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The man and his magical voice

Photo: Vipinchandran

ALL SMILES: Singer Shaan in Kochi on Saturday. —

Kochi: Popular singer Shaan likes Malayalam songs but feels that the time has not come for him to sing one in the language.

But the magical voice behind hit numbers like ‘Jab se tere naina’ and ‘Chand sifarish’ was quick to hum ‘Kuttanadan punchayile,’ obliging to repeated requests from mediapersons who interacted with him in Kochi on Saturday. Shaan was in town to lead the ‘Idea Rocks India III’ concert series.

The singer took sometime before he responded to a query whether he would like to sing a Malayalam song like what singer Udit Narayanan did in a few Malayalam films. “I have sung songs in Telugu and Kannada. But Malayalam language is a bit difficult,” he said.

“How is Bollywood music received here in Kerala?” Shaan joined the discussion by posing a question to the media persons.

He was elated to know that his hit numbers ‘Chand sifarish’ and ‘Tanha dil’ had a lot of takers in the State. The anchor for much-acclaimed reality shows like ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ on Zee TV and ‘Star Voice of India’ on Star TV, Shaan said that he was in support of such shows, if “we do not get communal or regional” while voting for a particular contestant.

Recalling the slogan shouting and protests by viewers against the elimination of a few candidates on such shows, Shaan said that he was not aware whether these shows were “rigged.”

“I do not know what is going on inside. I just come and anchor the show,” he said.

Pointing out that to become a singer “was a different battle,” Shaan reminded the younger generation that they need to start from scratch. He urged them to work hard on their skills.

Denying reports that Bollywood stars insist on singers of their choice, Shaan said that such a trend had existed earlier.

“But not any more; I have given voice for several stars including Shahrukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Abhishek Bachchan,” he said.

Sumedha, a runner-up in the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa show who accompanied Shaan in the media interaction, said that she was really happy to team up with Shaanda. “He was my host on the show. It is a big thing that I am performing with him today,” she said.

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