Singer Monali Thakur says the essence of music remains eternal
Wherever she goes, she spreads her infectious energy and delights with her mellifluous voice. In Chandigarh for a performance recently, singer Monali Thakur was equally delighted by the audience, “Sabki energy was so beautiful in Chandigarh and people were so welcoming. It was just an absolute pleasure to perform in front of them. The big surprise was my song Haan Ke Haan, as it was one of the first times I sang it in a concert but the response was amazing.”
Performing in various parts of the country, there must be a set process as to how she goes about it? “I do change things based on the city and the kind of audience. It involves months of preparation and rehearsals.”
Monali, recipient of several awards, including a National Film Award for the song Moh Moh Ke Dhaage from Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) and a Filmfare Award for Sawaar Loon from Lootera (2013), says the music scene has evolved over the years and so has she. “One has to keep up with the times. As music has evolved, so have I. Sometimes the whole process surprises me, but it is great learning. Also, while one needs to evolve the essence of music remains eternal,” she believes.
Monali, who was a judge of Zee TV’s singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs 2014 and an expert on Colors TV’s Rising Star for two consecutive seasons, has been a playback singer who is now about to start with independent music. So what does she enjoy more? “Music is music. I am just performing as a vocalist, but in my independent stuff I am a singer as well as songwriter, who is involved in the whole creative process. It is my thoughts getting expressed. It’s my creative call and journey. Of course, I like independent music more because I get to express myself and that is more exciting. However, if I get to sing a beautiful melody, it is also equally exciting,” she says.
As for the song Haan Ke Haan, she counts it among her personal favourites, “I was going through a very difficult phase in life at that time, but with this song my innocence came out and that makes me very happy.”
Monali is inspired by quite a few music legends and says, “Bade Ghulam Ali Khan sahib and Jagdish Prasad ji, his student and my guru; Lata ji and Asha ji have also been great influences in my life. My father has deeply inspired me too. Among the international stars, I love how Doja Cat performs; Bruno Mars, Rosalia and many more are good too.”
Moving along as she is on the crest of music, Monali draws inspiration from her own self, “I am grateful that I’m an intense person. My emotional intelligence is what is going to allow me to express intelligently, so I think I seek inspiration from my emotional intelligence.” Inspiring!
