Chandana Dixit is a Bollywood playback singer who has given her voice to Husn Hain Suhana (Coolie No. 1), Shahar Ki Ladki (Rakshak), Chumma Chumma (Daanveer), Tujhe Khaas Fursat (Auzaar) and Khul Gaya Naseeb (Bhai). She has worked with music composers like Anand–Milind and Anu Malik. It’s been 24 years that Chandana has sung the original track and still retains the magic of her melodious voice as we can witness in her latest recreated version of Husn Hai Suhana. Chandana Dixit exclusively spoke to The Daily Guardian and shared her anecdotes from her journey in Bollywood.
Q. How has your singing journey been?
A. My musical journey began with learning Indian classical music. I always aspired to be a classical singer and started my taleem with my first Guru Saraswati Rane of the Kirana gharana, she was also incidentally one of India’s first playback singers. During college, I won many classical music competitions including the prestigious National Scholarship by Government of India. My journey as a Bollywood singer began when I met music directors Kalyanji Anandji and they felt that my voice was suited for playback singing. They convinced my parents that they would train and groom me which was an amazing experience. It’s a constant process of learning and growing as the principles of classical and light music are quite different.
Q. You have worked with many great music composers, how was the experience? Any tips you got from them?
A. The biggest education regarding playback singing I got was from Kalyanji Anandji as they were veterans. Some of the important ideas they shared were that you have to become the heroine’s or rather the character’s voice, you are always expressing a specific emotion so your voice projection has to convey that. I also learnt how to appreciate poetry and lyrics and some technical stuff was about sur precision, using fade in and fade out techniques and especially how to end the line, the chord is very important. I also learnt the importance of using voice modulation.
Q. Your favourite song…
A. Aisi bhi baatain hoti hain, a Lata Mangeshkar classic is my all-time favourite. I love it for the amazing whisper tone and fade in and fade out technique that Lataji has used. The song feels like it is from some other world and I also love it for the beautiful poetry and composition.
Q. The original and recreated version of Husn Hai Deewana has been sung by you, what changes were made for it to resonate well with the youth?
A. The makers did not want any changes to the vocals as they wanted to retain the old charm. They mainly changed the music giving it more of dance feel that would resonate well with the youth.
Q. What are your upcoming projects?
A. I am currently working on a couple of fusion projects with some western musicians in the US. Regarding Bollywood playback, there are some projects which have been on hold due to the Covid situation and I am waiting for them to start.