Singer reprises character of music teacher of yore in the soon to release Katyar Kaljat Ghusali
Singer, composer, musician. Hindi, Marathi, Urdu, Kannada and Tamil. Just when you think you've got Shankar Mahadevan all figured out he surprises you yet again. This time, by reprising the character of a music teacher of yore in the soon to release Katyar Kaljat Ghusali (KKG, Dagger through the heart) by Essel Vision. "I was initially hesitant. Its not about being camera shy. I have been part of several music videos and shoots. But there I am just being Shankar Mahadevan," the musician told dna in an exclusive chat while talking about his first stint as an actor where he plays a renowned music teacher Pandit Bhanushankar.
"And this wasn't some walk on part where I say two lines and vanish. Its a full length role and the character goes through a whole gamut of emotions in what is one of the most powerful vortex of the narrative," Mahadevan told dna. Along with Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa he has also the music for the film. "We have retained several of the iconic natyageets created by the late Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki for the play in the early 60s. We added several original scores which include bandishes, devotional numbers and even qawwalis as tracks in the movie for which I have also sung," the polyglot singer who has sung for the who's who among music composers informed and added, "We have also got the grandson and legatee of the original maestro Vasantrao Deshpande (whose voice has immortalised for ever songs from the original play) Rahul Deshpande to sing for the film."
Based on the iconic record breaking namesake musical, this feud between two classical music gharanas is set in the 1880s in a British era princely state of Vishrampur (Central India ). "Getting into character and getting the nuance of every word and expression right was really challenging. I am really lucky to have been in very safe hands of the debutante director Subodh Bhave." Bhave has essayed the role of the iconic star of music theatre Bal Gandharva in a biopic four years ago to much critical and mass acclaim.
A tad emotional, Mahadevan confessed to being aware of his late music guru Shrinivas Khale's watchful eyes on him. "Wherever he is, I am sure he must be overjoyed at the prospect of me taking on a project like this." There's another Maharashtrian at home who has been mighty proud of his achievement. "My wife Sangeeta is the fulcrum around which my life revolves. I have sung for Marathi albums and concerts before but about KKG is really special and she's very happy."
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