Pakistani singers introduce themselves as Indians abroad: Sukhvinder Singh

Dressed in bermuda and black ganji with a scarf thrown around and sipping green tea, this is how we encountered Sukhwinder Singh while he was in Ranchi recently to perform at Gunj mahotsav. “I love coming to Ranchi. Its so green and so beautiful that it somewhat reminds me of my home back in Punjab,” he tells us during a freewheeling interview.
Currently in the prime of his career, Sukhwinder, who, he says, was launched into Bollywood music scene by Kollywood (By A R Rehman and Mani Ratnam in Dil Se), has gone strength to strength through his rustic voice and power packed songs. “It has been more than 10 years since Chhaiyan Chhaiyan. Though I have sung only 90-100 songs over the period, the last seven months have been really busy. I have recorded over 200 songs, many of which have been chartbusters, doing stage shows in India and abroad, so yes, I’m loving it all.”
Ask him whether he felt insecure with rising influx of singers from reality shows and of course, from across the border and he shrugs it off. “Yaar duniya ke saare gaane maine hi thodi na gaane hain. Sabke liye bohot kaam pada hai bas shart ye hai ki kaam acha hona chahiye, usme bande ka passion dikhna chahiye. And those who are capable to do it are doing it well. Then who am I to complain about anything or feel insecure. Also, mujhe samajh nahi aata ye Hindustan-Pakistan har jagah kyun aa jata hai. Vo saare ke saare toh yahin aa gaye hain to farak kya bacha. Hamari industry ka naam hi bas Bollywood hai otherwise its an international film industry. Everyone is welcome to come here, perform and earn recognition. Vo bhi kahan jayenge jab unki government hi unko tang kar rahi hai. Infact, jab abroad me koi show hota hai aur vahan Pakistani artistes jate hain to apne ko Indian hi batate hain. Internationally they are considered Indian artistes only,” Sukhwinder says.
An occasional music composer himself, Sukhwinder is also a firm backer of encouraging young music composers and giving them an opportunity to prove their mettle. “One of the reasons I’ve been so busy this year are the new music directors. Usually everyone ignores them, because though they have got passion, they are lacking experience to handle big singers. So I told them all that I’m willing to work with them and share my experience with them all. And you can see the result yourself. Banjaara song from Ek Tha Tiger had Soheil Sen, who is a new composer. Then, Kya Super Kool Hain Hum also had a new composer and songs turned out to be really good,” he avers. The much acclaimed singer also feels that reality shows are not his cup of tea. Though he had hosted Amul Voice of India 2 as a judge with Ismail Darbar, Sukhwinder feels that the current form of reality shows have 90% drama and only 10% talent. “Though reality-show is in itself, a great concept to scout of new talent but these days the shows have been reduced to more of a tamasha and less about music. The channels feel that if they’ll create more music, it won’t help with their TRPs but creating a scene or a standoff will. Unfortunately, the participants are also falling for the trap as though talking rudely or behaving aggressively on a show may garner you some publicity but won’t do you any good in the long run. Filhaal to mujhe to lagta hai ki tamasha hi reality show ki reality ban ke reh gaya hai. Tamashe se style zyada acha hota hai. I feel the singers are no less than actors in terms of their placement and visibility. Hence, instead of ruining their future over needless clashes, they should do more to cultivate their own individual style and remember that the world is made up of special persons only and they are very few. “ he says.
With keen interest in sports, especially wrestling and hockey, Sukhwinder feels that had it not been music, he would have been a sportsman instead. “I wanted to represent my country in sports but then music me hi acha ho gaya to ye hi career ban gaya. Though I still go to my village in Punjab and organise many sport events. I’m also working to fund the traditional wrestling akharas as the Indian wrestling association has made it compulsory for the players to practice on mattresses only. So I and my team are planning to supply mattresses to those akharas who cannot afford it themselves,” he informs us.
Sukhwinder also feels that artistes should not harbour the feeling of competition among themselves as it gives rise to a feeling of insecurity. “Main kabhi kisi se bhi competition ki bhaavna nahin rakhta kyunki competition ki feeling se hesitation badhta hai aur hesitation badhne se insecurity. Competition karne se acha hai ki flirt karo. In fact, mujhe to lagta hai ki jo artist jitna zyada successful flirt hai vo utna zyada successful or creative hota hai. Chahe main kitna bhi busy hun par din mein do ghante me mujhe chahiye hi hote hain flirt karne ke liye. Flirting is a very healthy thing until and unless you are not playing with somebody’s emotions of using them for their own personal gains,” he says before signing off.