‘ANIRUDH IS A GREAT POSITIVE ENERGY IN THE ROOM’
Shilpa Rao is the voice behind chartbusters like Besharam Rang, Chaleya, Kaavaala and now Oh My Baby from Mahesh Babu’s Guntur Kaaram. In an interview the singer talks about what makes Anirudh a great musician to collaborate with and how AR Rahman music i
QBesharam Rang and then Kaavaala..., you seem to be the go to person for raunchy numbers?
I don’t classify Besharam Rang as a raunchy song. Yes, the format is a dance song and I think that’s the best way to communicate with people. About Kaavaala... I had no idea that I could also sing it. The first question I asked them was ‘Why did you call me?’ because I couldn’t imagine myself in that song. There was no pressure to sing it in a certain way. I have to say that Anirudh is a nice energy to be in the same room. The way we recorded, it was more like a jam. I had no idea that the song would reach out to so many people, not just in India, even abroad that people would just connect to it so organically. I am very grateful.
QTell us about your collab with Anirudh?
It was very chilled. He sent me the song and said take your time, it’s a solo so go all out, do whatever you feel like, express yourself the way you. I think that gives you a lot of confidence because when the composer himself has given you that space to do whatever you want, then you start using your imagination, and trying to make it more fun. For example, the part where I had to say Ra ra ra, you don’t need to sing it, it’s an expression, so go for it. I will cherish it.
Q
Is there a different kind of preparation that goes into singing in a language foreign to you?
There is a prep that is required because Tamil is not my language. But it’s been a part of my life because of Rahman sir — since Roja we’ve been hearing his music in Tamil and I think it’s one of the most precious things that I can remember from my childhood, from my school time. So though I have not sung in
Tamil, the music has always been there, so the language, the phonetics, the poetry the language has, it’s always been there.
QHow did happen? Chaleya was the first recording with Anirudh. Shah Rukh sir’s manager Pooja had reached out saying that there’s a song for Jawan and sir wants you to try it out. I said yeah, why not. I was very excited.
Chaleya
The song is one of the most refreshing one I had heard in a long, long time. When you hear the song you will understand that there is this newness to it. It was a very short 20-minute recording with Anirudh. He is a great positive energy to be in the room when you are recording something.
Q
You have sung songs across genres, which one do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy everything. I literally get into the studio like a child in an ice cream factory or a chocolate factory. I enjoy myself, I really don’t think much. It’s the time to feel if that song makes you happy, makes you ponder, makes you think... then you should just do it. You should not think much. You should actually see what the song is trying to tell you and try to express it.
Q‘CHALEYA
WAS THE FIRST RECORDING WITH ANIRUDH. SHAH RUKH SIR’S MANAGER POOJA HAD REACHED OUT SAYING THAT THERE’S A SONG FOR AND SIR WANTS YOU TO TRY IT OUT. I WAS VERY EXCITED. THE SONG IS ONE OF THE MOST REFRESHING ONE I HAD HEARD IN A LONG, LONG TIME. WHEN YOU HEAR THE SONG YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS THIS NEWNESS TO IT.’
JAWAN
Singers have to watch what they eat and drink as vocal health is critical. What measures do you take to keep your vocals fit to sing?
I need to sleep well because if your voice is well rested, you can sound better. That’s something important for me. It’s different for different bodies. I have some idea as to what works for me. So I do that on a daily basis.