[arr] Vijay Prakash interview: from Jai Ho to Hasanna (semi-A.R.Rahman)

[juliencristobal]

The biggest commercial success of 2010 in Tamil cinema is director Gautham 
Vasudev Menon's love story, Vinnaithandi Varuvaya. 

In fact, a song from the film's album, Hosanna composed by A R Rahman and sung 
by Vijay Prakash, has become equally popular.

The song is such a rage that Prakash, whose earlier success was Jai Ho from 
Slumdog Millionaire, has become a sensation in Tamil Nadu.

In this interview, the classical musician from Mysore, now settled in Mumbai, 
talks about his famous song, meeting Rahman and singing for him. Excerpts:

When you sang Hosanna, did you expect it to be such a rage?

When I sing, I give it my best and expect it to be a hit. But frankly, I never 
expected Hosanna to be such a huge hit. Definitely, the credit goes to Rahman. 
I was lucky to get the song because it would anyway have become a hit!

How did it come to you and how was the process of singing it?

Soon after the Oscars, Rahman sir was working on Vinnaithandi Varuvaya and 
Hosanna was one of the songs he composed first. I got a call from him. Gautham 
Menon sir and Thamarai, the lyricist, were also there when I went to meet him. 
The lyrics were ready when I reached there. So all I had to do was sing. The 
melody was so beautiful that I had to only sing it as a simple song.

How long did it take you to record the song?

It took me around two hours. Rahman sir wanted a simple and soulful rendition. 
It was so easy that I enjoyed singing every line of it. Because it had a very 
good swinging rhythm, whether you are a singer or not or whether you like music 
or not, you will unknowingly dance to the tune.

What was Rahman's reaction after you finished the song?

If he likes what you do, he will immediately express his opinion. He is always 
very supportive and encouraging. You can always tell when he likes a song.

It was a very happy situation in the studio. I enjoyed myself while recording 
the song. There was also singer Srinivas sir as part of the whole process. All 
of us were singing and swinging. Rahman's greatness is that he knows how much 
each singer can contribute.

When I heard the full song with strings and voices, and guitar and chorus, it 
sounded so different and great. I could only say, wow! That is the beauty of a 
Rahman song!

Vinnaithandi Varuvaya had a unique audio launch in London and Chennai. How was 
it singing all the songs with the guitar playing in the background?

I couldn't go to London but I sang Hosanna in Chennai. At that time, the songs 
were new and people had not heard the song before. But after that, wherever I 
go, not only in Tamil Nadu but all over India, I am asked to sing the song 
again and again.

The song picturisation of Hosanna also is a rage. How did you feel when you saw 
the song on screen?

I saw the film in Mumbai. When the song started, there was a big applause in 
the theatre. It was a thrilling experience to see your work being appreciated.

Which is your favourite song in the album?

Mannipaya sung by Rahman sir and Shreya is my favourite.

Not Aaromale?

Aaromale, of course is a classic. That song will stay for years to come. It is 
a very unique composition, an amazing song.

Let us just go back a little. How did you meet Rahman?

I am a trained Carnatic singer from Mysore. We hail from Andhra Pradesh and my 
grandfather has written 300 kritis in Telugu. So, Carnatic classical was a part 
of my growing up years. I also performed in a lot of concerts. 

But after coming to Mumbai in 1995, I got exposed to other genres of music like 
Hindustani classical, ghazals, folk, etc. I started giving voice-overs and till 
date, I must have given more than 7000 voice-overs and more than 3000 jingles. 
Gradually, film songs also happened. But I still do classical and classical 
fusion concerts.

It was in 1994 that I first Rahman. He had become a sensation after Roja. I 
went to Chennai to attend the Margazhi festival (the music festival held in 
January). I was at the Narada Gana Sabha and Rahman had come for a concert. I 
ran to him for an autograph which he obliged. He was very simple and kind. I 
must say, even after achieving so much, he remains the same.

How did you get to sing for him?

Through Brij Bhushan from Mumbai, a very good friend of Rahman's. Bhushan would 
suggest names of singers to him. It was he who suggested my name to Rahman.

When was this?

I think in 2004, 10 years after I met him first. Then, in 2004, I suddenly got 
a call from his office. He wanted me to work in a Tamil movie called New and 
also the Hindi film Swades. I was very excited to get the call from him. I went 
to his hotel in Panchgani (in Maharashtra). He was working there because the 
Swades team was shooting there. Everything happened very fast. By the time we 
finished recording both the songs, it was the next day.

After that, I worked a lot with him in Bose - The Forgotten Hero, Yuvraaj and 
Blue. I was also a part of Jai Ho.

How was the post-Jai Ho experience? How did life ch

[arr] Vijay Prakash hopes for brighter innings in 2010

[A.R.Rajib]

 Vijay Prakash hopes for brighter innings in 2010
  By: Harpreet Khokhar17 Mar 10 15:20 IST
[image: 
image]
Vijay
Prakash hopes for brighter innings in 2010

MUMBAI: Vijay Prakash has been contributing to the Bollywood music scene for
close to a decade now and is slowly but steadily making his presence felt.

Hailing from a musicians' family in Mysore, the singer was exposed to
Carnatic classical music from an early age. "I was exposed to Carnatic music
for the initial 20 years of my life. But then there was an urge to explore
myself in different genres. I wanted to move out and test my skills on a
wider spectrum." The singer came to Mumbai and joined Suresh Wadkar as his
student in 1996 to learn Hindustani Classical music.

In 1999, Prakash took part in the Zee TV music reality show Saregama
Challenge then hosted by Sonu Nigaam then, where he was the mega finalist.
"It was a good platform to let yourself be known to the world," he says.

Prakash has lent his voice for over 3000 jingles for several top jingle
music directors including Leslie Lewis, Salim Sulaiman and several voice
overs. "But it is difficult to give justice to your talent in the 30-40
second jingle," says Prakash who has also sung for the background score of
movies like Main Hoon Na, Tere Naam, Krrish and some 40 other films.

The singer whose debut film was Baag for music director Ismail Darbar, got
his big break came when A R Rahman roped him to sing for Swades. He then
went on to sing for various music directors including Shankar Ehsaan Loy.
"My full fledged solo song was for Illayaraja for Cheeni Kum. All the songs
I had sung prior to this included multiple singers and I dint get noticed.
But nevertheless, it was a good experience working with such talented
people." The singer also got noticed for the raga based track Manmohini in
Rahman's Yuvraaj.

Prakash has also released 10-12 spiritual albums with Times Music before his
big moment of glory came with Oscar winning track 'Jai ho' for which he
mouthed the powerful words. The singer's moment of glory  "I am greatful to
Rahman sir for giving me the break. After the song became such a hit I have
been offered to judge various reality shows in south and have also bagged
few projects down there."

The singer is hopeful that 2010 will help him bag plum projects in the
industry. "I am hoping to bag good solo projects in the year," adds Prakash.

http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/vijay-prakash-hopes-brighter-innings-2010
-- 
- Regards

~ ~ A.R.Rajib ~ ~

[arr] Vijay Prakash On ZEE SA RE GA MA PA

[Vithur]

Vijay Prakash On ZEE SA RE GA MA PA hey vijay prakash was a guest on sa re
ga ma pa telecast on zee tv as part of the promotion of the movie YUVRAAJ
alongwith Salman Khan and Katrina!!!

He pretty effortlessly and flawlessly rendered Manmohini Morey!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENZ1QLE66z0

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=uuLgSS6MVlE&feature=related

>From orkut

-- 
regards,
Vithur

Re: [arr] Vijay Prakash

[aakash raj]

And also the title song in New

--- On Thu, 10/16/08, Arun KB Ganesh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
From: Arun KB Ganesh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [arr] Vijay Prakash
To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, October 16, 2008, 7:38 AM











Vijay prakash has sung in Pal Pal hai bhari.. (swades) for ARR.

On Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 6:43 AM, Madhavan Rajan  wrote:


















Just found that Vijay Prakash was a Sa Re Ga Ma Pa contestant in 
1999. He was one of the finest singers that time and reached till mega finals 
but never got recognized.. .Now AR has found this talent and will utilize his 
skills to the maximum.



Listen to some of his songs in You Tube. I liked them!

Cheers,
Madhavan.R
Be a Music Fan; not a Music Pirate!


  





















  




 

















  

Re: [arr] Vijay Prakash

[Madhavan Rajan]

Thanks Arun, I didn't notice that.

Cheers,
Madhavan.R
Be a Music Fan; not a Music Pirate!

On Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 9:08 PM, Arun KB Ganesh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>   Vijay prakash has sung in Pal Pal hai bhari.. (swades) for ARR.
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 6:43 AM, Madhavan Rajan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
>
>>   Just found that Vijay Prakash was a Sa Re Ga Ma Pa contestant in 1999.
>> He was one of the finest singers that time and reached till mega finals but
>> never got recognized...Now AR has found this talent and will utilize his
>> skills to the maximum.
>>
>> Listen to some of his songs in You Tube. I liked them!
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Madhavan.R
>> Be a Music Fan; not a Music Pirate!
>>
>>
>  
>

Re: [arr] Vijay Prakash

[madhu sudhan]

HE has also sung many songs for KANNADA movies...

On Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 7:38 AM, Arun KB Ganesh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>   Vijay prakash has sung in Pal Pal hai bhari.. (swades) for ARR.
>
> On Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 6:43 AM, Madhavan Rajan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
>
>>   Just found that Vijay Prakash was a Sa Re Ga Ma Pa contestant in 1999.
>> He was one of the finest singers that time and reached till mega finals but
>> never got recognized...Now AR has found this talent and will utilize his
>> skills to the maximum.
>>
>> Listen to some of his songs in You Tube. I liked them!
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Madhavan.R
>> Be a Music Fan; not a Music Pirate!
>>
>>
>  
>

Re: [arr] Vijay Prakash

[Arun KB Ganesh]

Vijay prakash has sung in Pal Pal hai bhari.. (swades) for ARR.

On Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 6:43 AM, Madhavan Rajan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:

>   Just found that Vijay Prakash was a Sa Re Ga Ma Pa contestant in 1999.
> He was one of the finest singers that time and reached till mega finals but
> never got recognized...Now AR has found this talent and will utilize his
> skills to the maximum.
>
> Listen to some of his songs in You Tube. I liked them!
>
> Cheers,
> Madhavan.R
> Be a Music Fan; not a Music Pirate!
>
>  
>

[arr] Vijay Prakash

[Madhavan Rajan]

Just found that Vijay Prakash was a Sa Re Ga Ma Pa contestant in 1999. He
was one of the finest singers that time and reached till mega finals but
never got recognized...Now AR has found this talent and will utilize his
skills to the maximum.

Listen to some of his songs in You Tube. I liked them!

Cheers,
Madhavan.R
Be a Music Fan; not a Music Pirate!