Jai Ho, Tanvi Shah! Monday, 03.02.2009, 11:27pm (GMT-7) India Post News Service
Mortgage collapse, recession, unemployment, shares plummet. Lifting us magically from the abyss of chaos and fear is the song Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire. You hear it on the Oprah show, the TV news channels, in dance clubs, around office water coolers, car radios, and I pods. A temporary escape, but long Live Faith, Hope and Love urges A R Rahman the composer and Oscar winner of Best Song of the Year. The song became the anthem of our times as we sang and danced briefly vanquishing our economic terrors. I talk to Tanvi Shah, the back up singer in Jai Ho who was holidaying in Irvine during the Oscar buzz. Tanvi is young, ebullient, madly talented a Master’s in Ceramics, (George Washington University,) an interior designer of homes and jewelry in Chennai) a prolific singer in many languages and a regular artiste in Rahman’s productions as well as music directors like. Yuvan Shankar Raja, Premgi Amaren, Srikant Deva and GV Prakash. Tanvi Shah is a focused, determined, motivated young woman who enjoys the moment and like the song Jai Ho believes in herself, and has faith, love and hope in the future. >From Chennai to the Oscars! What has the musical journey meant to you? It’s been a dream and I never want to wake up because it’s too beautiful. It has been a long journey but I want to move forward and keep exploring. http://indiapost.com/article/lifestyle/5702/ How did you prepare for this song Jai Ho? I did not really prepare. I went into the studio without expectations, the moment Rahman Sir summoned me. He said “Just think out of the box and sing out loud.� I was very nervous as I had to match my voice with the lead singer’s Sukhwinder. But Rahman sir said. “Put fun in your voice. You do not have to copy. Open up.� What I really did was to enjoy the song and it worked. Rahman sir gave me that extra push. How long did you take to record this song? Believe it or not just four or five hours. Everyone in the US is singing and dancing to this song. Why? Rahman Sir puts life into every song that he creates. Jai Ho.The phrase alone is so powerful you would want to to get up and dance. It is so magical. After the win, whom did you call? My parents, brother, my teacher Augustine Paul and a friend. Tell me about your music studies. I love music and all kinds of music. I became interested in Western classical music after I returned to India from the US in 2003 and began studying with my teacher Augustine Paul. I appeared for the 6th grade in Trinity School Music Examinations. I have a great relationship with my teacher and his family. They have been so encouraging and supportive. In Chennai I have sung for the Madras Musical Association, Mozart concerts, Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, all wonderful experiences . Why did you leave the US? I woke up suddenly one day and said I did not want to be here any longer. There were more opportunities back home and 9/11 had just occurred. I returned to Chennai and joined my dad’s business, a granite and marble company. My mother was involved in her own jewellery business, so I became interested in her work. Meanwhile my love for singing, actually I was only a karaoke singer at that time, took me to my teacher Augustine. At the same time, a rough recording of my voice went to Rahman sir. I was called for an audition and my singing career took off. What is it like working with A R Rahman? He knows what he wants. It is very easy to work with him. He is so focused and gives you creative space .He keeps us artists, all disciplined. And is ever ready to crack a joke. We respect him and yet he is so simple, dedicated, patient and has so much humility. Describe a typical day at the studios I would say a typical night as Rahman sir is a nocturnal person. I go into the studios, wait as there are so many projects happening. Once it’s my turn, the other artistes and I listen to the track and get a feel of the song. Then he explains what he wants and sometimes he asks us for ideas with voice modulations, and then there are times when he records every bit of our conversations too and in the final product you hear a laugh or a sneeze and we go.my god, he actually used it! Who are your favorite artists? I have a long list. From SP Balasubbramaniam, to Asha Bhosle Ji to Shankar Mahadevan to Sunidi Chauhan. And then there’s Gloria Estefan, and Khaled and Nancy Ajram and Samira Said. What is your next project? I have to work harder. I am not going to wear the crown for this song forever. I have to keep going. It is a very competitive world out there. I have to give my best, but I won’t give up. If I just stay with a singing career I will go beserk. If I am surrounded by jealousy and negativity which happens in the entertainment industry. But then if it was not it would be too easy and boring right? Life is too short. I am thrilled that I have another creative career and I am content to enjoy my music and my design projects. I am not going to run obsessively after a musical career. I‘d rather be a glass of wine and savor life than a tequila shot. I want to surprise people all the time.
