JEDDAH, 25 September — Bollywood, India’s Hindi filmdom, is getting increasingly Westernized, thus becoming difficult for old-timers in the industry, according to a visiting playback singer.
“There is a tremendous change in the composition of songs these days compared with the peak years he had, since he took to playback singing in 1984,” said Mohammed Aziz who has rendered voice for more than 8,000 songs in 18 languages. He has also cut several private albums and sung for soaps beamed on different Indian satellite channels.
Aziz, who arrived here on Monday, will perform Umrah and give a presentation of selected patriotic and other songs at Indian Cultural Society’s commemoration of the 55th anniversary of India’s independence here tomorrow evening. The event at Le Jeddah Meridien Hotel will be presided over by Indian Consul General Syed Akbaruddin.
“No singer can have a long life, especially in the changed situation. Gone are the days when legendary crooners like Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Mukesh dominated the film industry for several decades. Their quality of voice and rendering were superb and that’s how their songs are still being enjoyed,” said 48-year-old Aziz who lives in Bombay. His 13-year-old daughter is also emerging as a singer. She sang a duet with playback singer Alka Yagnik for a movie recently.
“There was a time when melody, voice, talent and creative work were among the key factors for crooners. No longer. What you need today are glamorous looks and ability to perform on the stage; now songs are seen and not heard,” Aziz said, adding that there was no doubt that recording techniques had advanced a great deal. Another glaring difference now is that a movie could have many music directors and songwriters as against the old practice of having just one in each department. One of the latest Hindi movies “Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam” has five directors composing songs.
Indian movies and albums now enjoy strong international market.
Asked what was being done to check copyright piracy, Aziz said: “Certain international bodies including the Indian Performing Rights Association are examining how to go about it.”
Aziz, who visited the Kingdom in 1996 and 1998, said some of his songs were pictured on Amitabh Bachchan-starrers in the ‘80s. “In fact, my first super hit film was ‘Mard’ in which I rendered songs for Amitabh in 1984,” said Aziz whose playback singing career began with a film “Amber” which had the Sapan-Jagmohan duo’s music score. Calcutta-born Aziz was a child artist and shot into prominence with a series of stage performances that he continues to present the world over.
ICS President Aref Qureshi, who introduced the singer, said the organization had been observing India’s independence and republic days with the cooperation of the consulate since the late 1970s.