Reality shows focus more on presentation, not skills: Keerthi Sagathia

Born and brought up in a musical family, singer

Keerthi Sagathia

was sure of making a career in the field of music. The voice behind hit songs like

Tum Tak

(Raanjhanaa), Mujh mein tu (

Special 26

) and more, Keerthi spoke to Bhopal Times during his recent visit to the city. Son of eminent folk singer

Karsan Sagathia

, Keerthi is a sixth-generation person in the field of music. The singer got his break late in

Bollywood

and feels that the reason behind this was that earlier, music composers weren’t keen on experimentation.

“Earlier, directors in Bollywood were not ready to experiment with music, new singers and compositions. There were a handful of singers who used to sing for the same actors in all movies. I faced many rejections in those days. I even remember once I got hold of a music director in the washroom and asked him to give me a chance to sing. The reply was pretty much anticipated in those days. He told me ‘Tum gaaoge to Sonu Nigam kis ke liye gaayega’,” shares Keerthi, adding, “I was disheartened but that was the harsh reality of Bollywood in those days.” Before Bollywood happened, Keerthi used to sing ad jingles. Speaking about the same, he says, “Jingles were my source of income when I was struggling. I got a break in the film industry because of the jingles I sang.”

Despite coming from a classical music background, Keerthi has adapted to different songs like Sweety tera pyaar (Delhi Belly) and Mayya Mayya (Guru) quite well. The singer attributes this to his quality of singing according to the environment he is exposed to. He says, “If I have to sing for AR Rehman, I will observe him closely and will try to inculcate his styles and preferences. After that, what comes out is natural.”

A school dropout, Keerthi says it was always music that he has lived for. “In my childhood, music was the only extracurricular activity. Whenever we asked for a new game or gadget, our parents used to gift us a new musical instrument to align our focus back to music. I flunked thrice in class VI and never went back to school after that. My father put me under the tutelage of Kalika Prasad ji and since then I have only learned and lived music,” he says.

Having been a reality show contestant, Keerthi believes that reality shows don't really help a person grow as a singer. “I believe in taking the longer route to success. Reality shows focus more on the presentation, than skills. I believe experience is very important for music and reality shows don’t give you that,” he opines.

Adding to this, the singer shared with us his desire to sing for south Indian music director Ilaiyaraaja, “I have sung for almost all music directors by now but only Ilaiyaraaja is left, I got a chance to sing with his son but singing for him is what I am looking for.”

Pic: Vishesh Sharma