Remo returns to rock Bollywood HindustanTimes.com Diganta Guha/ HT City Kolkata, February 6, 2006
The last time we spoke to Remo Fernandez, arguably India's first pop star, he expressed his dissatisfaction over the musical style of Bollywood. But Remo is back in Bollywood, singing a number called Sacchi baat hai in Rajat Kapoor's forthcoming Mixed Doubles, a film that talks about modern marriage. The last time the Goa-based singer did a Bollywood project was in 2002. He sang the title song in Vipul Shah's Amitabh Bachchan-Akshay Kumar starrer, Aankhen. So, has he changed his mind? "I have not 'returned' to Bollywood! I have just sung one song for a film, which is not at all mainstream Bollywood. I shall continue to sing the odd song if it inspires me," he says firmly. Remo has his preferences cut out - Bollywood will always be a side line for me - my main body of work, my main passion will always remain my own music, my own albums." Remo tells us the reason why he decided to sing the number scored by Saagar Desai. "It is very difficult to tell a joke through melody and rhythm, but Saagar Desai did just that with this song. I found the composition brilliantly funny, and of course the lyrics by Sharat Katariya added yet another dimension to the humour," he says. He continues, "Besides, I love Rajat Kapoor's style of filmmaking. All in all it was a wonderful experience recording this song right in the middle of the Mumbai floods, wading to the recording studio in knee deep water." Remo may not agree to work in Bollywood frequently, but he does approve of the way things are shaping up in the industry. "Bollywood is doing well, it has finally started breaking away from old formulas. Of course most of the experiments are again copies of Western films, and our actors have cultivated this irritating habit of imitating American body language, and our scripts still have a long way to go - but at least a movement towards the right direction has finally started," he says. Remo is looking forward to the release of his forthcoming album Muchacha Latina. "It is ready and due for release by end February or beginning March," he says. He has already shot the music video and "am in the process of giving final touches to the distribution deal with a good record company."
