HIGH NOTE: Neha Bhasin has high hopes for pop music in India.

VISAKHAPATNAM: "Pop music, I feel, is anything that is popular and is enjoyed by the masses. Contrary to this, people in India put it on a different pedestal altogether. They are unable to think beyond film music," feels pop singer Neha Bhasin, who is one among India's first all-girl band, VIVA.

She was here to perform at the Navy Ball on Saturday. She spoke about her dreams and aspirations in an interview to The Hindu .

"People have to open up to music beyond films. It all depends on them and not the industry. Non-film music works only when it is fresh." She is optimistic that pop music in India will become as popular as it is in the West in view of the changed scenario of globalisation. Pop singers in the West are as popular as film stars.

"Today, even playback singers are coming upfront and giving stage performances. This is an indication of the changing preferences of the people. People associate stardom with what they see," she says.

While singing for films can provide instant success, if the song becomes a hit, singing on stage gives the singer an opportunity to establish rapport with people and gauge their pulse, she avers.

Open to film roles

Any plans to act in films? "At the moment I want to concentrate on my singing. However, in the distant future, if I get a good role in which I can both sing and act, I will do it. But, I have no plans to pursue acting as a career."

Neha was selected by VIVA after a TV-based talent hunt programme `pop stars' conducted by Channel [V]. She gave scores of performances through the group.

After the group broke off in 2003, Neha went solo performing all over the country.

She is now working on her solo Hindi album `Sunn'. Her mother Rekha Bhasin, a classical musician, is a great source of inspiration. "I admire R.D. Burman and Ashaji (Asha Bhonsle), who have brought Indipop music to India," she says.

Film playback debut

Neha made her film playback debut by writing lyrics for two songs and singing one of them for the film `Bullet'. "This film was released in January last and it was the first film to be `officially released' in Pakistan," says Manish Savant, director (brand management) of the Mumbai-based AMG India.

Neha has teamed up with singer and composer Pt. Somesh Mathur for her pop album. While Somesh has composed the songs, Neha has written the lyrics.

"In the West whenever a reference is made to the Indian entertainment industry, they fail to see beyond Bollywood.

I hope to change that and prove that there is much more to India than just Bollywood,'' she adds.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail