya aur Baati, I was happy to do so.”

While most feel sad that the young generation is not following classical music she thinks otherwise, “I always think what we have given to them? If you haven’t encouraged your kids to listen to classical music than how can you blame them? There should be that kind of atmosphere at home first and there will be a time when music will not be compromised.”