‘IT IS WRONG TO CLASSIFY MUSIC’

Jasleen Royal talks about being a composer first and a singer later, popularity of her independent music in the industry, and more

Jasleen Royal is happy that filmmakers in Bollywood see her as a composer first, and then a singer. The Ludhiana-born singer is composing music for the upcoming film Hichki starring Rani Mukerji.

In a candid chat with us, Jasleen who has composed and sung Bollywood hits like Love You Zindagi (Dear Zindagi, 2016) and Din Shagna Da (Phillauri, 2016), says, “Most often, filmmakers listen to the music I have released, and they want to use it in their film. I remember, we were at Irrfan (actor) sir’s house, where Ajay Devgn was present, and he heard my song, Panchi Hojavan. And he really liked it, and he asked me to contribute for his film Shivaay (2016),” she says.

“The same thing happened with Phillauri. Anushka (Sharma) heard my song Din Shagna Da, and asked me if she could use the song in her film. The producers and directors know that I am primarily a composer first, and because I lend my voice to some of the songs that I compose, they like to use my voice on that track,” she explains.

As a musician, Jasleen wants people to stop dividing music on the basis of film and non-film music. “It should be like that (music shouldn’t be categorised). I remember listening to songs by Euphoria without thinking that it’s an independent song. I mean people should listen to music, and appreciate or not appreciate the song, and not the category. I will not love a song just because it’s a film song,” she clarifies.