What has your state of mind been like since the Grammy win?
It has been a period of happiness, joy, elation and gratitude. We don’t realise the significance of an award like this until we go and experience it. It gives me great pride as an Indian to know that our Indian classical music has reached a global audience and has been well received. It’s a huge deal!
You’ve been in the industry for a long time, but how does a Grammy win affect a successful career like yours?
I’ve been in the industry for about 30 years, and I’ve always felt a lot of love, goodwill, and positivity from it. They are very happy for me and wish me well. The perception of artists varies slightly between listeners and industry professionals. They start to take you more seriously after a win. It has always been great, and it is even better now.
How overwhelming is it to be present at this moment and have your family share in the joy of winning a Grammy?
It’s an indescribable feeling to have my children and loved ones with me right now. My wife was unable to attend because she sustained a leg injury at the last minute. She had to drop out. But there were 20 people in my bedroom, watching the ceremony live alongside me. There were a lot of friends and family sitting in the auditorium, and it was an overwhelming experience. I felt a sense of calm and something beyond my imagination.
Share with us your experience of working with Zakir Hussain.
Zakir Hussain is a mentor. He is my guru, guiding light—friend, philosopher, and guide—because he has been with me since my first project in life. According to me, Zakir Hussain defines tabla and vice versa. My experience with him, who has been performing for over 25 years, has taught me that it is not only about becoming a better musician, but also about learning a variety of life lessons that are not limited to music. I’m grateful to have an artist like Zakir Hussain in my life.
You and Javed Akhtar have worked together for a very long time. Tell us about your relationship with him.
To be able to sit in the same room with great people like Javed saab must have required some luck, blessing, and destiny. I’ve been fortunate to have him in my life. He’s been a constant source of encouragement and guidance. I’ve always admired him because he’s written some of the best songs we’ve ever heard. I can just pick up the phone and call him. I can talk about anything I want. He might suggest lyrics that do not appeal to me. I can make a suggestion, and he is open to it. So you got to be lucky and blessed to be in a position where I am able to even just talk to a master like him.
Breathless is one of your most iconic songs. Have you ever considered doing a remix?
Breathless is an important song in my life, as it should be for any artist. Thank you, Javed Akhtar Saab. We worked together on this project and this one-of-a-kind idea that he had, which he carried out, and it turned out to be extremely successful, and more importantly, it gave me an identity as a singer and performer. Breathless is over 25 years old; it was recently used in an advertisement that did not show my face, but my identity with it is so strong that the idea of recognising the artist solely based on the song has become a reality. It has opened up many doors and provided me with numerous opportunities. It’s a very special song for me.
You’re a renowned musician, but you’re also a father. Where do you draw that line of not being too preachy, and letting your children make their own path?
I never preach anything to my kids. I just let them be free because I want them to have their own identity, personalities and choices. In fact, I’ve learned a lot from them because they represent today’s generation and have a deep and sophisticated musical sensibility. And they have a fantastic understanding of music. So I respect that. And I learn a lot from them about what’s popular—what they listen to. They probably listen to more music than me. But they understand all of the world’s artists and introduce them to me, saying, “Hey, dad, listen to this.” So it is the other way around.
Since you started your classical training at the age of nine, how different or similar was the journey of your children when it comes to their riyaaz or learning to play different instruments?
It is not about just being able to play different instruments; it’s about musicality. Once you have musicality, depth and a sense of aesthetics, you start thinking about music and absorbing its concept. You become extremely versatile and are able to apply that knowledge to multiple instruments. So that’s what I have imparted to my children. Musical sensibility should be very high.
You gave us absolute gems in the first decade of the new millennium with albums like Kal Ho Naa Ho, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Dil Chahta Hai. What do you miss most about the music of that era?
I don’t miss anything because those albums established themselves and continue to be relevant. People are still singing those songs. They’re being played everywhere. When people want to play some legendary or iconic songs, they listen to them. There are so many wonderful pieces of music coming out today. Some music continues to bring you joy and happiness. I believe the creators would benefit from some peace of mind. I see some insecurity in people’s minds about satisfying the music company or the producers so that they don’t have to quit their jobs. Otherwise, there will be some great music released.
When will we see another Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy collaboration again?
We are working on an interesting film together for Aamir Khan Productions. It’s called Sitaare Zameen Par. We’re working on the music for that, as well as a very interesting Marathi film called Mana Atman, a fantastic historical musical called Maan Apmaan, and a few other projects. It is both challenging and diverse.
What personal experiences have you had with the music industry’s changing landscape?
Music is like fashion; it is constantly changing. New trends and genres are constantly erupting around the world. But at the heart of it all is a gorgeous melody, lyrics, singing and arrangement. That is the essence; everything else is merely derivatives.
Are there any songs from your career that you think could have been better? Do you analyse your work?
Every song. When I listen to them now, I realise that I could have made some minor changes to some of the songs. Maybe the base is too high; the tambourine could be a little softer. Oh, this line could have been sung better, or I could have done another take. Perhaps I could have tried this variation. It’s endless. There is no end to creativity.
How have you become fluent in so many languages?
Advertising has contributed significantly to my ability to speak multiple languages. When I first started out, I would dub many of the Hindi jingles I sang in multiple languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Assam, Bengali, and Gujarati. That provided me with extensive training, which contributed to my ability to sing in multiple languages.You are the first Indian to open a virtual music academy for students worldwide. Tell us how it differs from other music coaching portals.
It is an extension of my engineering background, and I met the right person, Sridhar Ranganathan, who shared my vision, and we founded this academy together. We began and have since expanded to over 90 countries. It is critical that we expose our music to people all over the world, not just Indians, because it strengthens our fundamentals. And the entire process of not only learning to sing but also listening to music is an intriguing experience. So that’s my story in music.
That’s why I wanted to contribute to society by teaching music. And that’s why I founded the academy with Sridhar Ranganathan, and after 13 years, we’re in 90 countries with over 100 teachers and thousands of students. It runs all day and night and is extremely successful. But I’d like to spread it even further.
You were recently awarded an honorary doctorate by Birmingham City University and DY Patil University.
I earned two doctorates. These experiences recharge the battery in your life—the battery of positive energy. They provide a lot of energy. They improve your morale. And you get the sense that you’re on the right track. I need to focus more. I have a responsibility now. People love me, and they’re giving me a double doctorate which means I have to reciprocate. That is the type of reaction I have.
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