Having been born outside of India, I totally connect with keeping the Indian-ness alive in â€?videsh‘. Neeraj Shridhar had his father, an English teach with fantastic knowledge of Urdu, and a very sureeli mother who always kept him connected to Hindi film music and his Indian roots.
That’s how when once he was in a train in Sweden and started singing Mere Sapnon Ki Raani, he didn’t remember all the Hindi lyrics and put in some English gibberish. Eureka! His pals told him then and there that he should try mixing English-Hindi and make new age tracks!
In his tiny hostel room with his music recorder set up, Neeraj did just that. The response was fantastic, and so was his foray into the world of Indi-Pop music.
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This was the first Musical-e-Azam in which our singer (Neeraj) was also strumming his guitar while singing. He got brought along a guitarist accompanist, Abhilash, so together with our violinist Chandan Singh and guitarist Sarosh, the live feel was truly gorgeously rich!
Neeraj’s composing skills were totally there on display for all of us on live radio on MeA. We totally loved the tunes he presented and were grooving to the experience. I certainly believe he should most definitely come out with a private album soon. We can’t wait to hear his lyrics, his music arrangement which in every song is so rich and layered that you know that his music connects not just because he picks simple old melodies but also makes them so contemporary in feel and treatment. He says he’s been inspired the most by Kishore Kumar.
Neeraj said that when he met Gulzar sahab for Ticket to Hollywood, Shankar had told Gulzar sahab a firangi singer is coming…. But when Neeraj sang, Gulzar sahab was totally floored by his Urdu diction.
In fact Neeraj’s biggest asset is that he can write well and has given us catchy lines like â€?Love Mera Hit Hit’. The best thing about Neeraj is that he is a total family man, and loves taking his wife out to the night clubs in Mumbai. He thinks Mumbai has the best night life and beats Sweden, America, and Australia too! His Swedish friends come here to make music with him and enjoy the night life to the fullest.
Neeraj has been an angry man too. He says his experience with Himesh Reshammiya is the one that made him realize that in the real world of Bollywood music, anything can happen. Salman Khan was in love with Neeraj’s voice and wanted him to sing for Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya. The song â€?Dil Di Nazar’ had been recorded, and Neeraj says he had sung it decently well. Three days before the album’s release, Himesh had bumped into Neeraj at a night club, where he told Neeraj the song they had recorded was sounding fantastic. And when the song was out on TV, Neeraj’s daughter informed her father, Papa, the voice in the song is not yours….
But Neeraj realizes that Bollywood is like that. These days, Neeraj sings other singers’ songs and other singers sing his songs. And all’s good in the Bollywood family.
Neeraj has the most soothing voice despite the fact that he sings fast dance numbers. May we also hear a lot of love ballads in his voice!
Catch all the action from Musical-e-Azam on www.planetradiocity.com Fun Ka Antenna. Evening 4 to 6 pm.
The Grande Finale with Salim Suleiman happens on Friday, and I can assure you that for the end of Season Four of MeA, Band, Bajaa aur Baaraat will all be here. And maybe – just maybe! – we’ll have a huge surprise!
