Destined to sing
>From Surinaam to Bollywood, singer Madhushree's musical journey has
been an eventful one. SRABANTI CHAKRABARTI tunes in to the sur and
taal of the singer's life.
Remember the hit song from Mani Ratnam's Yuva - Kabhi Neem Neem
Kabhi Shahad Shahad? Or more recently Pal Pal Hain Bhaari from
Ashutosh Gowariker's Swades? Apart from A R Rehman (who scored the
music for both the movies), any idea what is common between the two
chartbusters?
In case you have not been able to figure out, the answer lies in
Madhushree - the latest singing sensation in Bollywood - who has
sung both the songs. Undoubtedly, one of the most sober, humble and
charming upcoming singers in tinsel town, Madhushree says, "My
original name is Sujata Bhattacharya. Since there were a few
more `Sujatas' in Bollywood, I changed my name to avoid confusion.
My new name Madhushree was suggested by A R Rehman."
A trained singer
Born and brought up in a middle-class music-loving Bengali family
from Kolkata, Madhushree started her music training under her
father - Amarendranath Bhattacharya. "I learned Indian classical
music from eminent vocalist Pandit Amiya Ranjan Banerjee for no less
than nine years!" says the ever-smiling Madhushree.
The fondness and liking for music was so deep-rooted in Madhushree
that she completed her Masters degree in music from Rabindra Bharati
University in Kolkata. Even the Government recognised her talents in
music and gave her national scholarships for three consecutive
years.
"I started participating in various contests and got the gold medal
in an All India Radio contest. At that point I had the options of
going in for higher studies in music or joining a college as a
lecturer. But I declined both and applied for a job with the Indian
Council for Cultural Relations." To her surprise, Madhushree
qualified and had to travel to Surinam as part of her job. "I stayed
there for four years and those have been the best time in my life
till now."
"During one of my trips to India, I went to Kolkata for a recording
where Kumar Sanu noticed me. He liked my singing style and asked me
why I was not singing for Hindi films," says Madhushree with a
glitter in her eyes. The encouraging words from Kumar Sanu helped
her take the decision of staying back in Mumbai permanently.
Her big break
Thanks to Javed Akhtar, who introduced the singer to Rajesh Roshan,
Madhushree got her first break. "I got the chance to sing Mohabbat
zindagi hai for the film Moksha in 2000," Madhushree remembers
fondly. But since the song failed to become a chartbuster, she
hardly got any offers after that and started singing ad jingles. "I
was recording for one such jingle, when I heard that A R Rehman was
scheduled to record on the same day, in the same studio. I told
myself there is no way I can lose this chance and stayed back to
meet him." The singer approached Rehman, who agreed to give her a
hearing the following day.
Little did she know that she would get a call from the legendary
music director few days down the line. "Rehman-ji called me up and
asked me to fly down to Chennai to record the song - Naina Milaake
from Sathiya. That was the beginning."
Madhushree is all praise for her experience in working with Rehman
and says that he is a genius! Neem Neem from Yuva followed and the
singer from Surinaam had arrived in Bollywood.
After Sathiya, there was no looking back for this Bengali singer
from Kolkata. Offers started pouring in - Yuva, Tehzeeb, Kal Ho Na
Ho, Kuchh Na Kaho, Aitbaar, Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha and more lately
Swades. "Touch wood, I have a number of big films lined up. Ketan
Mehta's Rising, Shyam Benegal's Netaji - The Last Hero and an
unnamed Amol Palekar film starring Shahrukh Khan," says the singer
who is her own biggest critic and practices for at least an hour
every day.
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