The host of SaReGaMaPa ADITYA NARAYAN speaks with MUSBA HASHMI about what’s new this season and his wish to have a separate film music industry and non-film music industry
How has your experience been with SaReGaMaPa?
It has been a wonderful experience to host SaReGaMaPa for over a decade now. The show has given me work and I have given my all to this. It feels exactly the same as my first day when I started doing the show in 2007. I still feel nervous when I walk up to the stage and I feel equally excited. Every season, before the start of the shoots, I feel like I don’t know anything about this job.
What do you have to say about the judges?
I’m looking forward to working with the judges — Shekhar, Wajid Khan, and Sona Mohapatra. It is the first time we are having a female judge on the show which is going to be really exciting.
What is the new season all about?
Talent has always been our benchmark. We always manage to bring out the best singing talent from the county. This season’s tagline is Music Se Bane Hum and it summarises the entire season. It aims to put an end on all the social barriers put up by the society, be it age, gender or someone’s life preferences, all we care is to find the musician inside you. There is one visually impaired contestant and one contestant who is representing the LGBT community for the first time in the show.
When did you first realise your passion for singing?
It naturally happened to me. My parents —Udit Narayan and Deepa Narayan Jha— are musicians themselves so I grow up listening to them. When I was a kid, I used to accompany my father to the recording studio. I was so quiet as a kid that I never sat in the monitor room, I used to sit with my father in the recording room with his mic during the recording. And after returning from the studio, I used to sing the whole song to my parents. So I am passionate about music since my childhood days. It has been 23 years now and I am into singing and I still feel like a newcomer (laughs).
How hard is it to be a starkid?
As hard as it is to be a human being in this age. These are all tags and I mentally graduated from all this. I keep myself away from such tags, my father was an outsider, he came and made his place. I think these tags just categorises the people and I don’t like being categorised. Everyone has certain problems in life and even if there were certain hardships that come with being a starkid, fortunately, I never faced that.
What does success means to you?
I will break it into two — personally and professionally. For me personally, success is becoming a better version of myself. And professionally, being good at your job so that you keep getting new opportunities. As long as I am doing well in my craft and people are offering me work, I think that is success in life.
Any singer that you would love to work with in future?
Everyone in the industry is so talented but yes among the female singers, I would say Neeti Mohan, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal. And among the males, I would like to sing with Armaan and Amaal Malik. When it comes to foreign collaborations, I would love to collaborate with Coldplay.
Which song came close to your heart?
Every song is close to my heart but Tattad Tattad from Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela has a special place in my life because I was very fortunate to be the assistant director in the film. Being a part of that project was a great learning experience and it was the turning point of my life.
One change that you would like to see in the industry for singers.
I would say everything. In our country, even independent music also needs big labels. Even in 2018, musicians still struggle to earn their bread and butter unless they are very successful. Only a small section of talent is being utilised and there is a lot to do in the industry to tap the potential. We can open more avenues and opportunities. I believe we can have two separate industries — a film music industry and non-film music industry which is slowly happening now and I hope it continues.
What are your upcoming projects?
SaReGaMaPa is keeping me busy these days for about three-four months and immediately after this, we are planning to have SaReGaMaPa Lil' Champs. I just got back from Argentina from the shooting of Khatron Ke Khiladi, it was a great experience and will be telecast from January onward. I am working on my next two singles and will go to Kashmir next month to shoot the video.
