Mumbai, Oct 17 Popular singer Rahul Vaidya says the music industry has undergone a significant shift with artists now gaining popularity through independent music and live performances rather than playback singing in films.
Vaidya rose to fame in 2004 with the singing reality show “Indian Idol”, where he emerged as second runner-up.
He later sang for Hindi films such as “Shaadi No. 1”, “Jaan-E-Mann”, “Krazzy 4” and “Race 2”. He also continued to release independent music, with popular tracks such as “Tera Intezar”, “Garbe Ki Raat” and “Yaad Teri”, while performing at live shows.
“Till about 15 years ago, the thing was that you are a successful singer if you are singing in films. That has changed and somehow a lot of singers who sung in films still are not successful in many ways or others,” the singer told PTI in an interview.
“So, many of them who haven’t sung many playback songs are such popular names, they are so loved, and are doing the most incredible concerts all over the world. And that is an incredible change that has happened, and it was about to happen and it has happened,” he said.
Vaidya criticised the roadblocks that singers often face in the film music industry and the power dynamics that exists, saying it is unfortunate that creators have very little control in their hands.
“There are some people, who probably do not have a very good music sense, and they are actually selecting and locking the songs. So, it becomes very difficult. But when you are actually doing a non-film song, it is a musician, it is an artist, who is pulling the shorts, this is how I want it to be,” he said.
He further claimed that singers such as Ankit Tiwari, Vishal Mishra, Toshi Sabri, Sachet Tandon and Parampara Thakur turned music composers because they were not getting enough singing opportunities.
“Singing in films is a completely different ballgame, you need to struggle with the directors and the producers, or the music directors. They (singers) were not getting any work and they realised that they are not going to be called, so they turned music composers.”
Vaidya added that he prefers creating independent tracks at his own pace rather than doing film work.
“I’m so busy in my live circuit; television also keeps me busy. So, I felt I’m okay without it (not doing film songs). Even though music happens to be my first love, I do my songs at my own pace. I’m enjoying it (working this way),” he said, adding that he has not ruled out composing music for films in the future.
The singer currently features alongside his actor-wife, Disha Parmar, on the celebrity reality game show “Pati Patni Aur Panga” season two. The show is hosted by Sonali Bendre and Munawar Faruqui.
Vaidya revealed that he and Parmar were earlier offered another celebrity couple reality show, “Nach Baliye”, but things didn’t work out. The couple got married in 2021 and they’ve a three-year-old daughter Navya.
“When this was offered to us, we were contemplating whether we should do it or not. I wanted to do it only for a fact because people would like to see us together, and it was going to be our first time together,” he said.
The singer said one has to be “mindful” of what they say and how they behave, particularly when they work with their partner.
“Also (this show), it will tell me if it is going to be our last show, that to me means that we might choose not to work with each other in the future. I’m not being negative, I’m being cautious, I’m saying this on a light note. It’s a different thing when you are working with your wife,” Vaidya said.
The other celebrity couple contestants on the show are Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya, Arjun Bijlani and Neha Swami Bijlani, Shabir Ahluwalia and Kanchi Kaul, Deepika Singh and Rohit Raj Goyal, Manoj Tiwari and Surabhi Tiwari, and Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi.
“Pati Patni Aur Panga” is currently on air on Colors TV channel.
(PTI News)
