Classical singer Channulal Misra makes Bollywood debut

New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) He is 75, and known for his Hindustani classical music. After singing for 50 years, Pandit Channulal Mishra has lent his voice to a Bollywood song "Saans Albeli" from Prakash Jha's "Aarakshan", releasing Friday.

It was lyricist Prasoon Joshi, who brought Mishra to Jha's attention for the earthy and emotional song, says a source.

"The song 'Saans Albeli', required a voice with a certain musical fluidity and Channulalji's voice gave the song exactly the texture and depth that I was looking for. It was quite an experience working with a disciplined person such as him," Jha said in a press statement.

Initially, Mishra did not agree to sing for "Aarakshan". He wanted to first hear the scratch song, so that he knew what exactly it was about. Two days before the recording, the singer told Jha that since he received just the first antra in the sctratch song, he only rehearsed for that, and would sing only as much.

However, composer trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy immediately recorded the entire scratch so that Mishra could hear it. It was only after rehearsing for a day that he recorded for the song, informs the source.

Jha was so moved with how the song eventually turned out that he requested Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy to record another version - "Kaun si dor", which comes at a poignant juncture in the film.

Jha brought in young singer Shreya Ghoshal to sing with Mishra for it.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who plays a key role in "Aarakshan", was ecstatic to have Mishra sing in the movie.

"Today we hardly have any classical singers in Bollywood. Poetry that we had in my father's generation and voices like Channulalji's are soon moving out of the popular rage," said Amitabh.

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Aarakshan