Sometimes they say that sighting a butterfly is an omen. To me the butterfly came in a song.
First
week of November 2012 and I got a call from Shekhar sir asking me to
come and sing for him here, in Chennai. Off I went to Gopi Sunder's
studio seriously doubting how I will be able to pull this off, when,
that week, and the couple of weeks prior, it was a personally harrowing
time.
I
recorded this song with a migraine that was killing me and somehow I
hoped that I didn't look too sick and that I would come across as an
affable person to work with, inspite of the frowns crinkling my
forehead. Shekhar sir dictated the lyrics and taught me the song. I went
in and recorded and it was done. Thereafter of course, I had no idea if
my version would be retained and left it to the will of the universe,
as I always have, with every song that I have sung. As Yesudas sir once said,
slightly modifying the popular adage, Gaane gaane ke upar gaanewale ka
naam likha hai. The song chooses the singer.
When they released the teaser on last week, there was a mixture of a lot of emotions. Of gratitude mainly and relief.
And then Mr Shah Rukh Khan tweeted this to me
At
that point, somehow I got so emotional that I bawled. Called up a dear
friend (or perhaps she called, I cannot remember now) who was also
bawling on the other side and said she was so happy for me. And she said
that this is for all that Ma has done for you. And we bawled some more.
Amma wasn't too expressive to me, but she tweeted.
Shekhar
sir invited me to the audio launch on the 3rd July and I landed up. I
felt lost initially, though I have attended numerous ones here.
Thankfully spotted Jitesh (Pillai) and I heaved a sigh of relief that I
finally saw someone I knew.
Shekhar
sir introduced me to SRK and I, for one of the first times, asked him
for a picture. He obliged and said he was touched by my mother's tweet
and asked me to convey his regards to her. Though the word "mindblown"
is soo easily thrown about these days, that's exactly what I felt at
that point. One that he read my mom's tweet, two he remembered and three
he enquired about her. I said I am humbled and cannot imagine that a
superstar of his stature would do all that.
Deepika was extremely sweet and told me that she loves Titli and yes she obliged with a picture too.
Post
event party, SRK said said he'd like to talk to my mother and I thought
it would be one of those polite conversations and I said sure whenever
you want. And he said I'd like to talk to her now. Call her. And I did.
He took my phone, went off someplace quieter where he could have a
conversation for a few minutes and returned.
I
kept telling Shekhar sir (Vishal wasn't present at the launch and I
hadn't been able to meet him during the recording session here in
Chennai) how grateful I am for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Sometimes,
life gives us gifts. Like the rainbow after a storm. Or like the rain
itself through thunder and lightning. And because life is the way it is,
the gift is carried by someone. This time round God was kind enough to
send it through this song.
To
be able to continue doing what I like doing best, which is singing and
to be able to meet some of the most creative, brilliant minds and
musicians is the greatest gift that has been accorded to me. And I believe that each song that comes my way is a blessing. And it is
impossible to not feel immense gratitude for the people who make it
possible.
This time it is for Shekhar sir (and Vishal sir as well). None of the good reviews or the interactions with SRK / Deepika would have been possible but for him.
And of course to the creator. Grateful. And a lot more. But nothing less.
