Wonders when used in films, feels Sharda
Filmein aur lok geet ek doosrey ke purak hain. Commercially and popularity wise, too, they can do well. SHARDA SINHA, Singer
She has lent her voice to tracks in several hit films, including Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) and Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). And singer Sharda Sinha feels that infusing the flavours of folk music in Hindi cinema is a sure-shot formula for success.
“The scope of cinema is huge and lasting. It reaches billions of people through various mediums. If a film score has strong folk elements and it clicks, it can do wonders for the film. Filmein aur lok geet ek doosrey ke purak hain. Commercially and popularity wise, too, they can do well. Folk music benefits from film compositions as well. We have seen how beautifully late Madan Mohan (music director) used this factor in his songs. Folk music, when used in films, surely makes for an incredible piece,” says the Padma Bhushan awardee.
Sinha, too, has lent her voice to film songs with a folk touch. “My original Bhojpuri composition was liked so much that [music] composer Raamlaxman rearranged it in Bollywood style and Kahe Toh Se Sajna (Maine Pyar Kiya) and Babul Jo Tumne Sikhaya (Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!) did so well. Taar Bijli (Gangs of Wasseypur) is again a sanskaar geet and that, too, got a lot of love. It makes me feel extremely happy that today, it is a part of many wedding celebrations,” she shares.
However, the singer says she has been selective with regards to taking up film songs. “Through my academy in Bihar, I wanted to promote folk music and culture all across the globe. Films happened in between,” says the folk artiste, who has sung for several albums as well, including sanskaar geet, ritu geet, vidyapati geet, geet-ghazals, dadra in Maithali, Hindi, Bangla, Nagpuri, Maghai and Bhojpuri. “It has been over 50 years; I have lost count now,” she quips.
We live in an era when songs become viral overnight, thanks to social media. But, Sinha believes that while stars are born overnight these days, the challenge lies in maintaining stardom: “Those who’ve had no training or riyaz end up becoming one-song wonders at times. But, in the long run, all these things matter. The toughest thing is to maintain the stardom, to reach greater heights and stay on top.”