BalleBolly - July 2021 - Issue

Rs 150/-

JULY 2021 VOL # 2

ISSUE # 7

15 DILJIT’s NEW TRACK BURNS THE CHARTS

00 28 TOP 10 DILIP KUMAR FILMS AFTER HIS FIVE-YEAR HIATUS

14 Revisiting the soul-stirring TAMAS

30 MISS POOJA THEN & NOW

HARSHDEEP KAUR The singing sensation.....

Harshdeep Kaur

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DILJIT’s

NEW TRACK BURNS THE CHARTS

15

AASA Singh

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When inspiration strikes

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KITHE

lupt ho

19

Miss Pooja

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THEN & NOW

14 16 TAMAS

Meet Harinder Singh

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BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

From the

Editor’s Desk

T

he unending wait for the monsoon seems to have ended now and the tiptap of the raindrops sound like music to our ears. To herald the much-awaited and truant monsoon, we thought of curating a list of top ten Punjabi songs, that celebrate the blessings of the rain Gods. So get ready to groove amidst the falling rain and shake a leg or two.

Harshdeep Kaur, at a very tender age, burst on to the music scene like a string of fire crackers and quickly earned the sobriquet of Sufi Ki Sultana because of her soulful Sufi renditions. After winning titles in two reality shows, Kaur established herself as a lead singer in Bollywood . Kaur was sixteen years old, when she released her first Bollywood song, Sajna Mai Haari.

Kaur has recorded songs in multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, M a l a y a l a m , Ta m i l a n d U r d u , a n d h a s established herself as a leading playback singer of Indian cinema.

Some of her popular songs include the ones from films like Rockstar, Raazi, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Raees, Baar Baar Dekho, Band Baaja Baaraat, Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, Cocktail and Bareilly Ki Barfi. Actually her rendition of Ek Onkar from the film Rang De Basanti was appreciated by all. We wish her more success in the years to come.

BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

Tamas was a TV series which hit the viewers like a roller coaster. They had not anticipated such raw performances, soul-stirring background music and a power-packed screenplay. Viewers till date say that we were lucky to see it in the Doordarshan days, as it would not have seen the light of day in today’s volatile and ‘charged’ environment.

The great Dilip Kumar’s passing away has created a huge void in the minds of filmmakers and goers alike. His acting skills and humility endeared him to fans all across the globe. We thought of listing ten of his films that he acted in, after a hiatus of around five years.

These carefully selected films of his, gave his career a new path and his performances are remembered to this day. May his soul rest in peace.

The quintessential Diljit has amazed us again and continues to do so. Whether it is his screen presence, designer outfits, breathtaking locales and sheer quality of his songs, Diljit continues to be a force to be reckoned with and he is miles away from the competition. His much-awaited new album promises to take us on a joyride of great fun and frolic. More power to his singing.

HARDEEP S. CHANDPURI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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g

Harshdeep Kaur

Popularly known as “Sufi Ki Sultana”, Bollywood playback singer Harshdeep Kaur has sung chartbuster tracks like ‘Dilbaro’, ‘Katiya Karun’, ‘Ik Onkar’, ‘Kabira (Encore)’, ‘Zaalima’ and many more. She also received the IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Dilbaro" from the film Raazi and is the only singer who has appeared in all four seasons of Coke Studio. She has collaborated with some of the greatest stars in the music world, like AR Rahman, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Vishal-Shekhar, Salim-Sulaiman, just to name a few.

Since you're leading a very fast-paced life, what significance does the Shabad hold in such times?

Yes, I have had a fast-paced life no doubt but every human has had to slow down in the last two years.

Hence life has undergone a drastic change.

Whatever the pace of life, Gurbani has always helped in calming the mind. Today when the world is gripped with doubt and everyone is looking for peace, listening to Shabads and devotional music acts as an antidote to fear, anxiety and tension.

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Shabads give me a sense of confidence and trust and all my stress and worries are dispelled.

Shabads are truly the medium of peace and tranquility.

How long did it take to compose devotional melody Satguru Nanak Aaye Ne and what was the process of uniting the top most singers for it?

I wanted to pay my tribute to Guru Nanak Dev Ji on the historic occasion of His 550th Birth Anniversary. It was a long process over a period of BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

months as I wanted new lyrics which were suitable for the occasion. When I sat to compose Satguru Nanak Aaye Ne, the first thing in my mind was that it should be hummable by everyone and secondly it should be soothing to the mind and soul. Earlier I was planning it to be only in my voice, but then my husband, Mankeet suggested that since it's a historic occasion and we should do something significant and grand. That is when the idea of including the stalwarts of the industry came to us. So I collaborated with the finest artistes of our music industry, who believed in my vision. Their contribution added so much more energy to the Shabad. This first-of-a-kind collaboration featured Shankar Mahadevan, Kapil Sharma, Salim Merchant, Shekhar Ravjiani, Shaan, Neeti Mohan, Jaspinder Narula, Richa Sharma, and Sukhshinder Shinda. I am so thankful to all the artistes who readily agreed to be a part of this.

What's your take on the foundation of knowledge learned for years directly from a Guru to today's hourly lessons and computer culture?

Everything has become very commercialized today.

The sacred bond of utmost respect and love between a Guru and a student is definitely not the same.

Today, people want quick results and do not have the patience to dedicate their life for an art. Learning from your Guru, directly teaches you so much more than just the art itself. You learn not just the value of hard work, but humility, patience and dedication.

How did your guru encourage you to perform professionally?

My Guruji Shri Tejpal Singh ji has always encouraged me to keep improving my art. Learning is the best way to expand one's horizon. He has taught me to be my best judge and work on my weaknesses. He has not just taught me music and singing techniques, but how to internalize it and enjoy it. That is the best way to develop an individualistic style. He was the one who pushed me to shift from Delhi to Mumbai so that I could fulfil my dream of becoming a playback singer.

What made you decide to pursue a career in entertainment?

I had been inclined towards music and movies since childhood. I was always so fascinated by the music in

BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

movies and used to sing along. In fact my father used to play the guitar in his band called 'House of Music'.

Later he also opened a factory of musical instruments under the same name. He spotted my talent and encouraged me to sing. He played a vital role in boosting my talent. As he and other family members noticed my enthusiasm towards music, it was decided during school itself, that I would make a career in music. So, this helped me remain dedicated and focused towards it.

Which performance do you consider as a turning point in your career?

My rendition of Ik Onkar in the film Rang De Basanti composed by AR Rahman was a turning point in my musical career. It gave me a lot of recognition and respect. It gave me an identity and I started to get recognized by my voice. I can't think of any other shabad/bhajan/song which is the caller tune of people worldwide who might not even understand the language.

At a very young age you released your first album and first song as a playback singer, how was your experience to start at such a young age?

It was always a dream to sing for movies and I was so elated the day I sang my first movie song. The song was Sajna Mai Haari. It was a big deal for me. I remember going to the music shop with my father to buy the Audio CD of that film Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai. And I can't explain the feeling when I read my name in the credits along with other legendary singers like Asha Bhosle ji, Jagjit Singh ji, Alka Yagnik ji, Udit Narayan ji...who were all a part of the same album.

What you do consider as your most favourite and least favourite part about being a musician?

Well, the best part of being a musician is that I get to do what I love the most, it doesn't feel like work. And there's nothing that I don't like about it. Being able to do what you love the most is a huge blessing! You get to entertain people with your art and through your music you become a part of their lives, in happiness and sorrow. I have travelled to various parts of the world with my music and it has been a privilege to perform at many international venues where iconic artistes have been on the same stage.

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What has been the best performance of your career so far?

My solo UK Tour in 2018 has been the most memorable among my concerts. The two shows in London and Birmingham were houseful and I got a standing ovation from the audience. It was surreal to see myself being applauded by the media for my performance.

admire is Shankar Mahadevan Ji. It's amazing that in spite of being a legend and being a global music icon, he wears his fame lightly. He's one of the greatest human beings in our industry, who is so humble and always creates an informal and jovial environment around him. He is so approachable and doesn't have an entourage around him and that's what makes him so endearing to everyone.

Who are the musicians that inspire you? What qualities do you admire about them?

My inspiration since childhood and the artiste from whom I have learnt the most is the late Jagjit Singh ji. Apart from singing and performing; the way he

What's the best piece of advice any other musician has ever given you?

The best advice I have received is from Jagjit Singh ji. He taught me to be a fearless singer. A singer should be confident about his/her vocal range and

used to pronounce words and be so intimate with the audience with his music. I was very young when I attended his concert and that was the day, I decided I wanted to become an artiste and performer like him. His nuances of singing and the pronunciation of words is a tutorial for all singers. I have watched him with awe as to how his voice would vibrate when singing. The artiste I really

work on doing wonders within that vocal range.

Some singers have a very wide range. They will be capable of singing the low register and the high register equally well. Other people stay within a moderate range. So discover your own vocal strengths and be the best and unique version of yourself. Don't imitate anyone in trying to prove yourself.

BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

How is the experience of performing at concerts in front of a huge number of fans?

Firstly, on stage I feel like I have the best job in the world! A packed venue where everyone is having a good time is my favourite, regardless of the size. There's no bigger joy for an artiste to get love and energy from a live audience in front of you. It is the audience that provides the ambience.

It is quite an adrenaline rush to have multitudes of people cheer wildly while you perform. Being in a crowd-fueled high-energy moment is a great thrill unlike any other. When thousands of fans sing along with you, it gives you another high! It is something I'm very grateful for.

Do you follow a process or ritual before a performance to get rid of nerves or performance anxiety?

I have never had anxiety or stage fright. But I do follow a ritual backstage in my green room before my performance as the silence helps you to keep your head calm and prepare for the evening. I do vocal warm ups in a consistent way that helps me become centered, present, focused, relaxed, and prepared. I make sure I'm hydrated and my body is relaxed. And last but not the least, a small prayer in my heart and a smile on my face is something, I never forget before getting on stage.

When you started your career, people weren't much active on social media, so from that point till now, what's your take on social media and do the likes on Instagram or views on YouTube bother you?

Well not just social media but even technology over the years has shaped the music scene differently. They have impacted every aspect of our lives. The digital wave has taken the entertainment industry by storm. The emergence of the internet, computers and smart phones have created a new musical landscape. Hence Social Media too has made a huge impact on music. It does help to reach out to fans directly and create a closer community with them. Also it is a visual medium hence it makes it more personal for fans to enjoy the music of their favourite artistes. Fans like to copy their musical heroes. But it depends to what extent you want to be obsessed with focusing on your music content or on your visual appeal. I do not even pay attention to the numbers or the reach and only like to put out my BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

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music to the world. Even before we had social media, good music always stood out. People would walk into bookstores and pick up magazines and cassettes. So only the medium has changed.

Everything else stays the same.

A lot of brides make their bridal entries and prewedding shoot videos on your songs like Dilbaro, Peer Vee Tu, Kabira (encore). How content do you feel?

It is definitely flattering to watch videos online on the songs that I have sung. I feel humbled and special that my voice becomes a part of such important occasions in a person's life. I feel a sense of gratitude, when my songs are able to bring out emotions in other people with their loved ones.

How difficult do you consider playback singing is since you have to express all the emotions just by

modulating your voice behind the camera?

Playback singing is not an easy job. When you get a call from any music director, you walk in excited, but anxious. You do not know the lyrics or the song or even the name of the film in advance. It could be a love song or rock song and your pitch will vary.

You have to be fully prepared and in your best voice in those two or three hours of dubbing. That is why classical training is important. Ideally in both Hindustani and western music, Bollywood too has different song styles for different situations. To bring out emotions and expressions through your voice is the most challenging part. You may be good in a certain genre, but in Bollywood you have to keep on evolving and get out of your comfort zone.

Nowadays technology might be able to correct the pitch of many singers, but it cannot bring out the required emotions in a song.

Do you like the remake version of songs? Also there's a shift in centric idea of songs from earlier days to present. What's your take on it?

It's really hard to recreate old melodies in a new sound, but yet I would say that if they are done aesthetically and creatively without offending the original and fit the storyline aptly, some of the songs have done justice. So as long as we aren't being disrespectful to the original creator, a recreation can even be quite flattering. The millennials who have not heard the old melodies can get an opportunity to bridge the generation gap.

So many years down the lane what all changes have you observed in your singing style?

Over the years, I have become my personal critic and judge and I listen to my own songs repeatedly and try to explore areas of improvement and the fundamentals of singing.

To become a singer with a recognizable and unique voice, your vocal technique should have a blend of music and creativity. You must learn the suitable tone and voice type that you are able to handle without sacrificing your vocal health. Sometimes you don't need to push so much and rather sing with more ease for better voice projection. Another thing I have learnt is that you need to constantly keep updating yourself and not just stick to one style. You should indulge in deep breathing exercises to improve your voice resonance and voice control. Experiment with new sounds.

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Sometimes you should surprise yourself also. That is what I have learnt over the years.

What are your hobbies or interests outside of music?

I love cooking although just sometimes because we all have help these days and earlier there was a lot of outdoor travelling and now there's a time constraint with a small baby. Also, OTT has become popular in the lockdown as we are staying at home. I also like doing photography.

How has your daily routine changed after becoming a mother?

Motherhood brings a lot of woes along with extreme happiness. My daily routine has become even busier now and everything revolves around my son Hunar now. These are his crucial growing

months so I want to give him the maximum time I can. I get up early and sleep early. I do my Riyaz, recordings and shoots when he is asleep. It gets difficult sometimes, but I have a beautiful family support system with my husband Mankeet, in-laws and my parents, so with proper time management, I've learnt how to manage work and Hunar together pretty well.

beautiful culture of Punjab. But off late, not just the Punjabi songs, but many lyrics that we hear are distasteful and suggestive and talk only about brands, alcohol, violence, cars, and all things toxic and lewd that can mislead the younger generation.

Such a beautiful language is filled with offensive lyrics. I have firmly chosen to deny being part of such songs.

A Punjabi musician you wish to work with?

Gurdas Maan Sahab is one of the greatest personalities of Punjabi music. He is a living legend and his music brings out the Punjabi culture. My other favourite is Diljit Dosanjh. He looks so cool and has amazing acting skills. All his songs are chart busters and he has a very down-toearth lovable personality. I do hope I get an opportunity to sing with both of them.

Any Punjabi song you wished you could have been a part of?

Most definitely the super hit 'Laung Lachi'! The song has broken so many records and inspite of millions of cover versions nothing can match this original!

Belonging to a Punjabi background, how do you feel about the major shift in words of Punjabi songs?

Punjabi is such a sweet language and old Punjabi songs have very rich lyrics. They represented the BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

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L

ong before, web series became a staple diet for all of us. There came one out of the blue, that hit us like a roller coaster, appeared to tug at our heart and was able to reach deep into our gut and pull the intestines out. Till then nothing similar had ever graced the small screen nor the silver screen. Tamas came in troubled times, when a ‘new’ India was finding its feet and taking baby steps to showcase its modern uprising. The sheer grip of the story, amazing actors, chiselled performances and a music track to match blew us all away. Tamas (meaning Darkness) released in the year 1988, as a mini-series on Doordarshan and was written and directed by Govind Nihalani. It was based on the Hindi novel of the same name by Bhisham Sahni which won the author the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975.

Set in the backdrop of riot-stricken Pakistan at the time of the partition of India in 1947, the series dealt with the plight of emigrant Sikh and Hindu families to India as a consequence of the ‘Partition’. It is said that while working as a second-unit director in Richard Attenborough's biographical film Gandhi, Nihalani came across the book while visiting a book store in Delhi. He was drawn towards it by the title Tamas and just after going through a few pages, he came to know that it was about the partition.

Being a refugee himself who had come to India after the partition, he claimed that he desperately wanted to make a film based on the event. Subsequently, Nihalani handpicked Amrish Puri, A. K. Hangal, Om Puri, Pankaj Kapur etc., stating that almost all of these were young at the time of partition and had known very well about the event. Deepa Sahi, Surekha Sikri and Barry John were signed up for other important roles.

Tamas reflected on how the political decision to ‘Partition’ the region led to deep 14

polarization among the Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim communities in the Punjab and how this polarization engendered fear and hysteria and led to the breakdown of social and moral norms.

Tamas also took up how this polarization, fear, and hysteria devolved into communal violence, ethnic cleansing, and genocidal massacres from mid-1947 to early 1948. It addressed this history and its wounds, both on the individual and community level. The series showcased how ‘Partition’ impacted the common individual in the most horrific of ways.

A lot of controversies also erupted, as it was set in the backdrop of religious violence. The Hyderabad office of Doordarshan was attacked and Nihalani received threats from unknown people and was placed under police protection for a period of eight weeks.

The world in it, reduced to political and bureaucratic whims, seemed like a world without empathy. This is the world that Nihalini depicts in Tamas. It's a series you cannot afford your children to watch, but it is also a series, that you cannot afford your children NOT to watch.

One can only sit and wonder whether such a gut-wrenching series would have been ever made, or if made, would it have seen the light of the day, considering the ‘charged-up’ times that we all are living in today.

It is an emotionally devastating TV series, but a indispensable one.

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}

DILJIT’s NEW TRACK BURNS THE CHARTS

D

iljit never ceases to amaze us. Whether it's his histrionics or music, he has singlehandedly led us on a joyride of fun and frolic into the world that every Punjabi living in any corner of the world dreams of. His largerthan-life videos made on astronomical budgets, matched with his vocal power and his irresistible charm as the boy-next-door has endeared him with many fans across the globe.

His new song Umbrella is a testament of that. This is his new single from the album ‘G.O.A.T’. Alongside Diljit Dosanjh’s vocals, the song has music by Intense and lyrics by Chani Nattan.

Further, the credit for the BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

video goes to HzDz Visuals.

Diljit’s penchant for big luxury brands is wellknown and even in this slick video, he unabashedly showcases the best that money can buy. Be it his shoes, his sazzy jackets or even the cars, they all make an appearance in the video which makes it a treat to watch.

It is pertinent to mention here that his upcoming album Moon Child Era is being eagerly awaited and is scheduled to release real soon.

‘The Turbaned One’ has this time opted for the ultimate Rolls Royce Phantom and the shot of ‘The

Spirit of Ecstasy’ (The bonnet ornament sculpture on RollsRoyce cars. It is in the form of a woman leaning forwards with her arms outstretched behind and above her) rising up like a phoenix from the bonnet is a sight for sore eyes.

We look forward to more such surprises in your eagerly awaited new album.

Till then keep jammin’.

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Harinder Singh Tell us about your childhood days in Delhi?

I had an amazing childhood and I still recall those golden days. My family was quite liberal and they gave me freedom to explore and learn. Today, I am known for my creative competence and I credit my childhood days for it. Whatever I learnt in those days is unparalleled. I used to play a lot of outdoor games like Football, Stapu, Gilli-Danda, Hide and Seek, Street-style golf and Kho-Kho. I was very fond of these extra-curricular activities, but at the same time quite detached academically. Going to the tandoor in order to get Tandoori roti was the best part of my day. I enjoyed having rotis at the dhaba with my group which comprised of labourers. My childhood was all about learning

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from my surroundings and enjoying every moment without giving a thought about who belongs to an upper or a lower caste.

How important do you consider staying close to your roots in present times?

Being conscious of my values and practicing my ethics, was the utmost concern of my grandparents. Both my maternal and paternal grandparents shared the same wave length in terms of their faith towards Sikhism and its beliefs. They used to recite Gurbani for me and share incidents from the journey of their life.

Whatever I have achieved today is by far and large because of the teachings of my family.

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How did your interest shift from the steel industry towards the clothing industry?

I graduated in 1988, and joined the steel business which was owned by my grandfather. I started working religiously the way he would do. He was unwell and apparently, passed away in 1988. So I got even more responsible. But in the 1990’s, I sensed the steel industry was shrinking as there was plastic coming in. I could see no great future for myself in that industry. Since, I had a great sense of designing and loved this field, so I decided to enter the clothing industry. I used to go to the market in order to get smuggled Tshirts coming from abroad. This made me realize that India didn’t have good quality T-shirts and I should create a brand that focuses on quality. On st

1 January 1990, I invested in fabric and began this business. I couldn’t tell my parents because they were against the clothing business and instead of them; my tailors and master gave me approval and a push to go ahead, after looking at how passionate I was. I started investing more and more into my business and it flourished very fast. In 1991, I started earning money and then there was no looking back. My parents also started looking differently at me after this.

How and when did you decide to get married?

When my business became stable and I was earning well, my parents started pressurizing me to get married. But I didn’t want any girl to say yes after looking at my car or the money in my

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pocket. I wanted her to see my skills, so I put a condition in front of my parents, that I’ll only marry a girl who comes from a service family and is knowledgeable enough. I was fortunate to get my wife Kiran from Chandigarh and we tied the knot in January 1995.

How did you get idea of starting your brand 1469 and why did you particularly choose this name?

In around 2002, I along with my family was vacationing in Florence, Italy. A guy pointed and shouted at me Bin Laden, and then disappeared.

Back then, I used to keep my beard open and mostly wore a white turban. He probably thought that I was from an Arabic country and this made me realize that the Sikh identity was not clear to most of people in the world. So me and my wife decided that we should do something worthwhile for our society, identity, culture, faith and language. We wanted to make people aware about Sikhism, Punjab and Guru Nanak Dev Ji. We initially named our brand ‘Traditional Value’. But an year later, we changed it to ‘1469’ as it happens to be Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth year. A lot of my friends told me that I was taking a big risk by naming my brand on Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth year and I shouldn’t be using this name. But I was determined that I have to make the world aware about Sikhism with my work.

You began with designing T-shirts, then how did you start with Phulkari work?

We felt T-shirts were more weekend wear, holiday wear and quite casual. Although, we had designed a lot of quirky and interesting one liner T-shirts, but I did not get enough satisfaction from this. So, me and my wife started traveling within Punjab. We visited schools and colleges and met a lot of youngsters. We could see there was a lot of information which was either sitting on the books or on the net, but was not visible on the walls. We also attended a lot of exhibitions and I remember there was this one exhibition in Delhi, where there were dozens of State stalls. There were about three people from Kolkata, five from Orissa and a few from Madhya Pradesh, but no one from Punjab. We came across one stall which was selling phulkaris, but it was very, very inferior and also machine made. This was an eye opener for me and I sensed I could become a trend setter by reBALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

introducing authentic phulkari work. That’s how we decided to design small tops, kurtis, and phulkari accessories like key chains etc. The Sangrur Bell is one of our most liked phulkari product. Adding phulkari with ‘1469’ turned out to be a big reward for our brand.

and told me that he was really inspired with my work and wanted me to promote the song Sadda Haq from his movie Rock Star. We discovered a good wavelength and I promoted that line which did pretty well. He gave me a very good exposure all over India.

I was pretty shocked, as this was one of the biggest rewards, I had ever got from Bollywood. It didn’t take

What do you have to say to brands who are inspired by you?

In India, if anyone follows you, they initially follow your lifestyle and then probably the products that you own. People saw my fancy car and thought that I was earning quite well from my business. So, I decided to change my car first, so that people don't misunderstand my work. My work is only out of passion. It's not focused towards money or commercialization. My criteria is pretty different. I want to do an intense study on Punjabi gurmukhi words, one-liners and I want to meet industry people, who have actually given enough to our society. My aim is to expand my reach. So, anyone who is following us is most welcome and I'm more than happy, as I'm not there forever. I salute people for their research and for promoting Punjabi culture.

How has the experience of working with Bollywood celebrities been? How did you connect with Imtiaz Ali? Bollywood discovered ‘1469’ on the streets. People from the production team, or the camera person wore our T-shirts. Imtiaz Ali also spotted someone

wearing a T-shirt from ‘1469’ and he asked him from where he got it. When he was in Delhi, he invited me 18

long for our relation to bloom into a friendship. I also have developed a good association with actresses like Taapsee Pannu, Neha Dhupia, Sara Gurpal etc.

What do you love to do in your spare time?

I love to walk and explore nature. I am also fond of biking and cycling. Apart from this, during the lockdown, I started to cook as our maid was on leave and discovered that I was pretty good at it and I should cook more often. I did a lot of experimentation with spices and cooked tasty and healthy food for my family.

What would you like to say to new start-ups?

Youngsters nowadays, already know what they want to do. They have made up their minds and are aware as to where they are heading. So any suggestion or advice coming from an elder is not considered good because they don't want to listen to anyone. The trend is quite different these days.

A tip I have for this generation from my experience is that if they start with a new venture, they should foresee whether they’ll be able to handle it for four to five years. If they don’t have a clear framework in their mind, they will make irrational decisions and waste a lot of money. They should value their investments and think wisely before entering into a new venture.

BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

KITHE

lupt ho

REMEMBERING THE WORDS THAT ARE SLOWLY VANISHING FROM OUR ‘Ma-Boli’

ਗੱਦ ਖੁਰਕੀ - ਚਾਪਲੂ ਸੀ

ਰੰਜੂਰ - ਿਬਮਾਰ

Gaddon Khurki - Using the art of fla ery

Ranjoor - Somone who is sick

ਿਮਕਰਾਜ - ਕਚੀ

ਗੜਾਪ - ਧੁੱਧ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਨਵੀ ਮੱਝ

Mikraaj - A pair of scissors ਕੁ ਪਾਦ - ਪੁਠੀ ਗੱਲ ਸੋਚਣ ਵਾਲਾ Kupaad - A person possessing a negative

Garhaap - A buffalo being milked for the very first time ਥੰਨ ਤਰੱਟ ੁ - ਿਜਸਨੰੂ ਆਪਣੀ ਮਾਂ ਦਾ ਦੱਧ ੁ ਨਾ ਿਮਿਲਆ ਹੋਵੇ

thought process

Thann Taru - A child who has not been fed

ਆਠੜੀ - ਸੀਰੀ ਜੋ ਿਕ ਸਾਲਾਨਾ ਉਕ ੱ ੀ ਬੁੱਕੀ

from his mother’s bosom

ਰਕਮ ਤੇ ਰੱਿਖਆ ਿਗਆ ਹੋਵੇ

ਅਨੀਸ - ਯਤੀਮ

Aathri - A servant who has been kept on a

Anees - An orphan

decided yearly salary.

ਅਸ਼ਕ - ਹੰਜੂ

ਛਟੱਲੀ - ਸ਼ੈਤਾਨ Chaatalli - Naughty ਕੌੜੇ ਸੋਤੇ - ਅਧੀਰਾਤ ਤ ਬਾਅਦ Kaude So e - Past midnight ਰੰਨ ਮਜੂਰ - ਘਰਵਾਲੀ ਦਾ 'ਗ਼ੁ ਲਾਮ' Rann Majoor - A hen-pecked husband

Ashk - Tears ਲੋ ਗੜੂ ਥੋਗੜੂ - ਪੁਰਾਣੇ ਯਾਰ ਿਮਤਰ Logahru - Thogahru - Old-time friends ਸਲੂ ਣਾ - ਰੀਿਝ ਹੋਈ ਸਬਜ਼ੀ Saloona - A vegetable dish that has been properly cooked

AASA Singh Aasa Singh is a young and talented playback singer who is known for his versatility. He is trained in Hindustani classical music and sings Sufi, Pop, Bollywood and classical melodies. His latest self-composed and sung song ‘Zindagi Adhuri’ has captivated millions of hearts.

Belonging to a musical background did you ever go through the pressure of joining the same industry or was it always at the back of your mind?

I started learning music at a very young age and realized that I had an interest in this field, so I decided to pursue it eventually. But since my father has been a part of the industry for a very long time and is very talented and respected as well, there was always going to be an added pressure, that would fall upon me expecting me to be at least as talented as he is.

How did you overcome your stage fright?

As a kid, I went through a phase where I used to be shy and always felt nervous and pressurized with the benchmark having been set so high already. I feared I might fail to fulfil the expectations or fumble on the stage, but as I grew older, I realized that the only way of overcoming this fear was to face it often and to accept, that as human beings it’s alright to make mistakes. I also had a complete make over which 20

helped me gain more confidence and transformed my personality. All of this helped me to conquer my stage fright.

Apart from inheriting the great singing skills, which other qualities do you wish to imbibe from your father?

My dad is a very helpful person by nature. There have been incidents where he went out of his way in order to help others and by God’s grace, those people are now guiding and helping me whenever I need them. People also find my dad as a very kind-hearted and sweet person. That’s one quality, I would like to inherit from him.

Looking at my father, I have realized, in the end, being a good person is the only thing that matters the most. Everything else gets side lined.

I believe, if you are more privileged than others, you should always be grateful and thankful for it and if someone is asking for help, then you should not hesitate to lend a helping hand in whatever way possible.

BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

Did being privileged make your journey an easy ride?

It’s never an easy journey, even if you belong to a musical background and get a platform. As a singer, you still have to face rejections and undergo delays. All the days aren’t bright for us. We have an advantage in terms of a sense of security in our journey and the guidance we receive.

Despite this, once you are on your own feet, what you will do, will matter the most. Then the background doesn’t really help.

How was the experience of shooting your first professionally sung song for the movie Chaar Sahibzaade alongside your dad?

My first playback was a devotional song for the blockbuster animated film Chaar Sahibzaade. The experience of recording in front of my dad was quite special. He kept on guiding and motivating me. But at the same time, I was a bit nervous as well because I was recording for the very first time, that too, in front of my father.

Whom do you consider as the biggest critic in your family?

I consider my mother to be the best and most honest critic of my work. She gives her unfiltered opinion on my work because she’s on

the other side of the table, unlike the rest of us.

Her viewpoint matters the most to me.

What bond do you share with your sister?

I share a special and close bond with my sister.

We are more like best buddies and like any other best friend, she loves to irritate me. We share a great bond professionally as well.

Whenever I am going through a rough patch, she is always ready to lend her ear. During our childhood days, both of us used to have friendly fights and still continue to have those.

Which song do you consider as the turning point in your career?

My mash-up song Sanam Mere was a huge turning point for my YouTube channel. This was the first song that crossed one million views and I received so many messages of appreciation. I also sang a song Karte Karte for the movie Hello which was a Hindi remake of a southern film. It gave me a lot of recognition and love. Even today, when these songs play on television, people message me and I feel really special and blessed after reading those.

Do the number of likes and subscribers on social media platforms bother you?

The numbers don’t bother me much. I don’t put irrelevant content in order to gain more views or followers. My vision and goal is to win hearts by paying attention to quality over quantity. Even when I started my YouTube channel, gaining more views wasn’t my target and I never made videos

BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

21

keeping in mind the numbers. I consider the love and appreciation, I receive for my videos as a reward for my efforts and continue to create meaningful content for the same. With the ongoing rat race to gain popularity and followers, people have forgotten to pay attention to quality content.

There’s so much chaos on social media and you can’t really figure out what to like or watch. Only

commercial alongside Ranveer Singh. I have also done a couple of photo-shoots. I don’t really focus towards being an actor, but I readily accept the opportunities.

If not a singer, which other profession would you have chosen?

I was good academically, so I would have pursued my studies further and got a job. Also, since this industry is also a bit unpredictable, my mom always encouraged me to focus towards my studies, as she is a teacher. She wanted me to take up either CA or MBA. I love fitness, so I could have become a gym trainer as well.

The current favourite songs on your playlist?

I am currently in love with all the tracks from the movie Pagglait. They are quite nice and fresh compositions. Apart from that, I like to listen to all the Punjabi songs by artistes like Maninder Buttar, Diljit etc. Indian classical music is my all-time favourite. I also enjoy listening to my own tracks.

the songs and movies released by the big labels are visible, but apart from that, there are a lot of budding artistes who are doing really well, but they have to sponsor their content in order to make it visible. I don’t post everyday, but whenever I am posting, I make sure the content delivers a message and is relatable.

I think this gives me a sense of individuality and helps me keep going for a longer period of time.

I don’t want people to forget my songs by posting random content just to be a part of the trend.

One thing your fans don’t know about you.

I think looking at my physique, people think I am a non-vegetarian but it’s quite the opposite. I am a pure vegetarian and I haven’t even had an egg.

Did you consider becoming an actor instead of a singer?

I didn’t think about becoming an actor, but I have received a couple of offers for advertisements. My first professional shoot was for ‘Set Wet Gel’

22

BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

T

he much-awaited movie Aape Pein Siyape is now releasing on the reputed OTT platform Zee 5 and also on Zee Punjabi next month. Shiwani Sokhey as the Creative Producer is all set to launch her first OTT release with Sharhaan Singh Productions.

Aape Pein Siyape is being eagerly awaited as it is a heady mix of both drama and comedy. It is pertinent to mention that the movie was the first movie to be released after the uncertainties of the Covid pandemic.

Viewers can watch the movie from 1st August, 2 PM onwards. Shiwani Sokhey as Producer got a good response from all quarters, be it from the entertainment industry or otherwise. Presently, she is inking agreements and collaborations with other Indian regional film conglomerates.

Bilal Saeed Baarish

Chase away your monsoon blues

Harbhajan Mann Akhiyaan Da Sawan

Geeta Zaildar Chite Suit Te Daag Pe Gae

Kuldip Rasila & Miss Pooja

Sawan

LakhwinderWadali Barsataan

a n a r r hu o K n an ushbo m h s Ayu i Di Kh Mi

an a u M Jhadi b b Ba n Di Sau

SabarKoti Saun

Amrinder Gill & Nimrat Khaira Baddlan De Kaalje

When

Part 3

inspiration

Part 3

strikes

The alluring and bewitching power that music holds all over the world is beyond imagination; musicians everywhere work doubly hard to be unique with the creation of divergent music. Deconstructing some Hindi movie songs or albums from 1950s onwards, we realise that a huge variety of the foot-tapping music reflects some wellrecognized international tunes in them. Was it inspiration or.....

Suniye To Yes Boss was a 1997 Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by Aziz Mirza starring Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, and Aditya Pancholi.

Produced by Ratan Jain, Yes Boss was one of the most successful films of the year at the time of release, and was declared a super hit with a worldwide gross of Rs 23 crore. It was based on the film For Love Or Money starring Michael J Fox. One its songs Suniye To became very popular, but do you know from which song it was inspired from.

The year 1996 saw the release of Hesham Abbas’ song Ahla Ma Feki and this was the inspiration that led to the making of Suniye To.

Hesham Abbas

Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko The film Yaadon Ki Baaraat is still appreciated for its melodious music which can make you travel to the days when both lyrics and music were married together to come up with a hit. Released in 1973, this Hindi-language masala film, directed by Nasir Hussain and written by Salim–Javed featured an ensemble cast, starring Dharmendra, Vijay Arora, Tariq, Zeenat Aman, Neetu Singh and Ajit. one of its most popular songs was Chura Liya sung by Asha Bhosale and music by the legendary RD Burman. But, did you know that song was also an ‘inspired’ one. If It’s Tuesday This Must Be Belgium was a song by Walter Scharf, that became its inspiration.

Walter Scharf

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BALLEBOLlY | JULY 2021

Tirchi Topiwale Tridev was a 1989 Indian action thriller film directed by Rajiv Rai. It starred Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff, Naseeruddin Shah, Madhuri Dixit, Sangeeta Bijlani and Sonam. The film was critically and commercially successful at the box office and was the third highest grossing film of 1989, behind Maine Pyar Kiya and Ram Lakhan and won three Filmfar e Awards at the 35th Fil mfare Awards in 1990.

You all must be quite familiar with the song Tirchi Topiwale which made us dance to its tune in unison. Its beat was quite infectious and the Oye Oye sound gave it that ‘Tarzenesque’ appeal. On the other side of the Atlantic there was a band by the name of Miami Sound Machine led by Gloria The Miami Estefan and it called Miami as its home. In the 80s they had quite Sound a few big hits like Conga, Rhythm Is Gonna Get You and many more.

But not many people that the Oye Oye and the opening of Tirchi Topiw Machine ale was directly inspired from the opening notes of Rhythm Is Gonna Get You .

C.I.D. was a 1956 Indian crime thriller film directed by Raj Khosla and produced by Guru Dutt. It starred Dev Anand, Shakila, Johnny Walker, K. N. Singh and Waheeda Rehman. The film had Dev Anand playing a police inspector investigating a murder case. The music was given by OP Nayyar and it was Waheeda Rehman's screen debut. One of its songs Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan became a major smash hit. It was sung by Mohammad Rafi and eventually this song became to be known as a classic song from a bygone era.

Freddy Quinn

Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan

But you will be surprised that the composition of this song came from Oh My Darling, Clementine an American western folk ballad dating back to 1884 and has various versions and covers.

Freddy Quinn also sang a version of this, which became quite popular and was an inspiration for the cult classic Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan.

To be cont’d in next issue

TOP 10 DILIP KUMAR FILMS AFTER HIS 5-YEAR HIATUS

MISS POOJA

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NOW only

Rs 1200/per year per year

Get to Know me Something that scares you Nothing.....except spiders Something that makes you happy Togetherness and new clothes Something that pisses you off Late replies Something you are self conscious of My unrevealed talents Something you are improving on To not take anyone’s negativity on myself Something you are proud of Myself for always believing in me

SUSHI KHURAL

Did you know.....

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