Preeti Sagar: Shyam Benegal Was a True Visionary – Exclusive

A young Preeti Sagar won the Filmfare Award for Best Playback Singer in 1976 for singing My heart is beating from the film Julie. In stark contrast, she was asked to sing a folk song, Mero gaam katha parey in Manthan, by filmmaker Shyam Benegal. As fate would have it, Preeti’s distinctly different singing won her a Filmfare Award for Mero gaam katha parey as well. The senior singer credits Shyam Benegal’s foresight and vision for giving countless artistes like her, a chance to shine. After the veteran filmmaker passed away yesterday, Filmfare spoke to Preeti who revealed the joy and comfort that Shyam Benegal gave her and so many other actors and artistes from the film fraternity. Excerpts…

To say that we have lost a legend is an understatement. Shyam uncle as I called him was a visionary. I was just in college when I started singing jingles for him in commercials. I remember singing Happy days are here again for Thums Up and so many jingles for commercials of Britannia, Gold Spot etc.

When in college, the first song I recall singing was for Nishant (1975). It was a semi-classical song composed by Vanraj (Bhatia) uncle. The song was Piya baaj pyala piya jaye na. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do it but Shyam uncle was confident. If I’m not mistaken it was Vanraj uncle’s first film composition, too.

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Later he called me for Manthan (1976), to sing Mero gaam katha parey and I must tell you an anecdote. My sister Neeti, who was around 18 at the time, and I went to rehearse at Vanraj uncle’s house. The song I was to record was written by a Gujarati writer. When Shyam uncle saw the song he said, “Oh no this is too heavy and literary. I need something simple.” My sister shyly offered to write the song. She wrote a few lines and Shyam uncle loved what she wrote. That’s how we came to record the song written by my little sister.

At the recording studio, Shyam uncle said, “I don’t want the Preeti Sagar of My heart is beating (Julie, 1975). I want you to be a Rabaran (Folk singer) from Gujarat.” I went all wild and sang lustily. It was so beautiful, I remember great musicians like Hariprasad ji (Chaurasia) and Shiv Prasad playing for Vanraj uncle and Hari ji saying Vanraj’s compositions are difficult to sing but you can do it Preeti. Those days we didn’t have auto tune or anything. It was all live music. You had to sing with all the musicians. So even if one person played out of sync we would have to start all over again. Those really were such fun days.

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I didn’t know Mero gaam katha parey from Manthan would become so popular. When Amul completed 50 years, I sang it again in Ahmedabad in front of the Prime Minister. At every show I sing, this song is a constant request.

I later sang Tumhare bin jeena for Bhumika (1977). I watched Shyam uncle shoot the song with Smita Patil at Jyoti studios with my entire family in attendance. I remember singing a pop song, What’s your problem for Kalyug (1981). I sang Shamsheer barahna maang ghazab for Mandi (1983). I remember at the recording he would come to me and gently say, “That was nice Preeti but can we do one more.” I was only too happy to oblige.

Those were such fun times. And the actors Shyam uncle discovered. Like I said earlier, he was a true visionary. He was such a gentle human being, always encouraging. I will miss his wonderful ear to ear smile. It lit up any room you were in.

See Also: Best Movies of Shyam Benegal: Ankur, Manthan Zubeidaa and MorePreeti Sagar credits Shyam Benegal for giving countless artistes like her a chance to shine. Continue reading …Read More