Chhaayaageet #69 - “Decided, Ab Is Film Ke Saare Gaane Tum Hi Gaaoge.”
It is his second year in Pune at the Film Institute. He is going with the flow. He comes from a family that is well connected with the Bombay film industry. He is quite good-looking himself, a handsome Punjabi munda (boy). All the new heroes have been from North India and they all have done well for themselves. Why not him? His plan is to ride the same wave and become an actor.
He is also a good singer, and is more passionate about singing. He has been learning since childhood. Ghazals are his genre. They suit his unique voice.
One day the phone rings. It's his father on the other side.
“Beta, I was talking to your uncle. He mentioned that a well-known filmmaker is planning to launch his own son as the hero, and is looking for a new voice for playback. I think you should come to Bombay and meet with him.”
His uncle knows how well he sings and feels he has something unique to offer. He packs his bags and lands in Bombay.
In a couple of days, he reaches the recording studio where he has an appointment with the filmmaker. His guru and a musician are also with him.
“Let’s hear you sing something.” The filmmaker is eager. He sings a few ghazals that he is familiar with. The filmmaker feels he is getting somewhere but is not totally sure.
“I like your voice. Let me call my chief recording person and let’s record something.”
He notices a young boy standing behind one of the pillars. He is watching and listening very carefully.
“He is the hero of the movie”, one of the technicians in the studio provides this information. They exchange a few pleasantries and he moves on to the recording chamber.
The recording session goes well. Much more convinced this time, the filmmaker asks, “What’s your name, young man?” He replies and is a bit surprised that the filmmaker didn’t know his name all this while. “Oh, you have the same name as one of my favorite poets. I already like you."
Well, the first test is over. Now the filmmaker needs the buy-in of his composers. A meeting is arranged at the house of one of the composers in the duo.
He shows up at the appointed time. “Sing something for us.” They just want to hear his voice before they start testing his real caliber. He is ready with his collection of ghazals.
“Ghazal wazal chhodo, koi filmi gaana sunao”, they interrupt him. Forget ghazals, sing a song from the films.
What now? He is nervous. He is not into singing film songs and right now he cannot even recall a good one. He racks his brain.
Yes! Finally, he remembers one and starts to sing. It's a fast number. The composers look at each other. They are famous in the industry with dozens, if not hundreds of good songs to their credit. And this guy has picked a song from a completely different composer. What is wrong with him? He couldn't pick one of their songs to sing? They decide to overlook that and focus their attention back on his singing.
The filmmaker eyes the composers. He is a good mind reader, and decides to interrupt. He instructs the composers, “Arre bhai, woh gaana sunao isse jo iss film ke liye banaya hai.” Sing the specific song from this film to him.
One of the composers sings the song in his own voice. Such a beautiful voice, he thinks in his mind.
“Here is the cassette of the song. Please rehearse and we want you to come back to the recording studio for the actual recording", saying this, the composer hands him the cassette.
Fast forward to recording day. He has to reach Navrang Studios. The recording of the song goes very well. The filmmaker is ecstatic.
“Decided, ab iss film ke saare gaane tum hi gaaoge.” It is decided, you will sing all the songs of this film.
Shailendra Singh sang all the songs for Rishi Kapoor in the film Bobby including this specific song, Main shayar to nahin. Bobby was directed by Rishi Kapoor's father, Raj Kapoor, and music was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Shailendra Singh was nominated for the Best Male Playback Singer Filmfare award for this song, but lost to Narendra Chanchal, who won for the song Beshak mandir masjid also in the same film Bobby. Both Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Anand Bakshi were also nominated for Best Music Director and Best Lyricist, respectively.
Laxmikant-Pyarelal initially wanted the voice of Mohammad Rafi for Rishi Kapoor, but Raj Kapoor was adamant. It had to be a fresh new voice. When Laxmikant asked Shailendra Singh to sing something, he chose Dekha na haye re socha na from Bombay To Goa. Singing an RD Burman composition in front of Laxmikant-Pyarelal! At that time Rajesh Roshan was in Laxmikant-Pyarelal's orchestra and played the congo while Shailendra sang this particular song.
Shailendra wanted to be Rishi Kapoor's voice just like how Mukesh was successful in being his father, Raj Kapoor's voice. He was successful to a certain extent with songs such as Humne tumko dekha (Khel Khel Mein), Sham suhanee aaye (Zinda Dil), Hoga tumse pyara kaun (Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai), Jaane do na (Saagar) and Oh meri jaan (Manzil Manzil). Although, over time, he had to share Rishi Kapoor with other singers such as Kishore Kumar. He sang a couple of songs in Zehrila Insaan but had to give up the hit number O hansini which went to Kishore Kumar. In the movie Sagar, he got to do just one song Jaane do na even though initially he was told he will be the only voice for Rishi Kapoor.
He returned to sing Main shayar toh nahin for Rishi Kapoor in Kunal Kohli's Hum Tum. It was a grand reunion.
Singer: Shailendra Singh
Music: Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
*ing: Rishi Kapoor
Directed & Produced by: Raj Kapoor
Film: Bobby (1973)