Actor and singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthi will soon feature in a cover song originally sung by her. “Normally, most covers are done only of films songs, but this is the first time someone is reprising independent music. It is sad that the latter has never found its place under the sun in India, where film numbers have always controlled the music scene.”
Suchitra, whose last original number, Sawan Barse, came out last year, is looking to cut more singles. “The biggest challenge is not the creative. I have many ready fresh compositions. Rather, you have to do everything i.e. production, editing and marketing, all by yourself.”
Her other hit songs have been Dum Tara, Khamoshiyan and Jaane Jaanaa.
“One positive though is that today, unlike back in the nineties, videos alone don’t call the shots. Today different visual formats also work. Have we not seen videos which just have lyrics being shown and yet have gone viral?” says this highly talented lady, who has also authored a few novels as part of her Swapnalok Society series.
Interestingly Suchitra, who has hardly done playback is, credited online for many film songs she has never sung. “I have just lent my voice to two or three flicks. All my hit songs have been non-filmy music.”
“Playback is also evolving as film shooting styles change. Nowadays lip sync songs look so ridiculous. Luckily, this type of music is now giving way to background scores.” Suchitra is a big fan of the reality talent show brigade. “Today, thanks to such competitions, the levels of singing and dancing talent have gone up several notches. Most young kids on these shows are polished even before coming on stage. There is no time for mistakes; you need to be spot on.”
Suchitra has just one grouse that she has not been invited to judge any crooning show. “Is there anybody more talented than me (smiles)?”
But don’t judges need to do stuff apart from music to get noticed? “Well, I am a performer, capable of several things.”
Suchitra, who keeps taking sabbaticals (had quit films after Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa), will soon return to full-fledged acting, starting with an upcoming play on well-known Urdu writer Saadat Hassan Manto’s work, called Ek Haan. Earlier this year, she also had a small role in Romeo Akbar Walter, starring John Abraham. Her other films include My Wife’s Murder (2005) and Rann (2010).
In closing, Suchitra informs us that she is also in talks for a few web series. “But I am not really ready for bold, which seems to be the new in thing. I find a lot of digital s*x and violence unnecessary. I was never brazen even when I was nineteen, so why start now?”