EXCLUSIVE: I'd love to do playback for Ranbir Kapoor, he is extremely emotive onscreen - Hriday Gattani

Today, Riteish Deshmukh and Nargis Fakhri's Banjo has finally hit the screens. The music of the film has struck the right chord with the audience and people are appreciating Vishal-Shekhar's work a lot. The romantic number from the film, Udan Choo has become very popular. In an interaction with PINKVILLA, the singer of the song, Hriday Gattani talks about his experience of working with Vishal-Shekhar and his mentor A.R. Rahman

Excerpts from the interview:

You sang Udan Choo from Banjo. How did the song come to you? 

Udan Choo was a great experience overall. It's been a special song. I am in this circuit from the last three years now and I sang two songs for the film Lekar Hum Deewana Dil for Rahman sir two years back. Since then, I have been connecting with lots of directors otherwise and keeping up with my other work and also developing my own content like writing songs and independent scenes too. I have been performing on that material at lots of events which have the scope for upcoming musicians. I met Vishal sir at NH7 Weekender last year, where we had a nice long conversation and we got to spend some time with each other. He told me he is starting an independent label for promoting new music and talent. He wanted to hear some of my music. Luckily, that escalated pretty quickly and I got to meet him two weeks after that. He was very pleased with my voice and wanted to share the music with Shekhar sir. Later, I got a call from Shekhar sir saying "I heard your song and I liked it. I want you to sing a song for me!", and that was Udan Choo.

You started your career with A.R. Rahman's Lekar Hum Deewana Dil and have been a part of his live shows. You have always called him your mentor. Can you elaborate on your relationship with him?

With Rahman sir, it has been a very very long journey and a long relationship. My dad has been producing and directing Rahman sir's shows for last 20 years now. I got into this stuff very early. I have known and witnessed all this scenario for a very long time. With Rahman sir, he obviously saw me around during the shows. He realised that I was interested in music. He even saw the stuff which I did on YouTube, he appreciated and said you have a nice voice, a really nice texture, you must learn more. He has always been very kind to me. When I went to learn at his school in Chennai, I was there for a year. He gave me an opportunity and permission to be around him and also visit his studio apart from being at his school. Whenever he is around and has free time, he chats with me a little bit. He shared a lot of music, shared a lot of ideas and tips with me. It is a nice relationship and he has been very helpful and kind to me.

As now you have collaborated with Vishal-Shekhar, so how different are they from Rahman? 

Everybody has some different quality. But, in these two musicians, there's some similarity that they let you be in the studio. They ask you to bring your best quality and your texture and style most importantly. When I dubbed with Rahman sir he always has something specific in mind and this is the feel he wants overall. If I did something new in the studio, he accepted it and would keep it that way. It was very similar with Vishal-Shekhar also. They gave me brief about the song and not a specific brief of singing. They also appreciated that I gave my own style to the song and energy to it. They gave me some tips afterwards to simplify the song. They are very chilled out, they make a nice environment and are very friendly. They kept me very comfortable. With Rahman sir, I have always been in awe and I respect him so much that I have always been scared around him. 

You are known to sing both in English and Hindi. Which one are you more comfortable with or enjoy more?

Initially, I started with English. Though I love singing in Hindi too, but I was more exposed and listened to English more at that point of time. I find so much more scope in Hindi, as our words are very rhythmic and emotive. So, I kind of do enjoy singing Hindi more now, it's just about the zone you are in.

One actor you would like to do playback singing for?

I am a huge fan of Ranbir Kapoor and I would 100% love to do some playback for him because he is extremely emotive onscreen and brings so much more energy to the song. 

Do you prefer playback singing over live concerts or vice-versa?

Oh no no no, always live concerts over playback singing. I really enjoy performing live. It has got another height and feeling, ambience and energy of all the people who come to watch you live. I always enjoy performing live than singing in a studio. You have to archive the song first, then only then you can perform it live later.