MUMBAI: Ronnie Screwvala’s movie Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, promises an interesting story and a pool of talent. Among the new talent presented by the makers of the movie, a sensational voice makes a Bollywood debut. A familiar name for those who have followed the music reality show, The Stage and a familiar voice for those who follow television or radio ads, Kamakshi Rai has made her Bollywood with not one but two songs from the movie Mard Ko Dard Nahi hota namely, Tere Liye and Dreamtime. Previous to this, Kamakshi has also sung, recorded voice overs, and written lyrics for TV commercials for brands such as Ponds, Tanishq, Jabong, Fanta, Flipkart, Tata, Bajaj Allianz and Santoor, to name just a few.
But with these two songs from Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, she eventures into the world of Bollywood music, “These two songs are my firsts in Bollywood. Otherwise, I have sung for many jingles and written for them too. Thanks to Karan Kulkarni, the music composer of the movie, who thought of me.”
Known for her participation in The Stage, Kamakshi says, that Western music happened accidentally, “My mother is a singer. Thanks to my family background, I have grown up listening to A R Rahman to Western Music. However, once I put a video of mine in which I am playing Ukelele and singing. Ehsaan Noorani (of Shankar Ehsaaan Loy), who was the judge on the show heard my voice. That’s how I became a part of The Stage. But I love Bollywood and Hindi popular music.”
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Speaking more about songs in Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, Kamakshi says, “Karan, whom I’d worked with earlier on a few TV commercials, called one day and said he had a film song he thought would suit my voice. I’d sung a few scratches for music directors, but never a Bollywood film song. We recorded the track and Vasan Sir liked my voice so much he said I should sing another section of music for the film.”
The second song was supposed to be just background song. “When we recorded it, the team loved it so much that they retained it as a full-fledged song,” she adds.
Sharing her dreams and aspirations, Kamakshi says, “Well, I know it’s an oft repeated wish by most of the singers, but yes, I too want to sing for A R Rahman. Apart from that, I really want to give playback to Sara Ali Khan. Sara’s original voice has husk in her voice and so do I, therefore, I think my voice will suit her.”
The film has won several international awards – including the People’s Choice Midnight Madness award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) – and is slated to release 21 March 2019 release in India.
Going from Batman pyjamas to flowing floor length gowns, this tomboy-turned-diva is now making her mark on the music industry with her sultry voice and dynamic personality.
