People only like singers till the time their songs are in films: Ankit

Not only are we entertaining people and giving them an escape route from their daily lives, [but] we also inspire them to be something more. That’s a great thing GABRIEL MACHT, ACTOR

Singer-composer Ankit Tiwari has some substantial work behind him in Bollywood, but he still seeks an identity that’s truly his own, independent of the glitz of cinema and the limitations of playback. The 31-year-old shot to fame with the chartbuster song Sunn Raha Hai Na Tu from the film Aashiqui 2 (2013). Later, he composed for Aamir Khan’s blockbuster PK (2014). Other hits include Tu Hai Ki Nahin (Roy, 2015), Dil Cheez Tujhe Dedi (Airlift, 2016), Tere Liye (Sanam Re, 2016). Despite this, Ankit isn’t fulfilled. “People only like singers till the time their songs are featured in films, ya jab tak kisi bade hero ki playback karte hain (or as long as one sings playback for a major star),” he says. “Singing for someone else means that singers aur musicians ki apni koi pehchaan nahi hoti (singers and musicians get no recognition on their own). I’m searching for that pehchaan (identity) through independent singles,” adds Ankit, who is now working on a project. He’ll release 12 non-film songs on Youtube, one every month. Ankit also feels for lyricists — here’s a group that contributes much to a film’s success but gets little praise for it. “The most thankless job in our film industry is that of lyricists. Next [come] writers. These two don’t get any recognition, whereas they have the most important roles in films today,” he says.