Bad time for singers in Bollywood, says Richa Sharma

Noted playback singer Richa Sharma says she declines offers to sing for films now because she does not like the current trend of one song being recorded by more than one artiste.

Sharma, who has given hits like Sajda in My Name Is Khan and Show Me Your Jalwa in Aaja Nachle, says she is wary of singing in Bollywood as even established singers don’t have a say in the songs they record. “There is this trend of one song being done by many singers and in the end only one version is released and promoted. Once, I announced that this film will have my song but a few days later I got to know that they had gone ahead and released the version sung by some other artiste. I felt like a fool,” Sharma said.

Multiple versions of one Bollywood number is a common trend nowadays with makers recording a song with different singers for original, reprised and unplugged styles but Sharma feels a song should be exclusive to a singer. “It is a very bad condition and the time is just not good for us. It makes artistes insecure and for singers like us who are established, it is particularly bad. I feel exclusivity should be there,” the 33-year-old singer said.

Richa is also not happy with the lyrics of Bollywood songs these days, which are full of nonsensical words and bad writing. “Lyrics are so dirty now. As a listener I feel repelled. I don’t say songs should have devotional words but it should be something which sounds good to mind and heart but all I see is poor writing,” Sharma said.

The singer might have been away from Bollywood music but she has kept herself busy with concerts and shows, with the latest being the Ottawa Jazz festival in Canada, where artistes like Steve Martin and Bobby McFerrin performed. Richa became the first Indian vocalist to have performed at the 34-year-old festival and she was naturally thrilled. “It gave me a sense of pride and to see foreigners dance on Bollywood tunes and enjoy the classical music was a high. My performance was loved and I want another artist from our country to be invited next year,” Sharma said.

The Mahi Ve hitmaker is planning to release her next album in a few months which will be followed by a devotional album in March 2015.