The Goan: How did you get your start in playback singing?
Akriti Kakkar: I completed my standard 12 in Delhi and came to Mumbai in search of work. I used to call music composers day in and day out in order to get one appointment or one meeting with them. Vishal-Shekhar called me to their studio and asked me to sing live for them. They told me that they will let me know as soon as a song comes. Vishal called saying that “it is a multi-starrer film, though it is very small part for Shilpa Shetty's character but I think you should give it a shot". I went into the studio and recorded 4-5 lines and it happened to mark my debut in "Cham Se Who Aajaye " for a film called Dus.
TG: Does it get a bit unnerving at times, when you are not in the spotlight for a hit song?
AK: Actually it doesn't. If I have a rack of awards it’s only an added bonus. A hit or a flop is not really in a singer's hands. Every singer will give their 100 percent or more to make a song popular but there is so much comes into play when fate of a song is decided. There have been songs which are technically not termed as hit but I do meet so many people backstage at a concert where they would come and tell me that they really like that particular song. And that is I think the biggest award that one can get.
TG:The Bollywood sound keeps on changing with the times. Keeping commercial success aside, what do you think was its best era?
AK: In my opinion I often keep saying that I think I am born at the wrong time and wrong decade. I would have loved to be born in the time when hundreds of musicians got together and recorded live. Even if I was not capable enough to sing at par with Lataji and Ashaji but get to stand in a corner and observe how things are done, precisely why the songs are still immortal and evergreen. I wish I could have seen that era. According to me Jagjitji was the finest artist because his voice bled emotion.
TG: You released an independent album called Akriti. How do you see this market nowadays and will you record another anytime soon?
AK: Akriti and it had 7 original tracks in it. It taught me a lot as an artist to sort of fight the anti non-film wave. A huge investment and a whole lot of time. Playback songs are to create a market but non- film music is for your heart ,your artistic satisfaction and your true audience. That I what I tried to achieve. Post this album I have never got the time to do an album again due to shortage of time. But recently there was this song called Kolkata Diaries that we released and which signified the love that I have received from that part of the country. And the other one being Amma which was a very heartfelt song that I wrote , composed and sang. So yeah, I keep doing singles every now and then.
TG: How do you keep in touch with your craft?
AK: I think in the kind of profession that I am in, even if I don't get time to do my proper riyaz, I try to keep singing alaap or sargams throughout the flight. I think it is very important to listen to different kinds of music, which is what I try to do on various occasions. We have got Apple radio thanks to iTunes which is very educating. And listening is very important, it is as important as practicing your own art.
TG: Is the playback scenario wide open for anyone to get in, or do you have to fight to get your voice heard?
AK: I think it is a mix of both right now, as compared to the time when I really started off. Initially it was very difficult to fight for their voices to be heard, forget about being used for a song. But now because of the reality shows it is amazing how there is a direct contact between people who come from places which might not even have internet. If you don’t get swayed away by the fame of the reality show and don't really capitalize on your singing and the contacts you make there then it becomes very difficult. I have seen so many examples around me. But yes now I think it is way easier as compared to when I started.
10. As a judge on reality talent shows, how important is it for singers to accept criticism of their work and not get offended?
I feel it is a very responsible job. Even if I have to put across an observation that I feel they could have done better, I have to word it in a very polite manner. Because I am an artist and artists are very sensitive and touchy. In my early days if someone would have told me that I don't have a voice I would actually go into depression. So I think any judge on a panel has to be very careful.
