Music as a way of life
Sadhana Sargam ... dedicated to her profession. — Pic. by K. V. Srinivasan
SADHANA SARGAM, who won the national award for the best female singer two years ago for the song "Patucholli Padacholli" from the Tamil film "Azhagi," is today busy with a dozen Indian languages. For her each song is important and she worships her profession Excerpts from an interview with S. R. ASHOK KUMAR .
What does one need to become a good singer?
A good voice, actually, is a gift of God. Training gives the edge but most important is hard work and perseveranceI started singing at the age of four and got a Central Government scholarship at the age of ten. I haven't looked back since. I do not think that I have reached the pinnacle of my career. There is so much to do. A play back singer should have a good range and expression because he/she reflects a character on the screen. The lyric has to be perfectly understood and the situation visualised.
Does classical learning help one to become a good singer?
Certainly. A basic knowledge of the ragas goes a long way in rendering the song with the nuances. And it makes things easy for everyone in the recording room.
What was your first stage performance in classical singing and how did it come about?
I learned the basics of classical singing from my mother Neela Ghanekar. I owe my success to her. She is not with me now but I thank her for each success, small or big. My father Purshotam Ghanekar was very supportive and encouraging. And I consider myself very fortunate to be the disciple of Pandit Jasraj. He taught me a lot in Hindustani classical singing. I used to travel with him to all his concerts. He is a remarkable man and wonderful guru. I do not remember my first performance as I started singing at a tender age. But I do remember the Puriya Dhanshree that fetched me appreciation at the `Savai Ghandharv' festival in Pune. The opportunity must have come with the blessing of my guru. I also performed in Bhopal, New Delhi and in a number of places in India. I like to listen to Carnatic classical music, which I think is very difficult.
What was your first song in films and how did you get the opportunity?
Music composer Anil Mohile was our family friend. He was also the music arranger for the popular music director Kalyanji-Anandji. He took me and introduced me to the music duo. They asked me to sing and I sang ``Humko Man Ki Shakti Dena" from the film "Guddi." They took me under their wings and I had a complete course in music from the great duo. This included a special emphasis on expression, modulation and Urdu diction. A moulvi helped me in this. He was the person who gave the suffix `Sargam' to my name. My first film song, ``Door Nahin Rehna," a solo number from "Rusthum" was a film by Dara Singh. But the first released film song was from "Vidhaata" (1982). After that progress was slow but steady. It was Kalyanji Anandji who promoted me all the way.
What was the first language other than Hindi in which you sang?
If I remember right it was a Marathi song. I have sung in nearly a dozen languages — Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Oriya, Assami, Bengali, Nepali, Punjabi and Kashmiri.
Can you tell us the five best songs of yours and five of any other singer whom you like?
It is very difficult to name only five. I like A. R. Rahman's ``Snegithane" in Tamil and also its Hindi version ``Chupke" from "Saathya." I like Ilaiyaraaja's ``Pattucholli Padacholli" from ``Azagi," which got me the national award. Vidyasagar's ``Panikkatre" from ``Run," Shanker Mahadevan's composisiton from "Khew Ho Gaya." The list regarding other singers would be too long to mention here.
Who is your favourite singer, male and female, in India and abroad?
All the singers are my favourites. Everybody is talented in some way.
For singers language is a barrier. How does one overcome it?
I cannot learn each and every language in which I sing. But at the time of recording I ask the lyric writer how I must pronounce the words. I do exactly what the music director and lyric writer expect of me. So the barrier is not there as far as I am concerned.
You have sung quite a number of Tamil songs. How did you find the approaches of the popular music directors of the language?
Frankly, I never thought I would be singing so many Tamil songs. Ilaiyaraaja is a legend. Whenever I sing for him I learn many things. Rahman is a genius. Working with him is a great experience. He gets the best out of singers. Vidyasagar has given me some of the beautiful songs. I have also sung for Deva, S. A. Raj Kumar, Bharadwaj, Karthic Raja, Yuvan Shanker Raja and Bharani. In Hindi I have sung for all the music directors.
Let's hear about your national award...
The news was a pleasant surprise for me. The credit goes to Ilaiyaraaja. It was the way he directed me.
Did you feel bad that you did not get the award for a song in Hindi?
No. On the contrary, I felt good that in spite of its not being a Hindi song I got the national award.
About yourself...
I am shy and an introvert. But I am dedicated to my work. I am honest and except my singing I take things very lightly.
How does your family help? My family is the backbone of my career. Both my parents shaped me up and now my brother helps me with work at home and outside.
Do you follow any regimen to preserve your voice?
I do not bother much about my voice as God has given it and he will take care of it. I eat and drink whatever I like. But I am a vegetarian. And I practice for at least three hours daily.
Earlier it was Latha Mangeshker for heroine oriented songs and for sexy numbers it was Asha Bhosle? Where exactly do you stand?
I sing songs of all varieties. I'm confident that I can do justice to whatever is given to me.
Who are your favourites among Tamil singers?
Tamil Singers are very talented and perfect in their singing. I have heard Susheelaji, Janakiji, Chitraji and S. P. Balasubramaniamji. They are all wonderful singers and I make it a point to learn from them, especially their pronunciation.
What is your aim and have you achieved it?
My aim is to sing good songs. For me singing is thapas. More than anything else I want to be known as a fine human being.
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