Veteran playback singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya, whose voice has adorned many of Bollywood’s most timeless numbers, recently made his views known on feeling pushed into the background in his work with superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Familiar for providing his vocals to many of the actor’s chartbusters, Abhijeet spoke candidly about how his work tends to go unnoticed.
Looking back on his journey, the singer observed how closely his voice was linked with Shah Rukh Khan’s on-screen image. But he believes that the credit for most of those musical hits has been unfairly diverted towards the actor, as opposed to the voices behind the scenes. “It generally seems like Shah Rukh Khan is the one who did everything — he acted, he sang, he composed, he filmed the picture. People overlook the fact there were others also involved,” he said.
Abhijeet remembered working on hit songs and how audiences tend to give credit for the song entirely to the actor, forgetting the singer. He laughed, “If he’s everything, then what do I do? It’s as if no one has any room left in the story.”
He also discussed the movie Chalte Chalte, wherein he had lent voice to recallable songs. Although the film received a medium response at the box office, Abhijeet noted that it was music that actually made the audience identify with the film. In his opinion, the songs were the best part of the movie and made it popular despite its storyline.
Abhijeet’s comments raise awareness about the usually-unacknowledged work of playback singers in the world of films. While stars get the spotlight, those voices in the background are crucial in making these scenes memorable. His remarks remind us of the collaborative aspect of films, where numerous skilled people work towards creating the final output.
In an era where visuals tend to overwhelm recognition, Abhijeet’s introspection is a moving reflection on the need to accord proper credit to artists who create the soundtracks of our beloved movies.
