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Honey, we are rocking
THE land of milk and honey has given Yo Yo Honey Singh to Bollywood and now, as far as Punjabi singers in Hindi films go it is maujan hi maujan. Honey is laughing all the way to the bank after creating history. He became the first Punjabi singer to sell the song Angrezi Beat Tey for Rs 70 lakh for the Saif Ali Khan-Deepika Padukone-starrer Cocktail. Getting an interview with the singer who has rocked Bollywood is no cakewalk. The constant refrain of his manager Anoop Singh, whenever one calls him up, is: "Sir is busy in a meeting with some Bollywood filmwallas, please give us some time." When one did connect with him, Honey Singh, instead of an apology hearty laugh and said. "Oh, ya. I am kind of really very busy. You know, these days I sleep only eight hours in four days. I have the biggest and darkest under-eye circles in the entire Bollywood!" On the roll, meeting Bollywood directors, producers and music directors 24x7, Honey Singh is on a song, being bombarded by a spree of singing projects. His fast-forward routine does validate the dark circles and sleep deficit. After endless songs on Jatt, daru and dunali, they are now stretching their vocal chords to sing Hindi numbers in Bollywood. Singers like Gippy Grewal, Jasbir Jassi, Lab Janjua, Lember Hussainpuri and Miss Pooja can boast of good Bollywood projects in their kitty. The trend is not a flash-in-the-pan happening, there have been pioneers who paved the way to Bollywood for these singers. Sukhwinder Singh, Mika
and Daler Mehndi cleared the road for the likes of Honey Singh.
From a private album "Saawan Main Lag Gayee Aag", which highlighted Mika’s nasal twang and vocal stretch as-much-as-you-can ability, (once Punjabi and now Bollywood singer) Mika, is one of the first Punjabis to have made a successful foray into Hindi cinema. It was in 2007, that a desi-bhai type rap "Ganpat" for the movie Shootout at Lokhandwala that turned the industry’s radar on Mika. "I had sung a Hindi song "Something, Something" before "Ganpat". But I was noticed only after "Maujan hi Maujan" in Jab We Met, and as everyone says rest is history and my hard work," shares Mika, who belted out one superhit track after the other. He remembers all his songs in chronological order. "Subah honey na dey," (Desi Boyz), "Oye Lucky Lucky oye," "Dinka Chika" (Bodyguard) and the recent hit "Chinta Chita," (Rowdy Rathore), Mika is one of the most sought after names with Bollywood music directors. "I had no plans of coming to Mumbai to struggle and then find a base for myself. I had a plan — to become popular in Punjab, and then to move to Mumbai so that people know who I am," says Mika, making it sound modest. "Today, I work on my own terms and conditions. I have become choosy about my work. You would be surprised to know that I get an offer to sing three songs in one day. If I take up the offer, I would have sung 900 songs in a year," he adds, "Watch out for my songs in Son Of Sardar. I am doing a Hindi film, along with playback singer Shaan, Balwinder Singh Famous Ho Gaya," declares Mika with aplomb. Talking about doing the
unimaginable, the Chainya, Chainya singer Sukhwinder Singh is
yet another singer who has put Punjab on the world map. From singing
Punjabi numbers to winning umpteen international awards for the Slumdog
Millionaire song "Jai Ho!" , Sukhwinder Singh is
a Punjabi living his Bollywood dream to the hilt.
As, Honey Singh who is interested in sharing the story behind the hit number "Angrezi Beat Tey", puts it: "Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor heard this song while they were shooting in Dubai. They wanted the song right away. However, it took me three months to get the international rights. Finally, it was sold for Rs 70 Lakh to be used in the movie Cocktail," says Honey a shade pompously. "At present, I have 43 songs lined up for Bollywood and am shooting for the most expensive Hindi song, along with a leading Hindi film actress, which will be used in a movie pretty soon." He discreetly refrains from divulging the name of either the actress or the film, sounding suitably mysterious. He is giving a track in the upcoming film Race 2 as well. "I am working with music directors like Pritam and big music companies Eros, Tips and T series. Watch out for me Bollywood." This is a confident Honey Singh who has no qualms in admitting that he works on his own terms. "I have told Bollywood, either I am very expensive or I can come for free if you make me a friend! Close on Honey’s heels
is Punjabi singer-actor Gippy Grewal, the voice in the song "Angrezi
Beat Tey," which was picturised on Deepika Padukone. Apart
from signing projects in Bollywood with well-known music directors,
Gippy is also signing a Hindi film. "Punjabi singers have made
inroads into Bollywood’s music industry. We have a different voice,
we offer different beats and, of course, a different style that
Bollywood is lapping up with enthusiasm," he says.
When that Punjabi touch and those foot-tapping Punjabi words become part of a Hindi movie it just turns the entertainment quotient around and sends cash registers ringing. If you still can’t hold yourself back from dancing on "Ji Karda" (Singh Is Kingg), you know what we mean. Punjabi singer Labh Janjua rocked Bollywood with his song "Mundeyan To Bach Key Rahin" that was used in Boom, starring Jackie Shroff and Katrina Kaif. After a list of hit numbers "Paapey Pyar Karkey," (Pyar Key Side-Effects), "Yaara Dhol Waja" (Dhol), "Lut Gaya Sardar," (Hat trick), "Soni Dey Nakhrey" (Partner), "Talli Hua," (Singh is Kingg), "Chance Pe Dance," (Rab Ney Bana Di Jodi) is waiting for the audiences to see his upcoming projects. "I have a track in Sunny Deol’s movie Bhaiya Ji Superstar and another one in Mast 2," offers Labh. Unlike the rest of his more fortunate counterparts, Labh had to struggle to make music directors notice his work. "Contrary to what other singers say, as a Punjabi singer I still have to make that extra effort to sell my work. Nevertheless, things have changed, and now Punjabi singers can and do call the shots." Jasbir Jassi, is refusing to be typecast. He made his debut in Bollywood with "Laung Da Lishkaara," (Patiala House) and has been flooded with offers, but he doesn’t want to sing similar songs. The first Punjabi singer to have performed at the Cannes Film Festival 2012, Jasbir Jassi wants to do something that suits his style. "The Hindi film fraternity has taken a fancy to Punjabi singers, you can see a modest shower of Punjabi songs in all movies. This does not mean I would also sing the same kind of songs," he asserts. This can be heard as different note. But ask the only female Punjabi singer to catch the listeners ears, Miss Pooja, who made Mumbaikars dance to her "Second Hand Jawaani," (Cocktail) and gleefully says she couldn’t have asked for more. "When music director Pritam approached me for the song, I thought it was some kind of a joke. I can’t believe, that Bollywood has liked my number so much," gushes the singer who has a number of projects up her sleeves. She makes no effort to hide how life has taken a 360-degree turn with Hindi cinema calling out to her!
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