Sukhwinder Singh recently appeared in an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla, where he recalled his journey in cinema. During the conversation, the veteran singer revealed how the song Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire was initially meant for Subhash Ghai’s film.
Exclusive: Sukhwinder Singh recalls his memories of being a part of Jai Ho
Speaking to Pinkvilla, Sukwinder Singh said, “It was a matter of pride for me. Yeh gaana jo hai, humare liye bahut surprising gift tha. (For me, it was a matter of pride. This song was a very surprising gift for us.) This song was to be recorded for Subhash Ghai ji’s film Yaarana.”
He said, “I told them, the song is very good, it is better. It felt very good. And my character has become very boring at this time… very dull. Then Anhoun told AR, told Rahman to make another song. The songs of that film were also written by Gulzar Sahab.”
(He said that the song was very good, even better, it sounded very nice. But at that time my image had become very tapori-like, very carefree and rustic. So then he asked AR Rahman to make another song in its place. The songs of that film were also written by Gulzar Sahab.)
Singh further added, “They agreed that we will make another song. So I said, what to do with this song? ‘Aaja zari wale neele aasmaan ke tale’, it has no use now. No problem, we will make another song. I stopped Gulzar saab. I sing happily.”
(They agreed that we would make another song. So I asked, what should we do with this song? ‘Come under the blue, zari-embroidered sky,’ now it was of no use. No problem, we would make another song. I stopped Gulzar saab and said that I sing only for happiness.)
He mentioned, “I told him, your line, ‘Jari wale neele aasmaan,’ you have prepared the entire design. I would love to sing it, but I said there is another project which is for happiness, which is happiness within, andar ki khushi. He looked at me, that it is so celebratory. The music was with me, Rahman’s.”
(I told him, the line you have written, ‘Jari-embroidered blue sky’, you have created a whole arsenal of designs with it. I would love to sing it, but I said there is another project which is about happiness, happiness from within, inner happiness. He looked at me, wondering why I was celebrating so much. The music I had was by Rahman.)
Sukhwinder further said, “Two days later, Rahman called. He said, ‘Hi, Hollywood singer.’ During our time, Chaiya-Chaiya was being re-recorded in Los Angeles for Denzel Washington’s film Inside Man. Spike Lee was the director, and what a wonderful movie it was.”
(Two days later, I got a call from Rahman. He said, ‘Hi, Hollywood singer.’ At the time, I was re-recording Chaiya Chaiya in Los Angeles for Denzel Washington’s film Inside Man. Spike Lee was the director, and what a wonderful film.)
“Even before that, I had worked on Hollywood projects with Indian producers. (Even before that, I had worked on Hollywood projects with Indian filmmakers.) Then I asked why he had mentioned me as a Hollywood singer. He said that the song I had sung as Jai Ho had gone in the film Slumdog Millionaire. The director liked it, and the song won an Oscar and a Grammy. It was a surprise. I also had to thank Gulzar saab. Gotta give,” the Woh Kisna Hai singer added.
Singh concluded, “The best part about AR Rahman in this is that he got to create such a fresh melody. What went from the heart, reached the heart. I never felt that the awards I got for Jai Ho were personal; instead, I felt that my country, India, had received them.”
(The best thing about AR Rahman in this is that he created a very fresh tune. What came from the heart reached the heart. I never felt that the awards I got for Jai Ho were personal; instead, I felt they were given to my country, India.)
Watch the exclusive interview here:
For those unfamiliar, Sukhwinder Singh sang the track Jai Ho in the film Slumdog Millionaire, which later gained global recognition.
Also read: Exclusive: Sukhwinder Singh on how Taal song Ramta Jogi came to be: “A.R. Rahman naturally captured the best thing I sang”