http://www.goergo.in/?p=2319
Benny Dayal, whose love for music began way back in childhood, always wanted to become a singer. After his schooling he came to Chennai to become one. During graduation in MCC, Benny got his first chance to sing. "Beyond my graduation, I wanted to be a singer, which is why I came to Chennai. Coincidentally, there was a voice hunt happening and I got selected for it.A band called 'S5′ was formed by SS Music. We made an album, did shows outside, but once that was over it was back to square one," Benny explains. After S5, Benny hit a dead end for a while. During this break, he finished his Post Graduation and went on to work for an IT company. This was when he began his tryst with Tamil playback singing. "I was completely shocked when I got a chance to sing in the chorus of the 'Ballelaka' song from Sivaji. After this I sang for Chakkarakatti." When most singers who enter the singing industry aim to sing for A.R. Rahman, Benny had a dream debut that many would envy. His first solo number, also composed by A.R. Rahman, 'Maduraikku Pogadhadi' from Azhagiya Tamizh Magan, topped the charts, following which there has been no looking back. Benny is all praise for the music maestro. "Working with a man like Rahman is a challenge. I want to sing as much as possible, especially for him. His songs always leave a trail behind. Something always clicks. It's not normal. It's something magical. Rahman has some kind of magic in him." Benny, who was a product of one of the earliest forms of reality shows, disagrees with what has now become an overdose of reality and melodrama. "I wouldn't call the show I was part of, a reality show. There wasn't any melodrama like there is now. I just auditioned and I got through. The reality shows that come on TV now have a high dose of melodrama," he exclaims. It's easy to tell that this vibrant youngster is extremely passionate about what he is doing. Though Rahman is always on top of his list of inspirations, Michael Jackson and Shankar Mahadevan, too, have caught his heart. "Shankar Mahadevan is the greatest singer I have ever heard," he says, adding, "I feel I fit any kind of singing. Especially, after S5, where there were a lot of hectic studio sessions, I have now learnt to perform. If it could happen, it would be great to be a part of S5 again." Benny, who comes from the Gulf, had to read and write Arabic till class X and hence is fluent in the language. With Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam offers already pouring in, Arabic might just be the right note that gives him an edge above the rest. -- regards, Vithur ARR -- The Sweet Cube always
