I sing my heart out and don’t expect: Keerthi Sagathia

Keerthi Sagathia, who features on several tracks and has had a busy year, philosophises about struggles in life and music among other things and talks about taking each day as it comes.
You’ve had classical training — first from your father Karsan Sagathia and then from two other gurus. How exactly does classical training expand or restrict one’s range?
It didn’t restrict or expand my singing range as such, but rather helped me understand what I was blessed with.My vocal range is the gift of God, passed on through my forefathers. I never did any training to expand my range (higher octave). My classic training under Pt Bhavdeep Jaipurwale helped me understand lower octave (kharaj), which comprises my daily riyaz. If I had to describe the two: the higher octave is the ‘soul’ while the lower octave is the ‘body’ to my singing. To me, classical singing is knowledgeable, it helps me understand ragas. For example, when I sing a folk song, classical music helps me know which raag it belongs to, so I can play more with that song.
You've been singing a long time. What were the high and low points?
As an artist, I can’t describe highs and lows. Life is an everyday struggle. You could say that we artists live on daily wages. You work today, you feed your family. If there’s no work, you struggle to feed your family. I’m a man who doesn’t depend on tomorrow. My today is what describes me. For example, if I have a recording or a show today, I experience a high of life. If I don’t have anything to do today, I am low. Lows keep me busy by making me do my riyaz more intensely and highs keep me busy by applying my riyaz to recordings or performing on stage.
How do you deal with success and failure?
Failures teach me to live through the struggle of life and success helps me guide new talents through my experiences. Johnny Lever, who is like a father to me, taught me to learn from failure, because they will help you remain humble while you enjoy your success and not get carried away by the glamour of it. My experiences teach me to live my life.
The singularly most profound moment in your playback career this far?
My dad struggled a lot in life. He taught me not to raise expectations from life. So I sing my heart out and don’t expect anything. When I got my first award (for Beera Beera from Radio Mirchi in 2010) it was a truly profound moment that I could give my dad. Kavita Krishnamurthyji whispered in my ear, ‘This is not the only one, there are many more to come.’ This voice is still so clear in my ears. I received one more award this year for Satyamev Jayate, the show’s title track.
You’ve had a good run this year so far, though some have come with the ‘additional vocals’ tag. How does that not affect you?
I’ll repeat myself... I don’t build expectations. For example, Wajidji is like an elder brother to me. When I go to sing for Sajid and him, I hear the song and if the song is composed beautifully, I don’t forcefully ‘add’ my voice. I’d rather ‘enhance’ it with my voice. If the song doesn’t demand my voice, I don’t force myself.. In Bullet Raja, we did one song which needed my portions and the second song Wajidji sang beautifully so I enjoyed giving backing vocals.
How did Tum Tak happen? Why were two male voices required for that song?
Why were two voices required? That answer can be given by AR Rahman himself. The song itself has two genres — I’ve sung one and Javed Ali has sung the other, but in the last stanza both genres blend so beautifully that people feel it’s just one voice. That’s the magic of Tum Tak. I’ve been blessed with this song. My portions resemble me as a person and my faith in The Almighty. Though two of us have sung the song, people have recognised my voice and appreciated it a lot.
Ram Sampath and you make a good singer-director combination. The music thereof turns out to do really well. Why do you think that is?
My relationship with Ram Sampath has lasted a decade. We’ve worked together often in all that time. He knows my strengths as a singer and I know his mind as a director. When we work together, the moment is something different. There have been times when Sona Mohapatra stays back to see us working together and after looking at the outcome, remarks ‘You both are crazy’... Ram and Sona have always stood for me. When he calls me for a recording, I am boosted up because I know there is a new, crazy idea and I am ready to jump.
Your faith has been an important part of your journey — personally and professionally. Care to share more about this?
My faith has been very important to me. I believe in the existence of God, but even more, in a loving God — Jesus. I attribute all that I am to God.
What's next? Have any independent/ non-film projects planned?
Next up, I have Satyagraha, Ramleela, Bullet Raja, etc. Come August, I’m coming up with a single. Apart from that, I enjoy singing for more movies, jingles and concerts.