Tulsi Kumar: I Wish Dad Would Come Back
Tulsi Kumar, the youngest daughter of late music honcho Gulshan Kumar, has prepared a tribute song in his memory. As she gets ready to sing it, for the first time, for a live audience at a concert tonight, the loving daughter rewinds on the man who changed the identity of Bollywood music, back in the 1990s. Here are the excerpts from her interview with SpotboyE...
Tulsi Kumar, the youngest daughter of late music honcho Gulshan Kumar, has prepared a tribute song in his memory. As she gets ready to sing it, for the first time, for a live audience at a concert tonight, the loving daughter rewinds on the man who changed the identity of Bollywood music, back in the 1990s. Here are the excerpts from her interview with SpotboyE...
Tell us a little about the single you've prepared as a tribute to your father
The song is titled Mere Papa. It's a dedication to my father, Gulshan Kumar. Every father and child will relate to the sentiments in this song. Composer Jeet Ganguly, lyricist Manoj Muntashir and I teamed up for it. We'll release the single and the video very soon. Right now, I'm preparing to perform live and premiere it for a large invited audience tonight at a concert. My brother Bhushan has organised a musical evening, which will celebrate my father's achievements and the 30 glorious years of T-Series.
How did the song come about?
The musical evening that I just mentioned has a strong line-up of all the singers and musicians who have been launched by T-Series. They'll perform the songs they have created for our company. Bhai came up with the idea that I should also do a special song as a dedication to our father. He wanted it to be a fresh song made for the occasion.
And then?
I met Jeetda. I started talking to him about my father and shared many memories. I told him about the kind of relationship I shared with dad. I was the youngest in the family and his pet.
Could you take us through that?
My father plays a very crucial role in my life. I am here because of him. I started learning music at a very young age because of him. He spotted talent in me even before I could spell talent. He believed in me. And today, I'm living his dream and taking it forward. I have him to thank for the life I have today, and the music that I know.
Going back to the song, how long did you work on it?
In about 20 minutes, we had a skeleton ready. We had an idea, a few lines and a tune. Jeetda and Manojji made voice notes of what I was talking about my father. Manojji penned a few lines giving the song a direction. He came up with heart-touching words. The melody fell into place soon after. They played a scratch to bhai and when he approved, I recorded it. I could not record it immediately because I was too emotional that day. The next day, we nailed it. Mere Papa is the closest to my heart today.
What was your mother's reaction to the single?
My mother was extremely touched. And so was everyone else at home. It created a different atmosphere at home.
Have you shot a video for the song?
We have not created a video yet, as I want to keep it minimalistic. I don't want it to be very loud. I want our memories with our father to be a part of it. Whoever directs the video, I am sure will understand the sentiments attached to this song.
How did your in-laws and husband react to the single?
My in-laws were excited. My husband Hitesh is very supportive of my work. I am doing such a lot of work because of them. They encourage me all the time. And even with this single, they were mighty happy.
Who was your first guru? Any memories of the first songs that you hummed?
I was seven years old when I used to hum songs from Sadak, Aashiqui and Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi. My father heard me a couple of times and enrolled me in Suresh Wadkar's a light classical classes.
What did you learn from your father?
My father never taught me anything by sitting me down because I was very small then. But I used to just watch him. He was very attached to music. He'd play songs from his films and albums to each one of us, including our house help. I've inherited my love and passion for music from him. He was a humble and giving person. Every musician who was worth something has something or the other to do with him. He or she will have a little story to tell about him. My father had a heart of gold.
Any singer from that era you idolised?
I was a little girl when Sonu Nigam's career had just begun to take shape. I started looking up to him as I grew up.
Is there an achievement of yours your father would have been extremely proud of?
I was five or six when Aashiqui released. Papa used to play the songs to us. The album is still known for its chartbusters. I grew up on it. And then, I became a part of the franchise as a playback singer in Aashiqui 2. That was my biggest achievement. I became a part of something my father created so lovingly. He would have been extremely happy about that. He's not here physically, but in spirit, he's always there for us. T series would not have continued had it not been for his blessings.
Do you see shades of your father in your brother Bhushan Kumar?
He was 19 years old when he took over T-Series. He had tremendous responsibilities at home. My mum was the backbone for all of us and she still is. He inherits his dedication for work and his ear for music from our father. I look up to him for the passion he has for music. He has nurtured the label. He is like a father to me. I have the same respect for him. We had a sense of security thanks to him.
But..
Actually, my father and brother are not all that similar. Nature-wise, they're very different from each other.
Do you find qualities in your husband Hitesh Sonik that remind you of your dad?
My husband is very caring, loving and giving the way my father was. He's not 100 per cent like him, but he has a few similar qualities. Those are the ones that brought us close and I decided to marry him. You're right. We all look for our father's qualities in our husbands.
Is there a song created by your father that you'd like to sing?
I'd love to sing songs from Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Aashiqui and Sadak.
In recent times, you sang the recreated version of Ae Mere Humsafar. How did that happen?
That song is an all-time favourite. It just happened. And I loved the experience.
Somehow, you were missed in the recreation of Dheere Dheere Se...How come you didn't become a part of a milestone like that?
I won't be a part of everything that T-Series creates. Yo Yo Honey Singh has done a fabulous job of it. The reason it was not a duet like the original was that we wanted it to sound and look different. We wanted it to have a different feel.
Do you think it has been well-received?
Yes, going by the views on YouTube, I think the reception has been phenomenal. I agree it has received mixed reactions from patrons. But personally, I love it.
Talking of singles and videos, rumour has it that Katrina Kaif might feature in the single you're working on apart from your father's tribute song. True?
Who told you that? I can't comment on Katrina being part of my single's video. It's too early to talk about it. There's time before we start working on it. The single should be out by the end of this year or early next year, fingers crossed.
On a closing note, is there a song that words your feelings for your father after his demise?
It's very tricky to pick one. Tum Bin Jiya Jaye Kaise from Tum Bin should be the song. It's got all my sentiments. It's a sad song but very melodious. It reminds me of everything we have seen together as a family after my father's death. It encapsulates the essence of our lives and the feelings we all had after papa passed away. Today, I wish he would come back.'Aa Jaao Laut Kar Tum Yeh Dil Keh Raha Hai...'
Tell us a little about the single you've prepared as a tribute to your father
The song is titled Mere Papa. It's a dedication to my father, Gulshan Kumar. Every father and child will relate to the sentiments in this song. Composer Jeet Ganguly, lyricist Manoj Muntashir and I teamed up for it. We'll release the single and the video very soon. Right now, I'm preparing to perform live and premiere it for a large invited audience tonight at a concert. My brother Bhushan has organised a musical evening, which will celebrate my father's achievements and the 30 glorious years of T-Series.
How did the song come about?
The musical evening that I just mentioned has a strong line-up of all the singers and musicians who have been launched by T-Series. They'll perform the songs they have created for our company. Bhai came up with the idea that I should also do a special song as a dedication to our father. He wanted it to be a fresh song made for the occasion.
And then?
I met Jeetda. I started talking to him about my father and shared many memories. I told him about the kind of relationship I shared with dad. I was the youngest in the family and his pet.
Could you take us through that?
My father plays a very crucial role in my life. I am here because of him. I started learning music at a very young age because of him. He spotted talent in me even before I could spell talent. He believed in me. And today, I'm living his dream and taking it forward. I have him to thank for the life I have today, and the music that I know.
Going back to the song, how long did you work on it?
In about 20 minutes, we had a skeleton ready. We had an idea, a few lines and a tune. Jeetda and Manojji made voice notes of what I was talking about my father. Manojji penned a few lines giving the song a direction. He came up with heart-touching words. The melody fell into place soon after. They played a scratch to bhai and when he approved, I recorded it. I could not record it immediately because I was too emotional that day. The next day, we nailed it. Mere Papa is the closest to my heart today.
What was your mother's reaction to the single?
My mother was extremely touched. And so was everyone else at home. It created a different atmosphere at home.
Have you shot a video for the song?
We have not created a video yet, as I want to keep it minimalistic. I don't want it to be very loud. I want our memories with our father to be a part of it. Whoever directs the video, I am sure will understand the sentiments attached to this song.
How did your in-laws and husband react to the single?
My in-laws were excited. My husband Hitesh is very supportive of my work. I am doing such a lot of work because of them. They encourage me all the time. And even with this single, they were mighty happy.
Who was your first guru? Any memories of the first songs that you hummed?
I was seven years old when I used to hum songs from Sadak, Aashiqui and Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi. My father heard me a couple of times and enrolled me in Suresh Wadkar's a light classical classes.
What did you learn from your father?
My father never taught me anything by sitting me down because I was very small then. But I used to just watch him. He was very attached to music. He'd play songs from his films and albums to each one of us, including our house help. I've inherited my love and passion for music from him. He was a humble and giving person. Every musician who was worth something has something or the other to do with him. He or she will have a little story to tell about him. My father had a heart of gold.
Any singer from that era you idolised?
I was a little girl when Sonu Nigam's career had just begun to take shape. I started looking up to him as I grew up.
Is there an achievement of yours your father would have been extremely proud of?
I was five or six when Aashiqui released. Papa used to play the songs to us. The album is still known for its chartbusters. I grew up on it. And then, I became a part of the franchise as a playback singer in Aashiqui 2. That was my biggest achievement. I became a part of something my father created so lovingly. He would have been extremely happy about that. He's not here physically, but in spirit, he's always there for us. T series would not have continued had it not been for his blessings.
Do you see shades of your father in your brother Bhushan Kumar?
He was 19 years old when he took over T-Series. He had tremendous responsibilities at home. My mum was the backbone for all of us and she still is. He inherits his dedication for work and his ear for music from our father. I look up to him for the passion he has for music. He has nurtured the label. He is like a father to me. I have the same respect for him. We had a sense of security thanks to him.
But..
Actually, my father and brother are not all that similar. Nature-wise, they're very different from each other.
Do you find qualities in your husband Hitesh Sonik that remind you of your dad?
My husband is very caring, loving and giving the way my father was. He's not 100 per cent like him, but he has a few similar qualities. Those are the ones that brought us close and I decided to marry him. You're right. We all look for our father's qualities in our husbands.
Is there a song created by your father that you'd like to sing?
I'd love to sing songs from Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Aashiqui and Sadak.
In recent times, you sang the recreated version of Ae Mere Humsafar. How did that happen?
That song is an all-time favourite. It just happened. And I loved the experience.
Somehow, you were missed in the recreation of Dheere Dheere Se...How come you didn't become a part of a milestone like that?
I won't be a part of everything that T-Series creates. Yo Yo Honey Singh has done a fabulous job of it. The reason it was not a duet like the original was that we wanted it to sound and look different. We wanted it to have a different feel.
Do you think it has been well-received?
Yes, going by the views on YouTube, I think the reception has been phenomenal. I agree it has received mixed reactions from patrons. But personally, I love it.
Talking of singles and videos, rumour has it that Katrina Kaif might feature in the single you're working on apart from your father's tribute song. True?
Who told you that? I can't comment on Katrina being part of my single's video. It's too early to talk about it. There's time before we start working on it. The single should be out by the end of this year or early next year, fingers crossed.
On a closing note, is there a song that words your feelings for your father after his demise?
It's very tricky to pick one. Tum Bin Jiya Jaye Kaise from Tum Bin should be the song. It's got all my sentiments. It's a sad song but very melodious. It reminds me of everything we have seen together as a family after my father's death. It encapsulates the essence of our lives and the feelings we all had after papa passed away. Today, I wish he would come back.'Aa Jaao Laut Kar Tum Yeh Dil Keh Raha Hai...'
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