It's all about Saigal to Silajit

Silajit, who is composing and acting in ‘Chupkatha’, tells TOI why he got Srijato, Kamalika and Joy Sarkar to do the playback for his movie
Why did you rope in composer Joy Sarkar to sing for Shouvik-Depankar “Chupkatha”?
“Chupkatha” is a triangular love story where I play the male protagonist who is married to Aparajita Auddy but also has a relationship with Payel.I have heard Joy singing and I know that his voice isn’t that exposed. Initially, when I had composed this number, I had wanted a person with a voice like Bhupinder Singh. I was looking at a voice that had a similar feel. However, I didn’t know how to get in touch with him and didn’t have the budgets to offer him this assignment either. I had once heard Joy singing a number of a different composer at a television show. I had pretty much liked his song. When I offered Joy this assignment, he was apprehensive. But I knew, Joy had both the pitching and expressions right. I am recording a romantic song with him that I have penned myself.
You’ve also recorded with Srijato...
Yes, he is a very good singer. He too had once come over to my pad and hummed a few lines. Once at a poetry-reading session, I had made Srijato sing publicly. He comes from a family that is closely associated with music. In fact, I had wanted to approach Mithunda to sing this number.
Mithun Chakraborty and singing...
Yes, why not? Mithunda is my childhood hero. He comes from Jorabagan. I think, he had once sung a number that went like: “Kolkatar roawk e jobe boshe adda merechhi...” May be, in future, I might ask him if he will oblige me by lending his voice to a composition of mine. It was a fan of mine — Rik — who suggested that I approach Srijato. This song has been penned by Prosenjit. What’s interesting is that lyrically, this song is meant for the same situation as the one sung by Joy.
Which will you retain in the film then?
I have tried something new in this movie. Prosenjit, Dipangshu, Kingshuk, Suresh Das Thakur and I — we have all written songs in our own characteristic styles for the same situations. While one will be retained for the movie, the rest will make way in the album. These will also be used during the promotional tour of the movie. This is a new trend that I am trying to experiment with in Bengali playback.
Are you keeping yourself away from singing in this movie?
I have one song that will be used for the end credits. Then, there is Ananya and Indraadip Das Gupta. He is another composer who is doing playback here. Then, there is Kamalika. She will sing a number penned by Suresh Das Thakur.
Who is Suresh Das Thakur?
Well, at present, let that remain a surprise.
What about songs in other movies?
I have sung one number in “Katakuti”. Then, I sung a number for Chandrabindoo called “Habu halum”. That is being used for “Gosai Baganer Bhoot”.
You are singing, composing and even acting in this movie. Are you going the Himesh Reshammiya way?
Himesh is following me. It’s not the other way round. Let’s put it this way: It’s all about Saigal to Silajit with a lot many others before and after them.
Do you feel composers in Kolkata are now more keen on getting a fresh voice (just like Bollywood) rather than only insisting on voices that are good?
Singers in Kolkata are over-exposed. I want voices that suit my requirements. If I can ask three other lyricists along with me to pen songs for the same situation, it’s pretty obvious that I prefer good work. It doesn’t matter whether that good work is from a seasoned singer, composer or lyricist.