Playback singer Jyotsna Radhakrishnan on the day of Lucifer movie release, took to Facebook to share a picture in which she is seen along with composer Deepak Dev.
In the post she revealed that she had rendered vocals for a Hindi song in the movie and wished the makers luck. However, Around ten days after the release of the movie, Jyotsna is incredibly excited by the overwhelming response that the song has garnered. The Hindi song ‘Raftaara’ which was released in Youtube is being celebrated by music lovers. Many thought that the high voltage song was sung by a leading Bollywood singer. However, they were stunned to know that it was Jyotsna who sang the super hit song. The Malayali music enthusiasts didn’t then wait to shower her with appreciation and congratulatory messages.
Jyotsna debuted by rendering the beautiful melody ‘Sukhamani Nilavu’ and has earned a place for herself in the Malayalam music industry. She hasn’t taken a break in her career since then. However, it is true that there weren’t as many hits recently as she had in the early stages of her career. With the super hit song Raftaara from Lucifer, Jyotsna is back with a bang. The singer, in a candid interview with Manoramaonline talks about how she landed the opportunity to sing the song.
Stunned by responses
“The song was released on a Sunday. Barring a few friends of mine and the crew of Lucifer, no one knew that I had sung this song. I haven’t been able to keep my phone down since the song got released. I am flooded with congratulatory messages. I wasn’t expecting this sort of an overwhelming response. Lots of youngsters are conveying wishes on Instagram as well. Other than a small group of people who frequently follow my work, this is the first time that I am receiving such response from a huge group. My eyes welled up with happiness when I read a few messages,” reveals Jyotsna.
The singer admits she never expected the song to become such a huge hit. Jyotsna didn’t imagine that the song would grab such an overwhelming response, even while she watched the movie in the theater. “I had clear idea about how the song was going to be shown in the film, during the time of recording itself. I knew that it would appear, in parts, amid the fight sequence in the climax portion. The song was just like a supporting factor for the climax. It was just like this until a week after the movie got released. However, everything changed when the song got released in the Youtube,” says Jyotsna excitedly.
I am here
Jyotsna says that she hasn’t taken a break at all from singing. Though she moved to Benagluru after marriage, she hasn’t quit playback singing. She has been singing in movies, stage shows and has been part of independent music projects as well. “To be honest, I had always been busy with songs and music programs. However, it is after a while that I am delivering such a hit song. The song ‘Veyil Chilla’ from Zakkariyayude Garbhinikal was my last song that got noticed. Lots of factors have to come together for a song to become a hit. Lucifer is a blockbuster. There are lots of singers now and you really have to stand out to get noticed,” explains the singer.
Lucifer
The makers had initially decided to rope in a popular singer from Mumbai to sing this Hindi song. Music composer Deepak Dev approached Jyotsna to try the song as he wanted to see how the tune and everything else would turn out. She reached the studio just to give it a try. Prithviraj and Murali Gopy liked the rough track sung by Jyotsna and decided to go with her. The song was then rewritten with many changes in the lines.
Worked hard
“There are lots of challenges while singing a Hindi song. It is a great responsibility to show justice to the language by emulating the right pronunciation. I sang that song perfectly, taking so much time. Tanish Nabar who penned the lines of that song expressed satisfaction with my pronunciation. It would be right to say that I have worked really hard to sing this song amazingly,” says Jyotsna.
Many were surprised
Jyotsna says many were surprised to know that it was she who sung the Hindi song in Lucifer. Many ask her, on social media, whether it really was she who sang it. The song features in the climax portion of Lucifer. More than the song, the focus is on the fight sequence. Jyotsna observes that the song received such great response when it was released separately later.
Deepak Dev
The singer knows composer Deepak Dev since they worked together in the movie Symphony. However, it was on the sets of a popular reality show that they became good friends. Jyotsna was the anchor of that show. She had then rendered some amazing songs in movies like Lion, Sadhu Mirandal, Kaatu and Masterpiece as well. “Both of us came to the industry around the same time. I think we are now a generation behind. We don’t belong to the category of new comers anymore. We debuted in 2002. Lots of new singers came after that. So, I think we really are a generation behind. I don’t know whether the people are surprised because both of us delivered a hit together after so many years. However, I believe that each song has a unique fate,” noted Jyotsna.
Dubai connection
Jyotsna reveals an interesting Dubai ‘connection’ about herself and composer Deepak Dev. Both of them had completed their education in the Emirate. “As I studied abroad, I had lots of North Indian friends and I used to talk to them in Hindi. Deepak ettan already knew it. Besides, whenever I did a cover version of a Hindi song, I would send it to him. So he knows that I can handle Hindi quite effortlessly. That is why he called me to sing the song when he conceived the structure of it. He asked me just to give it a try,” said the singer.
Grateful
“I feel surprised when people comment that the Malayalam music industry hasn’t utilized my talent well enough and that it was only now that I enjoy the fame I deserve. The realization that those who appreciate good music have always noticed me actually makes me humble. People react to this song with such honesty. I am emotionally overwhelmed by such positive words from them. The makers could have easily invited a singer from Mumbai if they wanted to do this Hindi song with more credibility. I am really grateful to the team of Lucifer for giving me this opportunity,” concluded Jyotsna.