A neat tune

Jasmine Singh

Punjabi suit, phulkari dupatta, jhumkis and a pranda tied to her long hair; it is for the first time that one has seen Bollywood playback singer Harshdeep Kaur in a total Punjabi avatar. “This is for my new song Dil Di Reejh; I don’t remember the last time that I dressed up like this. I am a huge fan of Phulkari dupattas; on my wedding, I took my mother’s old phulkari. Other than this, I don’t usually wear many suits. I like to keep it simple, with just about no accessories, except for a watch. I don’t wear jhumkis like you see in the picture,” Harshdeep shares.

However, it is her singing style that everyone is interested in. There’s one more thing that has caught the fancy of many — her debut Manchester International Festival this month.

“It was one proud moment for me; for the first time any Indian made a debut at such a big platform. I was excited and not nervous at all. In fact, I started getting so many requests from people who wanted me to sing various songs like Challa, the one I wasn’t even prepared for. It was encouraging to see such a huge crowd swaying to my music,” she adds.

On modern lines

Coming back to her track, Dil Di Reejh, written by Preet Kanwal, she says, “I have collaborated with Tigerstyle for the first time. The track is very Punjabi, but it has modern music,” she adds, moving to her choice of songs that have always been very melodious and clean in nature. “Music is a reflection of an artiste’s personality. So, what I sing is an extension of what I am. I sing songs that I relate to, that have a message and are packed with content. I sing songs that even kids can hear; I don’t want them to listen to anything bad.”

Striking a neat balance between her married and professional life, Harshdeep feels blessed to be married in a supportive family. “My husband and in-laws support my singing. It seems nothing has changed after marriage; I had the same encouraging environment at home and here as well,” she smiles.

What about acting in Punjabi films? She smiles, “I think acting is a tough job; I have acted in my upcoming track. But acting in a Punjabi film, if it is a musical then maybe; as of now I love singing.”

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