|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Made in India:
Adventures of a Lifetime
Of course, the star composer was born two years before India gained Independence. Certainly not the most conducive times to nurse a desire to be like Elvis Presley. Any wonder his request to his mother to buy him a guitar was conceded only with a rider— earn half the money for it. And it wasn’t just guitar that Biddu had to earn en route his way to stardom. By all accounts, Biddu never got it all on a silver platter. From playing at local cafes in Bangalore to performing at Bombay’s hotels to finally, though rather circuitously, finding his way to London to almost being entangled in hashish smuggling, here is a story of grit and determination and belief in himself. And it this self-belief that made him chuck a reasonably well-paying job at a restaurant in London in favour of music. It is the same assurance that made him flip the title song Disco Fever to I Love to Love, which ultimately went on to become number one for several weeks. Interestingly, the song Aap jaisa from the film Qurbani, confesses Biddu, came to him from nowhere. The offer didn’t even excite him to begin with, probably would have eluded him if Feroze Khan, whom he calls the original King Khan, hadn’t been so insistent. The enormity of what he had composed hit him only when it went on to become the rage. As against this, greater thought and planning went on in the making of the album Made in India, the title of which struck him on a morning walk and not only is the name of his book but also, insists Biddu, ultimately defines his being. In the preface he lists out three reasons why an autobiography ought to be written. Though he lists ego as one of them, by no stretch of imagination can one accuse him of suffering from megalomania. In fact, far from it for he has devoted more time and pages to the making of Biddu and to years of struggle than edifying himself. Even though there is solid ground for him to gloat over his achievements. For, here is a composer who has sold over 38 million records worldwide, whose song Kung Fu Fighting released in the US, Europe and the rest of the world became number one in every territory and sold nine million copies. He also has to his credit the album Disco Deewane with Nazia Hassan that became the largest-selling pop album in Asian history. But the book hasn’t been penned to appease Biddu’s ego. So, even when he recounts glorious moments like meeting Joan Collins whose movie The Stud he composed for, it is more in a matter of fact tenor than look "what I have achieved" pomposity. On the barometer of "one should have a story to tell", there is little doubt he has a riveting, often saucy, at times inspirational but above all a credible human story to tell. And also knows how to narrate it almost like a master raconteur. No wonder, even though music expectedly is the defining thread of the book, nowhere does the composer weigh you down with musical jargon or technical details. So, even if you are clueless about who he is or even if his chartbusters happened much before your time, here is a book that will not only make for good bedtime or even travel reading but also offer you the glimpses of years when world wasn’t the global village as it is today, when as he puts it "trying to make a long distance call from India was an achievement of sorts." That in Bangalore, one boy dreamt he could conquer the expanse of music globally and had the gall to do so is reason enough to kindle your curiosity and keep you hooked all through his amazing journey.
|
REMEMBER
the lilting song Aap jaisa koi meri zindagi mein aaye that had
the whole nation rocking or the equally delightful Made in India sung
by the original Indipop singer Alisha Chinai. Well, now meet the man
behind the music—Biddu. Today Biddu may not exactly be a household
name in India, yet at least these two songs have ensured why you should
read about him. Certainly, there are many more reasons why his
delectable autobiography deserves your attention—it is written in
engaging, racy and enchantingly simple and readable manner. In fact, the
story of Biddu and his ride to success almost coincides with India’s
coming of age.