Much overdue. Some simple pleasurable things get buried under a pile of stuff to do and don’t get done even when there is nothing to do! This happens to be my favourite song to reboot, to go in there and pickup the lost thread.

“I knew the moment had arrived
For killing the past and coming back to life…”

Thanks to Yaci100

Vijay Prakash

Vijay Prakash is one of the few singers who have the capacity to provide these spell binding moments again and again. Almost  ten years ago, as a youngster, his performances in the famous TVS SaReGaMa music competition on TV were superb. The program set very high standards and managed to bring out and showcase the top class music talent in the country. Among the performers Vijay Prakash enthralled listeners with his singing. He did not win the contest. I was not aware of his presence for a long time after those scintillating moments in the program.

That was 1999.

I am glad, I have been listening to this fantastic singer even though I had not realized it. There are song bytes that you like without being able to get the details of who has performed.
One of them was a remix of Kahan Se Aye Badra.

The original is a fantastic song sung by the legendary Yesudas. I was very impressed by the way the remix was sung. Only recently, did I come to know the singer is Vijay Prakash. He has sung jingles, devotional songs, ghazals, classical music, fusion, remix and even for foreign films, including a Chinese film! He has sung in Kannada, Tamil, Hindi and the pronunciation is fantastic. The amazing versatility and range of this singer is unbelievable.

Why are we not getting enough of such a performer in mainstream cinema? Kannada movies could easily benefit from a singer who is at home singing in Kannada and vastly capable like him. He can easily carry off a whole movie full of songs.

People are of the opinion that his voice may not match the main character artists voice. By making a choice on those lines, they are losing out on the golden opportunity to make their songs outstanding and memorable. I think there are ways to circumvent this creatively. There can be many movie songs which play out in the background. This gives opportunities to picturise the song sequence without insisting on lip synching and adding a new dimension to story telling. Characters breaking into song and dance have become the norm, but these are not the only ways to bring songs to movies and story telling.

I do understand that this is definitely not a limiting factor for a great singer. There is a whole universe for music in India outside of movies. Vijay Prakash will definitely be reaching those heights. However, I only wish his amazing
talent is acknowledged and tapped by the medium of cinema.

Some of his film based songs so far are

Manmohini Morey in the film Yuvvraaj. Incidentally in a rain man type scene where the character reveals a miraculous gift for music much beyond what normal humans can hope for!

Sooni Sooni in Cheeni Kum. This is a song based on the fantastic Mandram Vantha Thendralukku Tamil song in Mouna Raagam

Sannate Mein. This is a creepy, eerie song from the movie Baaz

Black Hole. This is a cheerful, fun song with Adnan Sami for Hanuman Returns.

He has performed in Swades (Pal Pal Hai Bhari), Slumdog Millionaire (Jai Ho), Naan Kadavul (Om Siva Om), Mathrubhumi, Lakshya, Tere Naam, Kaal, Waqt and other movies. However, in my humble opinion, the sections given to him don’t do any justice to the immense potential of this young performer.

His singing of Baaro Krishnaiah, Raag Bhoopali, Man Re Tu Kahe Na Dheer Dhare, Woh Jab Yaad Aaye and Others ten years ago was mindblowing. Now, he seems to have gone from strength to strength.

Here is hoping, we will get some more fantastic golden hits from him.

These days, we get the chance to see Vijay Prakash in the Kannada Asianet Suvarna channel program called Star Singer 2. He is now on the other side as a judge, though I wish we would have the opportunity to listen to him again perform his magic, at least once in a while in the program.

Credits and a big thanks go out to swahaya for collecting and making the you tube channel of videos of Vijay Prakash’s songs available for us.

Kehna Hai, Kehna Hai from Padosan
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063404/

Tujh Mein Rab Dikhtha Hai from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182937/

Aise to Na Dekho

Aise To Na Dekho…
Aise To Na Dekho, Ke Humko Nasha Ho Jaye
Khoobsurat Si Koi Humse Khata Ho Jaye
Aise To Na Dekho…

Tum Humein Roko Phir Bhi Hum Na Ruken
Tum Kaho Kaafir Phir Bhi Aise Jhuken
Kadam-E-Naaz Pe Ik Sajda Ada Ho Jaye
Aise To Na Dekho…

Yoon Na Ho Aankhen Rahen Kaajal Gholen
Badh Ke Bekhudi Haseen Gesu Kholen
Khul Ke Phir Zulfen Siyah Kali Bala Ho Jaaye
Aise To Na Dekho…

Hum To Masti Mein Jaane Kya Kya Kahen
Lab-E-Naazuk Se Aisa Na Ho Tumhein
Beqarari Ka Gila Hum Se Siva Ho Jaye
Aise To Na Dekho…

Kehna Hai, Kehna Hai

Kehna hai kehna hai
(Kehna hai kehna hai aaj tumse yeh pehli baar
Ho tum hi to laayi ho jeevan mein mere pyaar pyaar pyaar) -2

Tum se kehne waali aur bhi hai pyaari baatein -2
Saamne sab ke bolo kaise keh doon saari baatein
Aaj magar bas itna hi karna hai ikraar
Tum hi to laayi ho jeevan mein mere pyaar pyaar pyaar

Kab se dil ne mere maan liya hai tumko apna -2
Aankhen meri dekh rahi hai jaagte sochte sapna
Mere gale mein daal rahi ho tum baahon ka haar
Tum hi to laayi ho jeevan mein mere pyaar pyaar pyaar
Kehna hai kehna hai

Tujh Mein Rab Dikhtha Hai

Tu Hi To Jannat Meri, Tu Hi Mera Junnon
Tu Hi To Mannat Meri, Tu Hi Rooh Ka Sukun
Tu Hi Ankhiyon Ki Thandak, Tu Hi Dil Ki Hai Dastak
Aur Kuch Na Janu Mein, Bas Itna Hi Jaanu..
(Tujhe Mein Rab Dikhta Hai, Yaara Mein Kya Karu) – 2
Sajde Sae Jhukta Hai, Yaara Mein Kya Karu
Tujhe Mein Rab Dikhta Hai, Yaara Mein Kya Karu..

Kaise Hai Yeh Doori, Kaise Majboori
Mene Nazaron Se Tujhe Choo Liya
Kabhi Teri Khusboo, Kabhi Teri Baatein
Bin Maange Yeh Jahan Pa Liya
Tu Hi Dil Ki Ha Rounak, Tu Hi Janmon Ki Daulat
Aur Kuch Na Janu, Bas Itna Hi Janu..
(Tujhe Mein Rab Dikhta Hai, Yaara Mein Kya Karu) – 2
Sajde Sae Jhukta Hai, Yaara Mein Kya Karu
Tujhe Mein Rab Dikhta Hai, Yaara Mein Kya Karu..

Vaasdi Vaasdi Vaasdi, Dil Di Dil Vich Vaasdi
Naasdi Naasdi Naasdi, Dil Ro Ve The Naasdi
Rab Ne… Bana Di Jodi…..
Vaasdi Vaasdi Vaasdi, Dil Di Dil Vich Vaasdi
Naasdi Naasdi Naasdi, Dil Ro Ve The Naasdi

Cham Cham Aaye, Mujhe Tarshaye
Tera Shaya Ched Ke Chumta..
O O, Tu Jo Muskaye, Tu Jo Sharmaye
Jaise Mera Hai Khuda Jhomta..
Tu Hi Meri Barkart, Tu Hi Meri Ibaadat
Aur Kuch Na Janu, Bas Itna Hi Janu..
(Tujhe Mein Rab Dikhta Hai, Yaara Mein Kya Karu) – 2
Sajde Sae Jhukta Hai, Yaara Mein Kya Karu
Tujhe Mein Rab Dikhta Hai, Yaara Mein Kya Karu

Vaasdi Vaasdi Vaasdi, Dil Di Dil Vich Vaasdi
Naasdi Naasdi Naasdi, Dil Ro Ve The Naasdi
Rab Ne… Bana Di Jodi…..