A lifetime too short for music:Shail

doweshowbellyad=0; A still from Saawariya. (TOI Photo). More picsSinger Shail tells Dipannita Ghosh Biswas that he does not pay too much heed to the success of his song in Saawariya
Why haven’t you used your original name?
(Laughs) My name is Shailendra Singh Hada. But the industry already had a Shailendra Singh and I was very insistent on using Hada, so Monty bhaiyya and Sanjay decided on Shail Hada.But later we realised that a singer called Shail was already there in the industry.
Is this your first brush with playback singing?
Not exactly. I did the backup vocals for Black and very few people know this but I am also the assistant music director for Saawariya and we have been working on its music for the last two and a half years. In fact, even today we aren’t done with the background scores.
Was music always your calling?
I have done my post-graduation in Hindusthani classical vocals from Kota and have also been a gold medallist a number of times from Mumbai University. When I came to Mumbai way back in 1995-96, all I wanted to do is evolve as a singer. So I never took the initiative to look about for work. I am a science student and was expected to be either a doctor or an engineer but luckily for me, my mother is a school principal and my father is a lecturer. So, they never for once opposed my decision. when I met with a near fatal accident when I was in Class 12, my mother just told me one thing, do what your heart tells you to. And here I am.
So is there anyone you really look up to as your ideal?
My first guru is my father Jaswant Singh Hada. But if I have to talk about people from the industry, then I would like to mention Mannada ke riyaaz, Kishoreda ki khuli aawaz, Rafi saab ka meethapan, Lataji jaise jaan dalte hai ek gaane mein aur Ashaji ki adayein. The list is pretty long.
What is your USP as a singer?
I’m like a dual processor, but I mainly operate from my heart. I always feel that the voice texture and culture should always be nurtured and that brings the variation to it. I have tried yodelling and Sanjayji and Monty were quite happy with it. This form has not been tried in the industry for some time and I wanted to get it back.
Does it help a playback singer to have a formal training in music?
Of course it does and I can guarantee that most big singers do classical riyaaz on a daily basis. I wouldn’t say that classical singers can’t become playback singers. What matters most is to be able to feel the song and deliver it.
The title track of Saawariya is already a hit. Has the success sunk into you?
I am not reacting at all to the success of the song. I did what I was supposed to do and that’s it.
Is there any composer or actor you’d like to sing for?
All of them actually. And when it comes to actors, I think my voice width will suit all the leading heroes of today.
Composers are turning singers and also actors these days. What’s your take on that?
All composers are generally very good singers so it’s absolutely upto them, if they want to sing or even act. But I speak on my behalf when I say that I am here to sing and that’s the only thing I’ll be doing. Mere liye gaana puja hai. Aur yeh ek jeewan sangeet ke liye bahut chota padega.