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Hariharan, who has come up with a breezy single called HAULE HAULE for singer Sadhana Jejurikar tells his friend from the school days Jyothi Venkatesh that he has never believed in promoting himself as a music director.  NRI Achievers reproduces that conversation for our readers here in this vignette …

 

You have composed the song HAULE HAULE for singer Sadhana Jejurikar.  Why did you not also sing a duet with her for the album?

Yes, I composed the lilting song Haule Haule for Sadhana Jejurikar’s single which is being brought out by T Series. It is a breezy romantic number which highlights the mystic element in a romantic relationship. The reason I did not sing a duet with her is that I wanted her to hog all the attention that she gets for the song.  I told her that I wanted her to establish herself with her album first and only then sing with other singers.

 

What made you say yes to her when the offer came to you to compose the song?

Though I am a singer by profession, I would say that music direction is my hobby. Sadhana Jejurikar has painstakingly written the biography of Ghulam Ali after waiting for almost three years and is very passionate about singing. I saw her lagan for music. It isn’t the first time that I have composed the song for a female singer. I had composed Aabshaar E Ghazal way back in 1984 for Asha Bhonsle as well.

 

You are known more as a singer than a music director. Why?

The reason I am known more as a singer than a music director today is because I have never believed in promoting myself as a music composer though I have composed for not only Aabshaar E Ghazal but also Leslie Lewis and come up with an album with him called Colonial Cousins, besides several films in Tamil. Though I have been active in the industry as a singer since 80’s, I have mostly composed songs only for myself.

 

Though you had given a break to music director A.R.Rahman when he entered the industry with ROJA way back in 1992, you do not seem to sing for him these days. Why?

I did not give Rahman his break as a music director. It would be pretentious on my part to say that I had given a break to A R Rahman though I had sung his first song in Roja. His style keeps on changing from year to year and he keeps brisk pace by giving a break to new voices.  Besides he is also into singing.

Go on!

I am practical enough to know that my sound belongs to the 90’s and people will be automatically reminded of the songs of 90’s as and when I sing today.  Hindi films today do not need artistes who belong to my age group as sound has changed to a great extent today and its timbre is quite different. From the 90’s till 2010, it was only me and hence a change is really needed. Also singers from the earlier era are actually not needed at all today. It’s actually the law of nature or call it mathematics.

 

Yet no one can deny that you are busy today too!

You bet. I am in fact more busy today than in the 90’s because of the proliferation of music reality shows today, which gives mass education. When I hear the kids today, I feel it is good that I have receded from the scene and glad that my time is over. However I can never be a part of a musical reality show anymore today because I cannot be harsh on kids and admonish them when they sing a wrong note in front of me.

 

Your son Akshay Hariharan is today a music director on his right and that too on his own steam.

Yes. I am indeed proud that my son Akshay has branched off on his own as a music director today, without asking me to help him out. You should listen to the thumri based song that he has composed in Black Home to know his versatility as a music director. He has also composed an International pop album. I’d say that his clarity has sprung from me.

 

 

Akshay has also composed for the Marathi film KOKANASTH for producer Mahesh Manjrekar.

Yes. Besides Black Home, his mellifluous compositions in Kokanasth have also been appreciated. Soon, Askshay and I will be collaborating on an EDM. It will be a Hindi fusion album.

 

Your son Karan Hariharan has taken up acting.

Yes. My son Karan made his debut with the film ‘Missing on a Week-End’ which was released last year.

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