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Heart talk

Vasundhara Das on her kind of movies and music

Singing her own tune Vasundhara Das

Two important things have taken place in singer-actor 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 pil ed 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 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.”

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 moment um.

“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 wanted 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 I can’t stay away from Bangalore for long. I return every fortnight.”

She is now looking for roles that are a little less hero-oriented. “And, there are not many movies like that. For me, investment of time away from music is too expensive.”

Is she looking at scripting? “ I am keeping the door, windows and back door open for opportunities. I want to try everything.”

SUBHA J. RAO

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