In her own style

She's in the midst of a busy recording and concert schedule but gracefully agreed to talk to e+. Cool, confident and candid, Sunidhi the interviewee turns out to be as interesting as Sunidhi the singer. She just rocks!

The singer will be in the emirate on February 18 for her Dubai Shopping Festival concert Salaam Dubai organised by OME-Oberoi (Middle East) Events.

With my first question I ask Sunidhi which milestones and which people stand out in her mind when she thinks about the first decade of her career. And she quickly responds with a recap of the last ten years: "There have been many memorable people and milestones," says Sunidhi. "Egged on by his friend, my father encouraged me to sing and my win in the contest Meri Aawaz Suno (Listen To My Voice) was the real beginning. But even before that I had done a playback song in Shastra. In that early phase, my training with Kalyanji-Anandji as a child artist was very important in making me understand the nuances of singing and stage performances."

Then came Mast and people really started to notice her. Sonu Nigam had recommended her to composer Sandeep Chowta. "I'd say Ramuji (Ram Gopal Verma) showed great courage in picking a raw youngster like me to sing three songs for such a major movie," she says.

But it was Anu Malik's Ajnabi which made people realise that she was not just an item-song singer. Then came songs from Chameli, Fanaa, Omkara and other films, which proved that she was versatile enough to sing all types of songs.

Her music, her life

As a listener, I have always been intrigued by Sunidhi's twin tonal qualities: a husky sensuous one and a softer, more mellow one. I ask her if she always had that gift. "Yes, I always had it in me. Of course, over the years I had to further polish it," she says. "These things are necessary for any singer if she wants to sing different types of tunes and be recognised as a truly versatile singer."

She gushes when I remark that her mellower Mere Sang Tu Chal Zara from New York was her best song of the past year and says, "I am happy that there are still listeners who appreciate such melodious numbers even amongst the peppy chartbusters like Raat Ke Dhaai Baje, Chor Bazari and Hadippa. Such appreciation keeps motivating me to keep improving myself as a singer."

What is the best compliment she has ever received as a singer? She just laughs, "Whatever compliment I receive, I always keep them close to my heart. I never delete such SMSes or emails. Whenever I am feeling low, those messages serve to recharge me as a person and as an artist."

This brings to mind her amazing ability to bounce back after setbacks in her personal life. But she deflects a query on the subject and replies: "I have forgotten that phase of my life. I don't dwell upon the past and sincerely believe that everything happens for the best!"

So is Main Zindagi Kaa Saath Nibhaata Chalaa Gayaa/ Har Fikr Ko Dhooen Mein Udaata Chalaa Gayaa (‘I just went along with my life/ Letting all my worries fly into smoke) her philosophy towards life? She laughs and says: "Oh, yes, you could say that!

Today's music

Speaking about today's composers and changing musical trends, Sunidhi says, "I have sung with practically every composer. Today's composers are very talented and everyone has his own style. As far as the trends go, earlier there was the era of remixes, which gave way to hip-hop. Now hip-hop is on its last legs and trance is the flavour of the day. Music will keep changing and change is an essential part of life."

Unlike many other singers, why isn't she seen on reality music shows? "I have some issues with the formats of some of these shows and have kept myself away from them," she says.

There was a time when playback songs were monopolised by the Mangeshkars. Now it seems that Sunidhi and Shreya Ghoshal are the new Mangeshkars. But Sunidhi denies this. "Oh, no! There is no such monopoly today," she says. "First, Shreya and I are not sisters; we come from totally diverse backgrounds. It is true that most of the songs for the lead heroines are coming our way but there are so many other singers making their mark. How can we forget singers like Mahalaxmi, Sadhana Sargam, Anushka Manchanda, Rekha Bhardwaj and Kavita Seth? They are so talented and they are all singing good songs. Even on the male playback scene, there is so much variety with Sonu Nigam, Shaaan, Sukhvinder Singh, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Neeraj Shreedhar all getting the opportunity to display their talents."Finally, has she planned anything special for her Dubai concert? "I have come to Dubai many times but this is my first solo concert over here," she says. "It is titled Salaam Dubai and is a tribute to the city's spirit. The show's organiser Naresh Oberoi is a connoisseur of music and with his suggestions, I have planned many new things for this concert. I am sure the audience will appreciate our efforts!"

Few of her fave things

• Favourite film; Sadma (Kamal Hassan, Sridevi)
• Favourite Actor: Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan
• Favourite Actress: "The one and only" Madhuri Dixit
• Favourite Male Singer: Sukhvinder Singh
•  Favourite Female Singer; Lata Mangeshkar
• Favourite own song: Le Chale Le Chale from My Brother Nikhil
• Favourite food: Chinese
• Favourite holiday destination: Wherever I have not gone yet! I'd like to go to Cuba!
• Favourite hobby: Driving! I drive fast but safe.

 Take on other singers

• Sonu Nigam: He is a legend. So versatile and constantly keeps improving himself!
• Shaan: A darling, a dear friend and a very talented singer who has improved over the years.
• Sukhvinder Singh: I just love his voice. It is so rich and powerful.
• Shreya Ghoshal: A well-trained melodious voice with perfection.
•  Lata Mangeshkar: Undoubtedly the greatest. Listening to her songs is a training in itself!

Concert details

When Thursday, February 18 at 9.30pm
Where Madinat Arena (Indoor), Jumeirah
How Gallery Dh150 (limited seats), Gold Dh250, VIP Dh500 & VVIP Dh1,000 (limited seats). Contact www.timeouttickets.com 800-4669 and www.boxofficeme.com, 04-3676699. Tickets also available at Choithram outlets. Children below five years enter for free. For info call 050 6984599 or email: oberoi@eim.ae