‘Who’s afraid of Honey Singh?’
1 Aug 2014 8:33 PM GMT
The musician was here in the Capital for an event where we chatted up with him. Excerpts:
Tell us a little about yourself and your background. How did you start off?
My real name is Dilin Nair. As the name suggests, I am Malayali by origin but I was brought up in Delhi and the city did have a rub-off or induction effect on me. I am so completely a Dilli Da Munda.
As a naughty school kid, I always had the knack and flair for rhyming and I guess this is precisely why rapping comes naturally to me. I started as early as kindergarten when teachers used to utter similar sounding words like bat, mat, cat, rat etc. I got hooked. I had a lot of Punjabi friends as well.
Call it my passion to learn and adapt quickly or whatever, it did not take me long to pick up their language and style of talking. I started writing songs when I was in 11th class but I had to wait till the first year of my college to deliver a performance on stage.
What was your first big break?
I had an actor-friend and he was working in a movie called Tamanche and I was asked to write a song for the film. This is how Tamanche Pe Disco happened but then for some reason I could not deliver the song to them.
Then I shared the song with Tigmanshu Dhulia who was making Bullet Raja and he liked it instantly.
The song became a mega hit and it was my big break indeed. Tamanche is yet to be released and as they say, whatever happens, happens for the good.
How would you define your musical philosophy?
I do whatever is contemporary and trending. There is no philosophy as such. I wish to entertain people and that’s what I have been doing. Audience look for entertainment, to shun their blues away and it does give me a kick when they swing to my numbers.
What are your comments regarding the recent controversy about you?
I was credited for the song Dhup Chik in Fugly and not for Banjaarey that I wrote with Honey Singh some years back. And this isn’t a fair thing to do. Honey even declared that he does not know me and has met me seldom. Both I and Baadshah (another rapper) were a part of Honey’s team.
I have appeared in two music videos along with Honey Singh, would he do a video with a stranger? I guess success has made him forget a lot of things. If he starts giving due credit for all the songs that others have written for him, who’d ask for Honey Singh? I guess, this is the reason I have moved on.
Tell us about your best tracks?
Besides Tamanche Pe Disco, I have done the Puppy song and Whistle Baja in Tiger Shroff’s Heropanti and of course the Dhup Chik in Fugly. These are some of my best songs in the recent past.
Not to forget Swag Mera Desi, this song is close to my heart because one can be cool while being desi. Whatever you have heard in rap and hip hop so far is kindergarten, this song is like graduation!
What are your suggestions for the newbies in the field?
Believe in yourself, do whatever comes to your heart and follow your instincts. Make music your religion and deliver the best that you possibly can. Besides all this, I guess nothing else works. It is like a mantra.
How has Delhi reacted to your shows?
Delhi is my home city! This place has given a lot to me and its payback time, I guess. I wish to entertain Delhiites to the fullest. This is why I am here.
What lies next?
A lot so to say! I intend to keep entertaining people for many more years to come. I have recently written and composed a number for Salman Khan’s production Dr Cabbie. There are many other projects lined up but it will be appropriate to talk about them as and when the right time comes.
Tell us a little about yourself and your background. How did you start off?
My real name is Dilin Nair. As the name suggests, I am Malayali by origin but I was brought up in Delhi and the city did have a rub-off or induction effect on me. I am so completely a Dilli Da Munda.
As a naughty school kid, I always had the knack and flair for rhyming and I guess this is precisely why rapping comes naturally to me. I started as early as kindergarten when teachers used to utter similar sounding words like bat, mat, cat, rat etc. I got hooked. I had a lot of Punjabi friends as well.
Call it my passion to learn and adapt quickly or whatever, it did not take me long to pick up their language and style of talking. I started writing songs when I was in 11th class but I had to wait till the first year of my college to deliver a performance on stage.
What was your first big break?
I had an actor-friend and he was working in a movie called Tamanche and I was asked to write a song for the film. This is how Tamanche Pe Disco happened but then for some reason I could not deliver the song to them.
Then I shared the song with Tigmanshu Dhulia who was making Bullet Raja and he liked it instantly.
The song became a mega hit and it was my big break indeed. Tamanche is yet to be released and as they say, whatever happens, happens for the good.
How would you define your musical philosophy?
I do whatever is contemporary and trending. There is no philosophy as such. I wish to entertain people and that’s what I have been doing. Audience look for entertainment, to shun their blues away and it does give me a kick when they swing to my numbers.
What are your comments regarding the recent controversy about you?
I was credited for the song Dhup Chik in Fugly and not for Banjaarey that I wrote with Honey Singh some years back. And this isn’t a fair thing to do. Honey even declared that he does not know me and has met me seldom. Both I and Baadshah (another rapper) were a part of Honey’s team.
I have appeared in two music videos along with Honey Singh, would he do a video with a stranger? I guess success has made him forget a lot of things. If he starts giving due credit for all the songs that others have written for him, who’d ask for Honey Singh? I guess, this is the reason I have moved on.
Tell us about your best tracks?
Besides Tamanche Pe Disco, I have done the Puppy song and Whistle Baja in Tiger Shroff’s Heropanti and of course the Dhup Chik in Fugly. These are some of my best songs in the recent past.
Not to forget Swag Mera Desi, this song is close to my heart because one can be cool while being desi. Whatever you have heard in rap and hip hop so far is kindergarten, this song is like graduation!
What are your suggestions for the newbies in the field?
Believe in yourself, do whatever comes to your heart and follow your instincts. Make music your religion and deliver the best that you possibly can. Besides all this, I guess nothing else works. It is like a mantra.
How has Delhi reacted to your shows?
Delhi is my home city! This place has given a lot to me and its payback time, I guess. I wish to entertain Delhiites to the fullest. This is why I am here.
What lies next?
A lot so to say! I intend to keep entertaining people for many more years to come. I have recently written and composed a number for Salman Khan’s production Dr Cabbie. There are many other projects lined up but it will be appropriate to talk about them as and when the right time comes.
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