Baba Sehgal is not a big believer of Bollywood music

Popular Hindi-rapper and actor Baba Sehgal, who recently appeared in a horror-comedy web series, says Indian pop music has changed over a period of time so much so that it is a constant task to stay relevant as an artist; especially in a space where Bollywood music that does not celebrate original music as much is overshadowing the indie space.

The singer says, “I am not a big believer of Bollywood music because people are more into copying or recreating old songs rather than writing original songs.”

He questions if they are “not creating original stuff”, why they are being “called an artist”. “Some of the music directors are good, but then they also follow what producers want, and frankly, if a producer does not have strong music sense, they will not understand the power of original music,” he adds.

Asked why doesn’t he work in Bollywood? He says, “I am doing my independent music and I am happy with it. If I am approached by a channel, OTT platform or filmmaker, and our sensibilities match, I can work. But I can’t go door to door,” says the rapper, who gained popularity in the 90s not only as a singer and TV host but also as an actor on TV series Alibaba.

Recalling his first ever live concert, Baba narrates, “The first show was in 1989, at the Secundrabad Club in Hyderabad city. I remember they offered me a lifetime membership. Standing before a huge crowd, screaming my name and singing along with me, it was exciting. That was one of the transforming times in our pop culture.”

Baba has built his career in the south Indian film industry, too, where he has been working for the last 15 years. He played Yamraj, the mythological character, in his latest web series. What does he like doing the most? “My whole process starts from writing. I am a lyricist first and then a performer. I am a sound engineer also, and therefore, I enjoy the production part as well. But ultimately it is the music. I also enjoy acting.”

I am a lyricist first and then a performer. I am a sound engineer also, and therefore, I enjoy the production part as well.

RAPPER-SINGER-ACTOR