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Today singing sensation Mika Singh is basking in the limelight for belting out one after another superhit song. As whatever he sings turns gold, he has every reason to preen. And he does. Clearly, humility certainly is not one of this irrepressible Punjabi’s virtues. What you see, the flashy flamboyance, is what you get. No politically correct statements ensue and there is no modest attempt to attribute his success to others. Sure hard work and passion for singing has played a key role in his 15-year-long singing odyssey. However, currently as he is laughing all the way to the bank, he is not ready to part away with his contribution in the making of his inimitable songs. No wonder, he carries the air of a successful man and is unabashedly unapologetic about having made it big in an industry where nothing succeeds like success. So not only does he take immense pride in the fact that songs are being written and composed especially with his unique voice in mind but more importantly, how he recently performed at Manali for a staggering price of Rs 1.25 crore. He remarks, "It is a record of sorts and puts me in a unique bracket as the highest-paid singer. When a Punjabi film can be canned in two to three crores, imagine someone is willing to pay me such an astronomical amount just for one night." Not the one to take money matters lightly, he adds, "Money does enhance one’s status." Sure live performances which he deems are an acid test of a singer’s true mettle are significant too. Personally, he finds live shows, with which his monthly itinerary is invariably packed, far more gratifying and exhilarating than even singing for Bollywood films. As many a Punjabi singer is making inroads in Bollywood, he says, "Undeniably, Punjabis have taken Bollywood by storm." Interestingly, he has no hesitation in proclaiming to be a trailblazer, who made way for new crop of talent like YoYo Honey Singh. Back in time, he also credits legendary Gurdas Maan and his elder brother Daler Mehdi for being pioneers, who charted new paths not only for themselves but for several generations of Punjabi singers. On unfair comparisons between him and his brother in his initial days of struggle, he doesn’t say much. Rather he owes his success as much to Almighty as to Mehndi from whom he learnt it all. Of course, there is another man that he is highly indebted to — music composer Pritam, with whom he has time and again hit the bulls eye with songs like Gandi Baat. Out of the wide array of composers he has sung for, it is Pritam whom he holds in high regard and who, he asserts, continues to surprise with spice, variety and versatility. Of course, among his favourites also are music directors Vishal Shekhar. For this talented duo, he has only recent sung for Gori Tere Pyar Mein. Among his many chartbusters like "Mauja hi Mauja", "Ibn-e-Batuta", "Dhanno", "Dhin Chika", "Desi Beat" and a host of others, he has no favourites and says simply, "I like what people like." By the way composers also like him to sing in many languages. As he has made his foray into Bengali, Telugu, Bhojpuri and Oriya music, he shares that it wasn’t easy but also reiterates, "Music has no language." Bollywood, too, he argues, is ready like never before for Punjabi singers as the day when their Punjabi diction stood as an impediment is long over. On being the toast of Bollywood, he admits to commanding a unique position and getting the price he asks for. Once again he says with unconcealed pride, "Though for some of my favourite composers, I am ready to sing for free, makers are ready to pay me anything. For they know the moment my song becomes a hit, half of their promotional budget is taken care of." Playing it down... is definitely not this boisterous singer’s style whose songs are right hitting all the right notes. Humble or not... no one can grudge that Mika deserves a bow.
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