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Das capital

Face-to-face Vasundhara Das tells SUBHA J. RAO she has decided to do only songs with tasteful lyrics

Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Level headed Vasundhara feels she is a director’s actor

Two important things have taken place in singer-actress Vasundhara Das’ life in the last two years. One, she shifted base from her beloved Bangalore to Mumbai. Two, with Bharat Thakur’s power yoga, she got rid of all those kilos she had p iled on, to emerge looking like a million bucks.

Ask her if she feels lighter and happier, and her limpid, honey-brown eyes light up with laughter. “I was always happy, and comfortable. But, now, my body and mind are feeling good, and I am singing better.”

Of late, her voice has not been ruling Southern airwaves. “I now have fewer contacts with the film industry here (read A.R. Rahman and Harris Jayaraj). And, I have decided to do only songs with tasteful lyrics.”

But, has she has lost out on opportunities because of that? “Probably, yes. Initially, I sang all songs, because I did not have a say. There have been times when I have flown in to Chennai, entered the recording theatre, and left without singing because of the lyrics. Earlier, I used to go in good faith. Now, I have realised that people’s idea of ‘good’ and mine are different, and insist they e-mail or fax me the lyrics.”

Does she miss not doing much work in Karnataka, where she grew up, in the face of movies such as the recent Kannada blockbuster “Mungaru Male”? “Sometimes. When I heard the songs of Mungaru…, I thought I woul d have loved to do something like it,” admits the singer.

For someone who started off with a bang — her first film was “Hey Ram” opposite Kamal Hassan, and her maiden film song was the rocking “Shakalaka Baby” (“Mudhalvan”) — her career did not gather enough momentum.

Despite having the best of projects fall into her lap, she was choosy picking her songs and roles with care. Was that difficult in the face of the sudden popularity? “No. The way I was brought up took care of that. My family and friends ensured I remained the same. Even today, my parents are as happy about a song of mine as they are with a cousin’s achievement. And, I never allowed fame to get into my front door.”

“People asked me why I did small films. I asked why not? I felt a need to try things that need not necessarily be box office successes,” she says.

How would she explain a dud such as “Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana”, where she starred alongside Rekha? “See, I had just shot for a controversial, draining film – Pathar Bezuban, based on the Mathura rape case. I wan ted to do a film that did not require much thought. And, I’ve always dreamt of working with Rekha,” she justifies.

Vasundhara says she is a director’s actor. “I believe the director steers the film towards good or bad. And, most of the time, even if you realise the film is not shaping up well, it is too late to do something about it.”

She adopts the same attitude to criticism too. “It is so simple for someone to say something is bad. In the creative field, many decisions are personal.”

Was the move to Mumbai a big step, considering her heart beats for Bangalore? “It was, and I postponed it for a long time (from 1999, when her singing and acting career started). But, my home is Bangalore, and I am very selfish about my life there. And, I can’t stay away from the city for long. I return every fortnight.”

What is she working on right now? “I am in an introspective phase. I am regularly singing playback in Hindi, but am also writing my thoughts down. I have found this group of people with whom I can work with to translate my thoughts into Tamil, Malayalam…”

As for movies, she is looking for roles that are a little less hero-oriented. “And, there are not many movies like that. There are so many stories that we can tell, but are not telling. And, for me, investment of time away from music is too expensive.”

Is she looking at scripting? “I have not disregarded the thought, but have not thought of it too. I am keeping my door, windows and back door open to opportunities. I want to try everything.”

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