The Singer

My friend Vaidy is very clear about his views on my singing. Whenever I ask him his views on my rendition of a popular Hindi film number he says without hesitation, “Gaana achcha hai lekin to muth ga,” meaning that “the song is good but you don’t sing this song”.

A little harsh perhaps but remarkably the overwhelming majority of humanity that I come in touch with agrees with him. Indeed the only person who listens to my song is my son Sanjiv. The only explanation that I can think of for this is the fact that he is just about three years old and therefore is yet to develop an ear for music.

This lack of ability of mine to be a singer first came to the fore when I was in school. At that time, I was riding high on confidence after winning a few awards for my public speaking skills. So when the chance came to participate in a singing competition, I immediately jumped at it.

Even as I strode towards the microphone, I could hear the applause ringing in my ears—from my previous stint as a public speaker. I was convinced that there would be nothing but an encore. I soon began singing the title song of the popular Hindi film “Yaadon ki Baarat”. Sure enough there was pin drop silence as I sang. The audience soon made their views clear. As I sang , they booed. I was startled but continued with my endeavours. The more I sang the more they booed making their views absolutely clear.

There was only one thing that I could do and I did that—I quietly left the singing floor. The audience had given the verdict which Vaidy was to give years later—Gaana Achcha hail lekin tu mat ga.”