Unveiling the Musical Side of Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan, a legendary figure in Bollywood, has mesmerized audiences with his exceptional acting skills in numerous films. However, his talent extends beyond acting, as he is also a skilled singer. Many of his songs have become iconic and are still remembered fondly by fans.
Big B’s Passion for Music
Amitabh Bachchan’s love for music is well-known, and this hobby has been incorporated into various film songs. Music director-composer Shankar Mahadevan recently shared insights into Big B’s interest and understanding of music.
Amitabh Bachchan’s Contribution to ‘Kajra Re’
Shankar Mahadevan recounted an anecdote from the 2004 film Bunty Babli, which featured the hit song ‘Kajra Re’. The song included a unique jugalbandhi by the Bachchan family, comprising Aishwarya, Abhishek, and Amitabh Bachchan. Shankar revealed that a suggestion by Big B significantly enhanced the song.
According to Shankar, Amitabh Bachchan would often visit their studio, spend time with the team, and sing songs. He suggested incorporating a jugalbandhi in ‘Kajra Re’ (Dhin Dhinak Dhin…), which starts with the line Mera chain-van sab ujda. Shankar created the jugalbandhi in just 5 minutes, and Big B was delighted with the result.
Shankar Mahadevan Becomes the Voice of Big B
Shankar Mahadevan also became the voice of Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Kajra Re’, marking the first time he sang for Big B on the big screen. Shankar shared his experience of singing for Big B, revealing that he initially intended to have another singer dub the song. However, when Big B heard Shankar’s voice, he requested him to sing the song instead.
Shankar recalled, ‘I had sung the song in my own voice earlier, but it wasn’t final. I wanted to get it dubbed by another singer, but when Big B heard my voice, he asked me to sing it. He told me that if I let anyone else dub the song, he would be unhappy. He liked my voice and wanted it to remain in the song.’
After ‘Kajra Re’, Shankar Mahadevan went on to lend his voice to Big B in several other songs, including ‘Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’ and ‘Rock and Roll Soniye’. With a career spanning 30 years, Shankar has created many iconic songs and albums.